Stress is what we experience when the demands of life exceed our ability to meet those demands. Situations that create stress are as individual as we are.
Stress can be harmful by affecting our physical and emotional health.
Physical manifestations of stress can suppress the immune system, increasing our susceptibility to infectious diseases. Under acute stress the heart beats more rapidly, putting us at risk for angina and heart rhythm irregularities. Stress can irritate asthma and gastrointestinal disorders like ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome. The intensive eight-week program is based on the principal of mindfulness. We think about the past or future, and let our unproductive thoughts influence our behavior.