Mindfulness for Health course

learn to live well with pain & illness

Are you living with pain, illness, injury or fatigue?

Does it leave you feeling:

  • fearful or anxious about your health?

  • like no-one understands what you’re going through?

  • frustrated by your physical limitations?

  • like you’re fighting against your body?

  • cut-off from friends and peers?

  • catastrophizing about worst-case scenarios?

  • exhausted and overwhelmed

Whether your health condition is new or long-term, diagnosed or undiagnosed, you can still benefit from attending a Mindfulness for Health course.

People with a wide range of health concerns attend the course, including but not limited to: back, knee or hip pain, fibromyalgia, long Covid, chronic fatigue and recovering from injury or surgery.

Health-care professionals are also welcome to attend in order to deepen their understanding of mindfulness as a tool for supporting their patients.

About the Mindfulness for Health course

There’s no doubt that living with pain or a health condition is challenging.

However, much of the suffering caused by ill-health can be overcome.

Are you ready to learn new skills and techniques to help you manage your health condition and regain a high quality of life?

This eight-week Mindfulness for Health course combines mindfulness and compassion techniques, inspired by mindfulness expert Vidyamala Burch OBE who has been living with severe chronic pain for over 30 years.

You’ll leave with all the confidence, compassion and skills you need to keep living well, whatever your body throws at you.

"Accepting pain can be difficult. It’s just better than the alternative, which is to live in a state of perpetual suffering.”

- Vidyamala Burch & Danny Penman

What you’ll learn

  • Meditation practises tailored to help you manage your pain or discomfort

  • Daily life practices and strategies, including pacing, to increase your quality of life

  • Gentle mindful movement to help you build mobility and confidence 

  • Personalised toolkit of skills and practices to take into the rest of your life

As well as the course content, many students find that simply spending time with a group of people who are all living with health challenges can be a great support and a relief.

There’s no need to pretend you’re OK because other students will GET IT. A great sense of camaraderie, empathy and hope often develops on these Mindfulness for Health courses.

Proven benefits

Clinical trials have shown that mindfulness meditation can be as effective as prescription painkillers, and can enhance the body’s natural healing systems.

Mindfulness can also reduce the anxiety, depression, irritability, exhaustion, and insomnia that often arises from chronic pain and illness.

Other benefits reported by people completing this course:

  • less emotional distress, anxiety and depression

  • catastrophising less about pain

  • pain interfering less with daily life

  • fewer sleep difficulties

  • increased daily activity levels despite pain

  • less fatigue

  • increased self-compassion

  • greater quality of life

"I didn't really believe that mindfulness could help me with my experience of pain and physical suffering ... This course has completely changed my perception and understanding of ways in which I can change my attitude towards it... Thank you so much!”

-Tam

What’s included?

Mindfulness for Health courses run over eight weeks, either online or face to face.

Included in your ticket:

  • 8 live classes of 2-2.5 hours led by an expert teacher

  • Audio downloads to use for daily home practice

  • A copy of the award-winning book ‘Mindfulness for Health’ by Vidyamala Burch & Danny Penman

  • A home practice journal

  • Follow-up emails to keep you on track between sessions

  • Personalised support between sessions if needed

  • Lifelong access to a course Padlet for inspiration

"Reading the part about the 'Boom and Bust cycle' really was a light bulb moment for me as, that was me! Now I'm learning (slowly) to pace myself so that I no longer get caught in that cycle."

-Emma

Student feedback

“Thank you Sally – this has really supported me and found me a way forward at a terrible time”

-Debbie

"I enjoyed your course so much. Having done my mindfulness mostly via the Calm app, it was a wonderful experience to practise and learn together with such an interesting and kind group of people, and with your truly excellent guidance and expertise"

-Gina

FAQs

  • Mindfulness is not recommended for people currently experiencing severe mental health difficulties, or very stressful life events such as divorce, bereavement or moving house. Before coming on a course all students are invited for a one-to-one chat with Sally. This is a chance to talk through whether now is the right time to join the course.

  • Groups are generally between 6-12 people.

  • During the course you’ll be strongly encouraged to practise each day between our group sessions using the recordings provided. Ideally you would practise for 10 minutes, twice a day. If that sounds like a lot, don’t worry! You’ll receive lots of support, encouragement and tips for sticking with it.

  • Absolutely not! You might see images of people meditating cross-legged on the floor, but for most people that’s not a comfortable position! On my courses many people like to meditate sitting in a chair, or lying down on the floor or their bed. If you want to try sitting or kneeling on the floor I can give you pointers on posture so you don’t strain yourself. You also choose whether to close your eyes or not.

  • Although mindfulness has roots in ancient Buddhist teachings, the modern Mindfulness movement is based on a secular and evidence-based approach developed by Prof. Jon Kabat-Zinn, an American medical doctor. Sally’s courses are completely secular and can be attended by people of any religion and none. There is no chanting, incense or religious icons.

  • Each week there will be an opportunity to share how you got on with your home practice, but you won’t be asked to share anything pertaining to your personal life. All participants will be made aware that this course is NOT group therapy. If you’re feeling nervous about being in a group setting do let Sally know when you sign up for the course and she’ll be happy to offer additional support as needed to help you feel comfortable.

  • Most of the Mindfulness for Stress courses I run are FREE at point of access, thanks to funding from Abingdon & Witney College and support from The Mix community centre who host them. A £50 deposit is taken upon booking, which is returned to anyone completing the course.

Next course dates

Not sure if this course is right for you?

Get in touch with Sally to arrange an informal chat, or take a look at the other courses on offer.