Overview: Teacher Education, Training and Development Programs

Clarifying Your Intentions

Depending on your intentions for integrating mindfulness into your life and work, you can approach Oasis Institute professional training programs in any of the following ways:

Follow a course of comprehensive and systematic training in MBSR leading to Teacher Certification in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. The training sequence below gives an overview of typical pathways leading to MBSR Teacher Certification.
Develop, enhance and refine your MBSR teaching skills without applying for Teacher Certification.
We strongly recommend that you complete both of our Oasis Institute Foundational training programs before beginning to teach MBSR: MBSR in Mind-Body Medicine and the Practicum in MBSR. For a more in-depth understanding of how to teach MBSR, you may decide to apply to the Teacher Development Intensive after completing these Foundational programs.
Explore the experiential, theoretical, and pedagogical foundations of MBSR as a critical framework for teaching and/or researching a growing array of other mindfulness-based approaches and interventions that are offshoots of MBSR.
Apply a range of mindfulness-based practices, attitudes, and skills to your personal and professional life.

Training Sequence for MBSR Teachers, leading to Certification

Please click on program titles below, for complete program descriptions, fees, prerequisites, and how to apply or register.

Foundational Training

Prior to beginning your professional training, we strongly recommend that you participate in a complete 8-week MBSR course. You may take this course here at the UMass Center for Mindfulness, and it is also offered at many clinics and offices around the world.
Please note: people who participated in one or more of our MBSR teacher training courses have the option of being listed on this searchable web page. This searchable listing is offered as a courtesy to those in our training programs. It may help you to find an MBSR course in your location. The UMass Center for Mindfulness does not endorse or vouch for MBSR courses offer by the people listed on this searchable web page.

Oasis Foundational Coursework (these two courses may be taken in any order)

Ongoing Individual Professional Development

Mindfulness meditation training, including required silent mindfulness retreat attendance.
Yoga or other mindful bodywork training
Personal psychological development
Professional training and graduate degree in related field

Initial Teaching of MBSR

Having completed Oasis Foundational training coursework, you may begin teaching the MBSR program on your own before moving on to Oasis Advanced training programs.

Continued Ongoing Individual Professional Development

Mindfulness meditation training, including required silent mindfulness retreat attendance.
Yoga or other mindful bodywork training
Personal psychological development
Professional training and graduate degree in related field

Advanced Training

After completing the Oasis Foundational training coursework, and beginning to teach MBSR, Oasis Advanced training programs are available as you continue developing and deepening your skills as an MBSR instructor.

Essential for those who aspire for certification:

Optional:

Consultation in MBSR

Continued Ongoing Individual Professional Development

Mindfulness meditation training, including required silent mindfulness retreat attendance.
Yoga or other mindful bodywork training
Personal psychological development
Professional training and graduate degree in related field

Certification in MBSR

Having completed all Oasis Foundational and Advanced training coursework, taught at least eight, 8-Week MBSR courses, and continued your ongoing individual professional development (as outlined above), you may now consider applying for Teacher Certification Review.