There is an epidemic of chronic health conditions plaguing modern society. Globally, as many as 1 in 5 experience chronic pain and 1 in 3 experience multiple chronic health conditions.
These millions of people suffer enormously from not only painful experiences in the body, but also the associated stress, anxiety, depression and many other forms of mental distress.
In this workshop Vidyamala and Michael will introduce the theory and practice of compassionate presence to work with personal suffering so we can surf not sink in the face of pain and illness.
Through bringing compassionate awareness to experiences of pain and illness we can reclaim quality of life and move from merely surviving to thriving. We can learn to surf the inevitable ups and downs of living with health challenges rather than being dragged drown and getting lost in struggle.
In the workshop we will explore the ways our brains are not well adapted for the modern world and how pain and illness can trigger a primitive threat response that leads to biochemical cascades and a spiral of stress, tension and more pain.
We will also explore the science of compassion and how this can activate brain systems that are soothing and calming and can ‘dial down’ pain perception.
Vidyamala will share aspects of her own journey of learning to bring compassion to her experience of long-term spinal pain and the powerful benefits of that and the workshop will also include guided compassion exercises along with Q&A and discussion.
Aims
- Understand the science of compassion and how it can reduce pain perception and other unpleasant symptoms
- Gain practical tools and support to begin to move from struggling with pain and ill-health, to living with greater ease
- Reinforce the importance of compassion and self-compassion in transforming quality of life when living with health challenges
Duration: approx. 3 hours
Feel free to also register for Sunday’s workshop on creating happier workplaces here!
Your Teachers
Vidyamala Burch OBE: Vidyamala is the Founder of The Breathworks Foundation – an international mindfulness and compassion charity. Vidyamala began teaching her mindfulness approach for managing pain and illness following her own personal experience living with health challenges following spinal injuries and surgeries in her teens. She began to explore mindfulness, compassion and meditation as a way to manage her pain and found the results to be life changing and transformative.
Michael West CBE: Michael is Senior Visiting Fellow at The King’s Fund, London and Professor of Organizational Psychology at Lancaster University, Visiting Professor at University College, Dublin, and Emeritus Professor at Aston University, where he was formerly Executive Dean of Aston Business School.