Background & Practice

In early 2013, after doing extensive online and book research, and doing some self-guided practices, I felt ready to be immersed in a meditation retreat.  In my search for locations near by, affordability, and alignment to my life in that point in time, I decided to do a 10-day silent retreat with the non-profit Vippassaa Centers.

According to Vipassana Centers (Dharma.org), Vipassana:

"...means to see things as they really are, is one of  India's most ancient techniques of meditation. It was rediscovered by Gotama Buddha more than 2500 years ago and was taught by him as a universal remedy for universal ills, i.e., an Art Of Living.  This non-sectarian technique aims for the total eradication of mental  impurities and the resultant highest happiness of full liberation.  Vipassana is a way of self-transformation through self-observation.  It focuses on the deep interconnection between mind and body, which can  be experienced directly by disciplined attention to the physical  sensations that form the life of the body, and that continuously  interconnect and condition the life of the mind. It is this  observation-based, self-exploratory journey to the common root of mind  and body that dissolves mental impurity, resulting in a balanced mind  full of love and compassion."  

Vipassana Centers follows the teachings S.N. Goenka whom began teaching in 1969, and since then has "...taught tens of  thousands of people of all races and all religions in both the East and  West. In 1982 he began to appoint assistant teachers to help him meet  the growing demand for Vipassana courses."

While Vipassana's retreats are very structured, and include long periods of setting, I greatly benefited from the experience, and developed so many "insights" that served as small seeds that kept me close to the practice and its teachings.  I don't always recommend the 10-day sit for beginners, but it really just depends on the individual, including the level of support they might need as being in silence and not able to speak to others can bring up a lot, and overwhelming for some.

I still attend Vipassana Centers for silent retreats, and have practiced at their North Fork and Kelseyville, CA location.  I also attend retreats at other centers located in Santa Cruz, Big Sur, and Mill Valley area, including various Insight Meditation Centers. Silent retreats are a way for me to nourish my meditation practice, which is life-enhancing, and strengthens my teaching practice. 

Mindfulness-Based (MB) Evidence-Based Curriculums  

I have been formally trained in three MB curriculums: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Mindfulness-Based Eating and Awareness Training (MB-EAT), and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Teens (MB-EAT). For more information about each of these curriculums, click here.  

I participated in the  Center for Mindfulness (CFM) at the University of Massachusetts MBSR teacher education program.  I completed the MBSR 8 Week Fundamental training (taught by Bob  Stahl, PhD) and the Practice Teaching Intensive (taught by Bob Stahl,  PhD, Christiane Wolf, MD, Carolyn West PhD, and Lone Overby), and are a CFM Qualified MBSR Teacher.  

I completed the MB-EAT training that was lead and developed by Dr. Jean Kristeller. The training was co-lead by Andrea Lieberstein, author of the book: Well Nourished: Mindful Practices to Heal Your Relationship with Food, Feed Your Whole Self, and End Overeating   Dr. Kristeller is the co-founder and past-president of The Center for  Mindful Eating.  Both Jean and Andrea are trained and use  Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) as the foundation for their  work with mindful eating.   Dr. Kristeller is the author of: The Joy of Half a Cookie.

MBRS-T was developed by Gina M. Biegel, LMFT.  Gina is a psychotherapist who specializes in  mindfulness-based work with adolescents.  She is also the author of several books related to teens and mindfulness meditation.  

Mentorship

I have known and trained with Bob Stahl, PhD since 2017 when I was accepted into the Univeristy of Massachusetts MBSR teacher education program.  Bob and meet regularly to help deepen my meditation practice, and to continue to learn about key concepts related to mindfulness meditation.  Bob is the Guiding teacher at Insight Santa Cruz and visiting teacher at Spirit Rock and Insight Meditation Society. He teaches MBSR teacher trainings and meditation retreats nationally and internationally.

In 2023, I started to co-teach at Insight Watsonville under the mentorship of Tiffany Lynn Wong.  We are currently offering a BIPOC and ally weekly meditation offering that is focused on self-care, and providing  a safe and brave space to confront and empower us to be with the realities of how racism and other-isims  impact our daily lives an overall health and wellness. 

I am a member of the International Mindfulness Teachers Association.

Disclaimer about Mindfulness Training and Education 

Oscar provides coaching and educational services to promote stress reduction, health and overall wellbeing.  Education can be an important complement to my medical care; however, it is never a substitute for  diagnosis, treatment, or care of disease by a medical provider.  Oscar does not dispense medical advice nor prescribe treatment.