Amy Hephner, MPH
Amy is a qualified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) instructor through University of Massachusetts Center for Mindfulness.
She came to MBSR in 2006 seeking tools to assist with her health and well being. Long hours at the computer and self-imposed demands of being a perfectionist were taking its toll. Amy was dealing with chronic low back pain from an assault in college, insomnia, hypothyroidism (her thyroid gave out from work stress which resulted in her gaining over 30 pounds within 3 months) and the final straw, chronic neck and arm pain.
Amy dabbled with meditation in her 20s to help with sleep issues, but MBSR was different. The formal course gave her the means necessary to build a long term, sustainable mindfulness practice. From the practice, she has gained ‘ah’ moments such as the underpinning of her alcoholic, abusive upbringing on her adult life. Amy is closer to thriving versus being defensive or motivated by anger. She has experienced first hand the benefits of increased coping mechanisms, decreased pain, and a more positive outlook on life. She is proof meditation works!
Amy feels she is truly utilizing her Master’s in Public Health, decades later, by sharing the gift of mindfulness with others.