01/21/2026
SPRING 2026 Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) 8-Week Program
ST. PETER’S UNITED CHURCH, 203 York Street, Greater Sudbury, Ontario
ORIENTATION & REGISTRATION
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
600 PM - 8:30 PM
CLASSES
Tuesday Evenings APRIL 21 – JUNE 16, 2026
600 PM - 830 PM
ALL DAY SESSION Saturday, June 6, 2026
8:00AM - 3:00PM
MINDFULNESS-BASED STRESS REDUCTION (MBSR) is an 8-week evidence-based program consisting of 31 hours of direct instruction, developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn & taught by qualified MBSR teachers. This experiential program is designed to provide participants with intensive & systematic training and tools in mindfulness meditation & movement practices, integrating what is discovered and learned into daily life. MINDFULNESS is the awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally. (Kabat-Zinn)
PEOPLE PURSUE MINDFULNESS TRAINING
• for personal and professional well-being
• to strengthen skills of concentration, clarity, and equanimity
• for enhanced focus, presence, and capacity to recover more quickly from challenging events
• to cope with acute and prolonged stress, illness and pain
• for improved sleep
• to manage anxiety
THIS COURSE INCLUDES
• Ten Classes with accompanying email following each class
• Guided audio practices to download
• Home Practice Manual and lifetime access to the resources
• MBSR Graduate free access to Monthly Mindfulness Refreshers & Full Day MBSR Retreats
TEACHERS
Gary Petingola and Sheila Damore-Petingola are Masters prepared Social Workers who have completed rigorous training and are qualified to teach MBSR through the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society at UMASS. Gary is Certified to teach MBSR through the Mindfulness Center, Brown University School of Public Health. They have founded Mindfulness on the Rocks and provide gold standard evidence-based mindfulness programming across Canada. They have engaged various professional groups in mindfulness training including health care, education, corrections, government, and industry. Gary is invited to speak internationally and has published on the topic of mindfulness. Gary’s book The Response: Practising Mindfulness In Your Daily Life was published in February 2020. Sheila has training in Trauma Sensitive Mindfulness and holds a faculty appointment with NOSM
University.
REGISTRATION AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
$475.00 - Payment is accepted by e-transfer. A Certificate of Attendance is provided upon completion. Some health plans (eg. Sunlife Canada) provide coverage as Sheila and Gary are Masters of Social Work(MSW, RSW) credentialed. Check with your insurer to determine if funding is available.
As course registration is limited, a $25.00 non-refundable processing fee is required to ensure that space is available for those who are able to commit to participating in the MBSR course at this time. This fee will be applied to your registration. Upon successful completion of the program, Regulated Health Care workers in Northeastern Ontario may be eligible to receive a $200.00 grant through the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program at Health Sciences North. It is our intention to make this program accessible for those who are able to commit. If financial resources present a challenge to registration, please communicate with Gary and Sheila.
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER mindfulnessontherocks.ca
WHAT OUR STUDENTS ARE SAYING
"My expectations of the course were more than met. Gary and Sheila have a solid knowledge of theory
and practise. They are patient and practical teachers.
“Gary and Sheila have a strong ability to teach a
group of students who come with a range of backgrounds, knowledge and goals; and they are able to cultivate a sense of belonging within the group."
"I have experienced a lot of heaviness in life, (anxiety, depression, small trauma etc.) and have lived in a
constant state of fight or flight for many years. Mindfulness has brought space from that. A way to calm my nervous system and give my mind a break. I took away so much from this course."
"I have gained a solid foundation for meditation and collected a number of tools that I use on a daily
basis to create spaciousness, connect with my breath and accept change. The teachers were very
insightful and well informed.”
