26.02.15
The profound benefits of mindful compassion for health professionals
Breathworks, one of the leading mindfulness organisations in the UK, founded by world expert in pain management, Vidyamala Burch, is holding its first sessions open to Health Professionals to learn Mindfulness and Compassion as Health Care Interventions.
The 3 day course, Manchester, 30 March to 1 April, is open to any Health Care Professional and will help meet the Government requirement that, ‘compassionate care must be at the very heart of our NHS’.[1]
Vidyamala, says: ‘The degenerative spinal condition, that I have had since a young woman, has given me years of care in the hands of many compassionate and mindful health care professionals.
On the other hand, I also have many years’ experience of teaching mindful management techniques to people living with pain, ill health and stress, so I also understand how vitally important it is to be not only compassionate and mindful towards those who are suffering, but also towards myself, otherwise I risk burn out and exhaustion.”
Breathworks Mindfulness and Compassion for Health Professionals will look at areas such as; the importance of the breath in cultivating compassion, compassion in the face of suffering and compassion for self and others, while the mindfulness aspects of the training looks at, for example, mindful movement, mindful breath and practices that can be used in everyday work and life.
Majid Khan, GP and Breathworks trainer, Birmingham, says: “I am on the frontline of health care with the general public and mindfulness practices have transformed my patient interactions and my own self-care. I have more energy, patience and compassion for my patients and for myself, I am able to relate to my patients compassionately during their times of difficulty and I understand when I need a 3 minute ‘mindful breathing space’.
The way I relate to patients and myself has been revolutionised. In such a highly demanding and otherwise very stressful environment that is the NHS. I cannot emphasise strongly enough the benefits that mindful compassion have brought to my practice as a whole.’
Breathworks mindful pain management techniques are now taught around the world and have helped thousands of people. Plus, Vidyamala’s book, Mindfulness for Health, recently won first prize in the BMA Medical Book Awards for clinical books aimed at the general public
Karen Hall, a Senior Breathworks Teacher had 26 years working in the NHS as an Operating Theatre Nurse, before joining Breathworks, says: ‘I know how busy and overwhelmed I used to feel as a nurse, and that mindfulness and compassion were scarce commodities when I felt so under pressure. However, now I teach these values to health professionals, I know that they have profound beneficial effects on both the practitioner and the patient.”
The courses, which are taught by Vidyamala, cost£520 for organisationsand £420 for individuals. More courses for health professionals will be running in London and Manchester throughout the year, please visit for more information.
Ends.
For more information contact Elaine Brass, , 07951 989 588.
Notes to editors:
1.Vidyamala Burch is founder and co-director of Breathworks, an organisation offering mindfulness-based and compassion-based approaches to living well with chronic pain, illness and stress. In 2008 Vidyamala wrote ‘Living Well with Pain and Illness: using mindfulness to free yourself from suffering’ (Piatkus) which is based on the Breathworks programme. Vidyamala has also produced guided meditation CDs and booklets available through Breathworks Shop. Vidyamala is an internationally known author with her book ‘Living Well with Pain and Illness’ published in twelve different languages.
2.Breathworks' mission is to help people living with pain, stress and illness to lead happier, healthier lives. We are internationally recognised leaders in Mindfulness Based Pain Management (MBPM), providing *Mindfulness for Health* and *Mindfulness for Stress *programmes. Breathworks is a 'not for profit' social enterprise, registered in England and Wales with Companies House and the Community Interest Company Regulator. Vidyamala set up the Breathworks Centre in Manchester to teach the programme to others. There are now Breathworks trainers in 15 countries and the organisation has helped tens of thousands of people find relief from chronic pain, illness and stress.
3.Breathworks has a network of accredited trainers across 15 countries helping thousands of people, UK patients are regularly recommended to Breathworks by NHS doctors and specialist pain clinics.
4. Mindfulness for Health is published by Piatkus Publishing, £13.99 ISBN: 9780749959241
[1] Dan Poulter MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Health