Neuroplasticity is a relatively new term in the science world. It refers to the brain’s ability to create new connections and change the way it functions. It is also what enables people to recover from stroke and brain injuries.

What you feel and what you think impacts the brain chemically and structurally. Activating positive mental states serves to strengthen specific areas of the brain, affording you the ability to rewire it gradually. By incorporating mindfulness practices and techniques into your daily life you can empower yourself to live a fuller, happier life.

An eight-week course called Mindful Living is available beginning Monday, Sept. 11, at the Paradise Valley Office Suites, 11120 N. Tatum Blvd., Suite 101; both day and evening classes are available. Offered by Shelley Berger Dooley, a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner and mindfulness educator, the course combines mindfulness meditation and psychological tools that are based on a research-proven curriculum. Cost is $325 for the eight-week course. To register for the class or for more information, visit www.mindfullivingforyou.com.