Cultivating Mindfulness for Health and Wellbeing
The Ann Arbor Center for Mindfulness (AACFM) cultivates and supports mindfulness to promote health and well-being in communities by offering classes, retreats, presentations, events, and financial scholarships and mentorships for aspiring mindfulness teachers. For more information on scholarship opportunities click here.
UPCOMING CLASSES AND RETREATS
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Mindfulness and Compassion for Connecting in a Fractured World Workshop
Saturday, May 9th, 2026, 10:00am – 4:00pm. Register by March 31 for discounted early bird pricing!
Join this day of learning, reflection, and practice presented by Dr. Sydney Spears, Ph.D., LCSW and Dr. Tracy Ochester, Psy.D. This workshop will be a collaborative space to discover and experience contemplative practices that foster resilience, connection, and empathy during challenging times.
In this workshop, participants will review foundational definitions of mindfulness and compassion, and engage in a variety of guided exercises designed to increase mindful awareness and compassion for themselves and others, expand their window of presence, navigate difficult emotions, and cultivate common humanity. Together, we will explore ways to actively build supportive communities and develop skills for connecting personally and collectively across adversity and differences.
All are warmly welcomed, no prior mindfulness or meditation experience is necessary. A light breakfast and lunch are included in your registration. You may select your lunch choice when completing the registration form.
We are committed to making this event accessible to those who wish to attend. If the registration price is a barrier, please contact us at info@aacfm.org to arrange a scholarship or reduced rate.
Continuing Education
The Ann Arbor Center for Mindfulness is an approved sponsor of continuing education (CE) credits by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) – Michigan Chapter. This event qualifies for 4.5 CE credits for social workers. Events approved and offered by NASW are also acceptable CE for psychologists (see LARA – Psychology General Rules). CE credits are included as a registration option for an additional $25.00. Please reach out with any questions about CEs.
Event information
Location: Garrett’s in the Student Center Building at Washtenaw Community College (WCC), 4800 E. Huron River Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48105.
Parking: Free parking is available on the WCC campus. Lot 4 is closest to the Student Center Building. WCC is also accessible by AAATA buses.
Speaker information
Sydney Spears, Ph.D., LCSW is a certified Mindful-Self Compassion teacher and recent Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) for the Center of Mindful Self-Compassion. She has been very dedicated to advocating for social justice for underrepresented and oppressed communities since adolescence. This work expanded during her teaching at the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare and Smith College. Practicing self-compassion and extending compassion toward human beings is very important to her equity work, psychotherapy service, educational offerings and personal mission. Sydney works as a licensed part-time clinical social worker in private practice in Missouri and Kansas. She specializes in working with survivors of many types of trauma, including traumatic grief, complicated grief, social injustice trauma, and those who have experienced relational trauma, relational violence, and relational narcissistic abuse. Consequently, she is deeply dedicated to supporting the efforts of authentic global compassion and power of humanity-based community-building.
Tracy Ochester, Psy.D. is a licensed psychologist in private practice in the Kansas City Metro. She is also a Certified Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) Teacher and Mentor, a Trained Mindfulness Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP) and Mindful Self Compassion (MSC) and yoga teacher. She has completed Compassion Cultivation, Nonviolent Communication, Trauma Informed Yoga and Embodied Activism training, the Pachamama Game Changer Intensive for social and ecological justice, Joanna Macy’s The Work That Reconnects, and Socially Engaged Buddhism Certification through the Upaya Institute. She finds that it has been a particular joy to co-teach contemplative courses in diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging and death and dying. She believes that contemplative skills and practice are a pathway into personal and collective wellbeing.
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Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) 8-Week Class
MBSR, developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn, has been found helpful in coping with stress, pain, depression, anxiety, and chronic human unhappiness. Read more about the course.
A complimentary Introduction to Mindfulness and MBSR is offered prior to the 8-week class, which includes concepts, principles, and some basic practices. It is required before the MBSR 8-Week course; exceptions are possible with prior experience and/or the teacher’s approval.
Schedule: Complimentary Orientation, Wednesday, February 18, 6:30 – 8:00 pm ET
MBSR 8-Week Classes: Wednesdays, February 25 – April 15, 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm ET
All-Day Class: Saturday, March 28, 9:00 am – 4:30 pm ETTeacher: Brenda Lindsay, CPC, PRP, CPA. MBSR teacher trained through Brown University, Certified Mindfulness Instructor from AIHCP, Certified Yoga Teacher (CYT-200), Board Member of the Ann Arbor Center for Mindfulness.
All classes and the retreat will be online. For more information or to register, contact Brenda at Brenda@mindtransformationsllc.com or visit www.mindtransformationsllc.com/upcoming-classes.
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