ANNA SMYTH, MS, RYT

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ANNA SMYTH, MS, RYT is Managing Director of Mindfulness Utah and Founder of Thrive Utah LLC. She holds a Masters degree in Health Promotion and Education, which included formal study of mindfulness, stress physiology, and behavior change theory. She is a Qualified MBSR Instructor trained through the Center for Mindfulness at UMASS Medical School. Anna is also a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) and Adjunct Faculty at Salt Lake Community College teaching undergraduate courses in Stress Management and Mindfulness THeory and Practice. She has loved sharing the evidence-based neurobiological benefits of mindfulness practice with others over the years through facilitating mindfulness trainings, programs and presentations for companies, schools, and nonprofits such as Huntsman Cancer Institute, the Utah Courts, Zions Bank, the Weigand Center for the Homeless, Granite School District and the Utah School for the Deaf. She's been featured in Utah Business magazine, Utah Trial Journal, Thrive Global, Mindful Leader, KRCL Radio Active, and First Seven Years. Anna is a member of the American Mindfulness Research Association.

ANNA'S INTRODUCTION TO MINDFULNESS: While living abroad in her mid-20s, Anna personally experienced mindfulness as the most powerful and lasting tool to address her own 20+ year journey with chronic back pain. She subsequently returned to the US for graduate school to formally study the underpinnings of sustainable health behavior change, for both individuals and groups. She was determined to answer a few burning questions: What is health, really? Why do some people cope with life's stressors better than others? What role does the brain play in our day-to-day perception of stress, wellness, and happiness? Can a regular mindfulness practice actually change the brain and—as a result—one's health and life fulfillment?

FOR YOUTH: Anna is a certified trainer of Learning to Breathe, a mindfulness curriculum from Penn State specifically designed to be developmentally appropriate for adolescents in their social and emotional learning and growth. Visit learning2breathe.org/trainers/ to learn more or contact Anna directly to schedule a training for your team to be able to begin teaching Learning to Breathe in your school or youth setting.

Testimonials:

“You can tell Anna lives & breathes these teachings. She is incredible and has many valuable insights that will shift your perspective towards balance and peace.” -2023 MBSR course participant

“This course has changed many aspects of my life and the lessons Anna has taught us have been transformative in a way I didn’t think was possible.” -2020 MBSR course participant

“Anna is incredible. She has been nothing but gracious, supportive and kind. I hope that I am able to continue to absorb mindfulness into my daily life as it has certainly helped me through my toughest trials so far.” -2019 MBSR course participant

“Anna is truly a gift. Her ability to present in a manner that makes an individual feel welcomed and unjudged is astounding. If you ever have the chance to experience her presence, absolutely take it.” -2019 MBSR course participant

“I love Anna. She runs the course with so much gentleness but also in a controlled manner.” -2019 MBSR course participant

Press and Publications:

To request an MBSR or Learning to Breathe class for your group, please contact Anna via email: anna@mindfulnessutah.com

To see Anna’s currently scheduled MBSR courses in Salt Lake, click here.