The overall goal of the proposed two year exploratory study is to conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to test and optimize recruitment and data collection procedures and to collect preliminary data on the effect of MBSR on behavioral and psychological aspects of asthma and lung function to support justification for a larger clinical trial should the results of this study be promising. Eighty-two adults ages 21 and older with a physician-documented diagnosis of asthma classified as either mild or moderate documented will be recruited for seventy participants at final follow-up. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two conditions stratified by asthma severity: (1) MBSR, or (2) Healthy Living Course (HLC) attention control condition. Participant assessments will occur at study entry (baseline) and at 10-week, 6- and 12-month follow-up. The primary aim of the project is to evaluate the efficacy of the MBSR program in improving quality of life and lung function as assessed by change from baseline to two-week average morning peak expiratory flow (PEF) compared to HLC participants. Secondary aims are to evaluate the effect of the MBSR program on reducing asthma rescue medication use, frequency of asthma exacerbations (prednisone therapy), asthma symptoms, healthcare utilization, number of days of work or school missed, peak expiratory flow (PEF) variation, and psychological distress, and in improving asthma control, asthma-related internal locus of control, and lung function as assessed by spirometry (FEV1).