Mindful IN MoCo

04/04/2026

This is an interesting study (but, I believe the article is behind a paywall).

Overall, this fits with what we know about the benefits of managing stress: it is no a cure-all, or a magic bullet for any difficulty in life. But, high levels of stress can aggravate many medical conditions, and many of these conditions can themselves cause stress.

Stress can have benefits: pointing our attention to potential problems, mobilizing resources to deal with challenges. But, left unchecked, long-term and excessive stress can be depleting of our resources and energy.

Being better able to notice and deal with stress can not only improve our quality of life, but can also have deep benefits for our health.

New research leveraging patient data and mouse models reveals how psychological stress can worsen atopic dermatitis, or eczema. It does so by activating a specific neural pathway that links the brain to immune responses in the skin.

The study’s authors emphasize that managing psychological stress, alongside conventional therapies, may represent an underused but potentially powerful strategy for improving outcomes in eczema.

Learn more in a new Science Perspective: https://scim.ag/4t71eus

03/28/2026

The Great Wind Zendo in Danville, IN, has provided a wonderful space for Zen practice here in central Indiana for years. So, we were disappointed when the zendo closed, but grateful that we have been able to give a home to some of their meditation cushions and benches (and one bell!).

And, we'll be making these available to anyone who joins us for our on-campus meditation groups, and likely in workshops/classes/events!

02/28/2026

Tomorrow at 2pm: the monthly Mindful Living series continues at Quest For Balance Wellness, with an exploration of what it means to live peacefully in the body - I hope you can join us!

Join us for Mindful Living this Sunday, March 1 at 2pm. Mindful Living is a monthly gathering that blends guided meditation with conversation about how mindfulness can support everyday life. Our theme for March considers what it means to peacefully inhabit the body. All are welcome, no experience necessary. Learn more and register at https://qfbwellness.com/mindful-living/

02/14/2026

Are you looking for ways to better deal with stress and challenges in life? Our mindfulness based stress reduction (MBSR) course is the perfect opportunity to explore how mindfulness can help us manage difficulties in life, and also to be more present in each and every moment.

Hundreds of research studies have shown how MBSR can help us to be more resilient, and to better deal with stress, anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and a range of other conditions. And, MBSR can help us cultivate calm and to appreciate the richness of the present moment.

Our next 8 week mindfulness class starts in late March and will runs through May 10th. Each week, we will usually meet at Quest For Balance Wellness on Sundays from 4 to 6pm. And, we will also have an all-day class (a mini-retreat) on Saturday, August 25th (please see our website for the full class schedule).

Want to learn more? We will have a free informational session on Sunday, March 15th (4 to 5:30pm) at Quest For Balance Wellness for anyone who is interested. The March 15th session will give a general overview of mindfulness, and give an orientation for the 8 week class.

Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) classes in Montgomery County, Indiana

01/18/2026

If you subscribe to the IndyStar, Sadia Khatri has a great column on her experiences with mindfulness and meditation, starting with a class at Butler University. The piece has some useful information on mindfulness practice, and some resources that will be helpful to local folks!

If you are looking to start or continue your meditation practice, you are welcome to join us at Wabash College for our campus meditation groups (see the link posted in the comments).

And, we'll be starting a new mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) course this spring (orientation: Sunday, March 15th at 4pm at Quest For Balance Wellness). See our website for more information, or reach out with questions!

I can't predict the future or change the past, but I can control how I react. That's what meditation taught me.

08/15/2025

Our Quest for Balance Wellness studio has been a cornerstone of the wellness community in Crawfordsville since 2012.

08/05/2025

Indianapolis area folks: If you would be interested in taking an in-person mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) course, one will be starting in September, taught by Scott Sweet and Leslie Flowers. And, please pass this along to others you know in the area!

07/20/2025

The journal Nature had a nice summary of current research on the health effects of stress (the article is behind a paywall, but you should be able to read it by making a free account).

I'd recommend this for anyone interested in learning more about the science of stress. But, I'd also offer the caution that this piece is not really focused on actionable changes you can make in your life. And, seeing stress as unhealthy (worrying about the impacts of stress) can be unhealthy as well (see the points in this piece, about how short bursts of stress can be helpful - when thinking about health, we typically focus on the negative impacts of long-term, intense activation of the stress response).

Better stress assessment and tailored interventions could give clinicians the tools they need to fend off lasting damage.

06/28/2025

I liked this short self-compassion exercise, and thought it was a useful reminder of the option to take a step back and be aware of the wider situation when we feel ourselves becoming overwhelmed. And the option to offer a bit of kindness to ourselves in these moments.

We all tend to think the worst of ourselves when under a lot of stress. The next time you feel like you're being too hard on yourself, try this simple practice to foster self-compassion.

06/03/2025

A look at the research on how mindfulness relates to our ability to avoid the pull of sunk costs, and the temptation to "double down" on a losing course of action.

What is the use of mindfulness? A look at how mindfulness relates to decision-making, and our ability to resist the lure of sunk costs.

06/01/2025

Coming this month to West Lafayette!

This summer, what are you going to do for yourself?

How about exploring mindfulness, and how to be more present for all of the moments in life, big and small?

We will be starting an 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) course in West Lafayette in June. This is a perfect opportunity to explore how mindfulness can help us manage challenges in life, and also to be more present in each and every moment.

Hundreds of research studies have shown how the MBSR program can help us to be more resilient, and to better deal with stress, anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and a range of other conditions. And, MBSR can help us cultivate calm and to appreciate the richness of the present moment.

We will meet at the Unitarian Universalist Church, of Tippecanoe County, on Thursdays (4:30-7pm) from June 26th to August 21st. And, we will also have an all-day class (a mini-retreat) on Saturday, August 9th.

Want to learn more? Our first meeting will be a free orientation on June 26th (4:30-6pm), to give an overview of the class, and also an introduction to mindfulness practice. The June 26th meeting is a good opportunity to see if this class is something that you want to explore this summer.

For more information on MBSR and details on this class, visit our website: https://mindfulinmoco.com/mbsr/

This class is offered using a "pay-it-forward" pricing, where we ask people to consider what they feel they can contribute. The registration fees we receive will support people who take a future class (and, please see our webpage for more information).

And, please reach out if you have any questions!

Meditation and mindfulness in Montgomery County, IN

05/31/2025

Mindful living will meet tomorrow (June 1st) at 2pm at Quest For Balance Wellness!

Come walk our outdoor meditation path and consider what it means to live in a mindful way. This month, Sunday, June 1, we think about renewal. It is a time the earth is coming alive, seasons are changing and we are growing. Join us for this time of meditation, discussion, and mindful practice. Learn more at https://qfbwellness.com/mindful-living/