Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

• Get unstuck
• Find freedom from anxiety and overwhelm
• Feel calmer and more at ease
• Learn fresh solutions to your persistent life challenges
• Gain a comprehensive set of tools and practices to be in the driver's seat of your wellbeing and happiness

The Pause MBSR course seriously changed my life! I have learned so many amazing tools to navigate in the world. It has improved my health, my relationships, and my overall sense of purpose. Pause is an amazing community that I am so grateful to have found.  – Mary G.

Pause's MBSR course gave me a deep, lasting sense of calm and safety. Ryan's teachings come back to me often. I trust myself more when life throws me curve balls, and know that I'm going to be okay. I'm so happy I made the choice to join MBSR, and would recommend it to anyone.  – Diana B.

I learned a lot about myself. I've discovered a regular and fulfilling practice and my stress levels continue to decrease in a noticeable way. Acquaintances and family members have commented on how much calmer I seem (most of the time, no one's perfect)! Meditation and mindfulness have truly helped me lead a calmer balanced life. I feel so lucky to have the Pause Meditation studio in my wellness arsenal here in Portland.  – Katy K.

Looking back, I'm extremely grateful I set aside the time to cultivate a deeper practice within the structure of an MBSR course. The course was a great way to start/improve/reset my mindfulness, meditation, and yoga practice. In addition, I saw the same faces each week, which means I had a built-in, supportive community. These people (including Ryan) experienced the journey with me and at the same pace. During those eight weeks, I learned a lot about myself, other people, and mindfulness in general. I was sad when it ended. I'm impressed that Ryan is willing to extend our experience by inviting us to participate in future silent retreats.  – Lauren M.

A solid two thumbs up for Pause Meditation! I took the Pause MBSR course and was really impressed. Ryan is grounded, heart-filled & practical. There were participants with a variety of meditation experience levels and he was able to meet us where they were at. He also made himself available to follow up with us after the class ended. Super helpful! This isn't one-size-fits-all stereotypical meditation/mindfulness.  – Verna B.

Ryan is the consummate professional and demonstrates a clear and compassionate understanding of his subject matter. He navigates his MBSR course with gentle and discerning care, all the while creating a welcoming environment for his students to explore their own edges in a supportive space. Great studio, great people. Great opportunity for growth! Take the class... you'll be glad you did.  – Adam B.

I was searching for a meditation course and studio that would allow me to learn how to meditate, how to develop a practice, and ultimately lead to feeling calmer. Pause Meditation and Ryan Kenny provided an incredible life-enriching experience that will forever shape how I accept things in life and be kinder to myself and others. As a result, I feel less stress in my life and have a renewed sense of personal growth. The 8-week MBSR course is a comprehensive way for a beginner to learn how to meditate and honestly, feel more alive. I highly recommend Pause for anyone! What a gift!"  – Mariko O.

A secular, science-based, Western meditation and mindfulness program. No hype. I highly recommend the eight-week course. It's arduous if you do the home practice (which you need to do to get the benefits), but worth the effort. Ryan is a common-sense, kind, highly-experienced teacher. I'm not one for superlatives, but this program was well worth my time and effort (and the fees are low).  – Rich S.

I walked into my first class not knowing anyone and not knowing entirely what to expect and found an incredibly warm, inviting atmosphere. The space itself really puts you at ease...and I found my MBSR classes to be the most grounding things I'd ever participated in. I find myself taking more time to sit in quiet reflection, with better tools for doing so. I sit with my emotions better, not trying so hard to reject them. I've left each class with something valuable--whether it was something to really think on or simply a sense of warmth and acceptance of life as it is to carry with me for the rest of the week.  – Meg H.

MBSR is a great experiential way to build up a new meditation practice or deepen an existing practice. It's not a class based on reading and theory, but rather building up a habit gradually. I took the class and loved having a cohort of meditation buddies. The class features 8 weeknight meetings and an 'All-Day' meditation retreat (all guided), which is not a small commitment - but is definitely worth the investment if you're interested in getting more into meditation.  – Grace C. 

Pause is a calming, inviting, open-minded meditation group that practices mindfulness. It provides a wonderful place and heart-warming atmosphere to step away from our busy lives to simply stop, breathe, and appreciate the present moment. The hosts are kind-hearted people who make you feel 'at home' and the guided meditations are calming and pleasantly rewarding. Whether you are looking for a place to try mindful meditation or are experienced in other practices, I definitely recommend looking into Pause and connecting with their friendly community.  – Noel J.