Mindfulness
for musicians & more
meditation classes and workshops
I love helping others develop mindfulness skills.
Scroll down to see my work with musicians of all ages, Honors college students, elementary school summer campers, and people living with cancer.
Groups and Workshops
CAMP
This summer school is offered free of charge to at-risk inner city kids in Birmingham. Teaching 4th and 5th graders short meditations was the highlight of my summer the two years I taught it. Though initially skeptical, the students agreed that developing mindfulness is like having a mental superpower.
Wellness Wednesdays
Every Wednesday, I offer a 15-minute drop-in meditation to Honors students. No RSVP or previous experience is necessary! There are a few regulars every week, and new folks are always welcome. They leave feeling less stressed, refreshed, and ready to tackle the rest of the week.
Arts in Medicine
Through UAB Integrative Medicine, I offer weekly meditation for people living with cancer. Being on the journey with these fabulous folks is such an honor and inspiration. Meditation is one skill that helps them manage the stress of scary tests, diagnoses, recovery from surgery, and pain.
Mindful Musician Classes
Since before the pandemic, I’ve offered workshops for musicians ranging from 50-minute online workshops to day-long in-person residencies. Recent clients include Southern NATS, MTNA at the IU Jacobs School of Music, and Carnegie-Mellon. I’m happy to design something that works for you and your students.
Mindfulness Meditation Classes
Most academic years, I offer at least one Mindfulness Meditation course. This 4-week sequence is limited to 12 students total. We meet weekly for 75 minutes each time, and students learn all the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) skills. Message me for information!
Workshops
Workshops are tailored to your needs, from 2.5 hour intensives to 20-minute Intro to Meditation. The Collat School of Business, The UAB Graduate School, psychology classes, pre-Law students, The Resilient Leader, and UAB Arts in Medicine are recent partners. We can design one for your class or group, too.
30-second pause
Take a few moments to watch this video. Focus on your breathing, or simply notice details of what you see and hear. This was recorded very close to where I grew up in Vermont.
Testimonials
Dr. Hurst-Wajszczuk’s class has given me the space to grow mentally and physically. The mindfulness techniques she taught me combined with her supportive nature better prepared me for dealing with stressful situations. With her guidance, I have developed a deeper self-awareness and balanced my once anxious mind. I can confidently consider her teachings as a major contributor to my current lifestyle and success. I highly recommend Dr. Hurst-Wajszczuk’s class, especially those seeking improved emotional and mental wellness.
Because of my class with Dr. Hurst-Wajszczuk, bit by bit I began to get noticeably better in various ways, and even began to consistently keep a gratitude journal.
The semester came to a close, but my mindfulness journey didn’t. I meditate at least five minutes a day, and finally had the motivation to see a psychiatrist about my issues. I’d have never gotten to that point without meditation, gratitude, and mindfulness, all of which I still practice regularly. That journey all started with the class, and that amazing human being. And as of writing this, that gratitude journal is over 400 pages.
Thank you and love you, Dr. Hurst-Wajszczuk.
Kristine is a first-rate scholar, performer, and teacher—someone I greatly respect and use as a professional advisor of a wide array of musical and pedagogical topics. She is thoughtful, wise, very knowledgeable–her presentations have much gravity and are well-organized, containing the most cutting-edge research. She is a vibrant, wonderful communicator and human being!