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Bringing calm, clarity, and presence to life

Desert Mindfulness offers meditation and mindfulness training that’s practical, welcoming, and rooted in evidence-based practice.

Open to people of all backgrounds and beliefs, we serve the Palm Springs area, the Coachella Valley, and the High Desert.

Our offerings include:

    • Personalized Meditation Coaching for one-to-one guidance and support
    • Research-Backed Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Courses to build resilience and reduce stress
    • Daylong and Multi-Day Meditation Retreats to deepen practice and foster renewal

We believe that mindful awareness makes life more joyful, balanced, and meaningful. Our passion is to share practices that help you navigate life’s challenges with greater ease, compassion, and clarity.

Come as you are.   Leave with a little more space…

MBSR

Transform Stress.    Cultivate Calm.    Live Fully.

NOTE: THE CLASS BELOW IS FILLED – IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE NOTIFIED WHEN THE NEXT CLASS IS OPEN FOR REGISTRATION PLEASE CONTACT ME USING THE PHONE OR EMAIL AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE. THANK YOU!

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is a research-backed 8-week course that won’t just change your life — it will change how you relate to life. Through meditation, movement, and self-reflection, you’ll discover how to face life’s challenges with greater ease, clarity, and resilience.

The classic MBSR course begins January 29, 2025 at the Mizell Center in Palm Springs, CA, led by Ian Challis, a highly qualified and experienced local meditation teacher. Registration is now open — reserve your place today.


What is MBSR?

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is the original 8-week course in mindful living, developed in 1979 by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. It has become the most widely studied and trusted approach to mindfulness training worldwide.

This evidence-based program offers a structured path to mindfulness through:

    • Meditation practice — Train the mind to be present, focused, and calm.
    • Body awareness exercises — Connect with the wisdom of the body and reduce tension.
    • Gentle yoga movements — Cultivate ease, flexibility, and balance in both body and mind.

The group learning environment is designed to be safe, supportive, and engaging. Each 2.5-hour weekly class includes a mix of practice, discussion, and practical tools for integrating mindfulness into daily life.


What Can MBSR Do for You?

The tools you’ll gain in MBSR are simple but profound. Decades of research have shown that MBSR can lead to positive, and often life-changing, improvements in mental and physical well-being. Participants and studies have reported:

    • Better stress management — Build the capacity to approach life’s challenges with calm and clarity.
    • Improved sleep quality — Reduce nighttime rumination and promote deeper, more restful sleep.
    • Relief from anxiety and emotional distress — Support emotional well-being by decreasing symptoms of anxiety and emotional reactivity.
    • Greater ease with chronic pain — Develop skills to manage chronic pain, tension, and stress-related physical symptoms.
    • More presence and joy — Savor daily life with a greater sense of ease, awareness, and appreciation.

These benefits are not just anecdotal — they’re backed by extensive research in healthcare, psychology, and neuroscience. While individual results may vary, the evidence is clear: MBSR works.


What to Expect

The course runs for 8 consecutive weeks and includes:

    • Weekly 2.5-hour classes — Each session includes guided meditation, gentle movement, and group inquiry.
    • One daylong retreat — A full day (6 hours) of extended mindfulness practice between weeks 6 and 7.
    • Home practice materials — Audio recordings, readings, and guidance to deepen your practice at home.

Every class offers a balance of active learning and reflection, helping you understand how stress works and how mindfulness can change your relationship to it.

A video introduction to MBSR:


Course Details

    • Class Dates: January 29 – March 19, 2025 (8 weekly classes)
    • Time: Wednesdays, 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM
    • Daylong Retreat: Saturday, March 8. (9:00AM-3:00PM)
    • Location: Mizell Center, 480 S. Sunrise Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262
    • Tuition: $295-$495 (includes course materials, guided meditations, and the daylong retreat)
    • Sliding Scale: Available for those in need — see registration page for details.

Ready to Transform Stress into Resilience?

If you’re ready to respond to stress in a healthier, more mindful way, preregister today to reserve your spot. This course fills up quickly, and space is limited. ($45 Early Bird Discount if you register by January 10)

Registration and More Information


Need More Information?

We’re happy to help. Contact the course instructor, Ian Challis, at:

(206) 866-5459

ian@desertmindfulness.com

“You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.”
— Jon Kabat-Zinn

About

Ian Challis is a dedicated and highly trained mindfulness teacher, qualified to guide both traditional meditation practices and the evidence-based Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) curriculum.

Ian has practiced meditation intensively since 2005. He received teaching authorization from Spirit Rock Meditation Center after completing their rigorous Community Dharma Leaders (CDL) program in 2017. He holds teaching qualifications for MBSR from the UC San Diego Mindfulness-Based Professional Training Institute, and is a teacher in the Buddhist lineage of U Ba Khin.

With a background in architecture, Ian built a successful career as an entrepreneurial artist and product designer before dedicating himself to the path of mindfulness. Now living in Palm Springs, he serves as a Guiding Teacher for Insight Community of the Desert, where he shares his passion for bringing mindfulness practices to desert communities.

To learn more about Ian’s teaching and approach, visit here.

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Desert Mindfulness and Ian Challis offer mindful awareness trainings, events, one-to-one coaching, and MBSR courses. If we can help you, please be in touch!