Pain Control with Meditation

I want to share someone’s story with you.  I have her permission to do so, but will call her Ann.

Ann joined our Meditation Course 6-weeks ago.  Suffering from chronic pain and debilitating headaches, she decided to give meditation a try – almost as a last resort.  She came into the room almost pain-free but as we started our first 5-minute meditation, focussing on the breath, Ann was on the verge of a panic attack and severe pain kicked in. 

I asked her if she would like to go home but she said she wanted to give it another go, so we started our second meditation.  This time was a little better – no panic attack, but the pain remained.  Still determined to continue we went into the final, guided, meditation of the evening and Ann felt the intensity of her pain fade a little.  As she left she said she would be back the following week.

I was at a bit of a loss – I had never had anyone come into a course pain-free but leave with pain.  I decided that, if there was no improvement the following week, I would talk it over with my own meditation teacher, Mary Pearson, at the British School of Meditation.

Ann was back the following week and started the session with slight pain.  During the first meditation she felt the pain ebb and flow; the pain lessened with the second meditation.  Our third meditation, The Hot Air Balloon, was our breakthrough.  Ann loaded all her pain, plus some other problems and anxieties, into the basket and cut the ropes.  As she watched the hot air balloon float away, so did her pain.  Ann had found a way to start to gain control.

The improvement continued over the following weeks; with each new meditation Ann was beginning to feel more in control and her pain lessened.

Last night was the end of the course and I am delighted that Ann is now only suffering pain about once a week - an enormous improvement.  Ann is hopeful that her headaches will continue to reduce in both frequency and severity.

Through meditation Ann has learnt that she is in control and now has a valuable tool at her disposal.  She continues to meditate daily, and uses meditation whenever her pain becomes too severe. 

Needless to say, I am absolutely delighted for Ann.

Mindfulness helps lower anxiety and stress

Mindfulness a Strategy Used to Help Lower Anxiety and Stress

By Robin Williams Adams
THE LEDGER

Published: Monday, March 25, 2013 at 12:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, March 26, 2013 at 4:08 a.m.

LAKE WALES | Mindfulness, a form of meditation therapy, is accumulating a growing amount of support from professionals working to improve people's sense of well being.

Psychologists at Duke Integrative Medicine in Durham use it, along with other alternative therapies, to help people lower anxiety and stress, increase their daily relaxation and to treat depression and other mood disorders.

Closer to home, mindfulness of breathing will be part of a one-day meditation course the Central Florida Meditation Society is hosting April 6 at Bok Tower Gardens. (See Health Events listing above for more information.)

After reviewing "mindfulness-based practices," which include meditation as a key component, a University of Utah psychiatrist found "convincing evidence" that they are effective in treating psychiatric symptoms and pain when used along with more conventional therapy.

Dr. William R. Marchand's review focused on Zen meditation, a Buddhist spiritual practice of developing mindfulness by meditation; mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), a secular method of using Buddhist mindfulness; and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, MBSR combined with principles of cognitive therapy (such as recognizing and disengaging from negative thoughts).

May I be well; May I be happy; May all things go well for me.

Try sitting quietly and repeating whenever you have a spare 5-minutes.

Mindfulness could reduce stress ...

... and lead to a better life.

So say students working on a study in America.  Check out this is a report in the Daily Utah Chronicle.

Good Reasons to Meditate

Tuning out the world and tuning in to yourself is a clever way to boost your health.

Australia Women's Health on-line reports on why meditation is good for your health.  Check it out here.

Two New Beginner's Courses Set

Dates have been set for the next two 6-week Beginner's Meditation Courses at the Como Centre:

Wednesday 3 April at 11am

Monday 8 April at 7.30pm

Learn how to meditate and reap the many benefits that meditation brings.

Our courses are designed for those who want to improve their health and well-being and are not linked to any religion.

Spaces are available on both courses.

Meditation Group

Our Como Meditation Group starts tomorrow, Tuesday 12th March.  If you're in our area and would like to join us, come along to the Como Centre for 7.30pm.  There is a charge of £5 and refreshments are included.

For more details click here.

Meditation CD

I've just made my first ever CD and how fitting that it should be on Meditation.  

The CD contains 10 basic meditations, including breathing, mindfulness and loving kindness.  Each meditation is between 5- and 10-minutes and is based on the course we teach at Como.  It is aimed at those just starting their meditation practice.

The CD will be available to buy from Como from Tuesday 12 March for just £5 (£2.50 for all Como Meditation Course Students).

Meditation

Source: backonpointe.tumblr.com via Megan on Pinterest

NHS Recognises Mindfulness

NHS recognises that mindfulness meditation is good for depression

Scientists have now discovered how mindfulness meditation can give patients control over levels of depression, anxiety and chronic pain, says Mia Hansson.

Read the full story here.

Mindfulness & Meditation

Mindfulness and meditation is becoming more widely recognised as one of the best ways of reducing stress, anxiety and depression.  

Scientific research has proven that daily mindfulness meditation can help to lower blood pressure, boost the immune system, improve general health and well-being, increase confidence and self-esteem and is effective in combating the mental and physical effects of ageing.

Everyone can meditate, it just takes practise and finding the style that suits you.  You don't need to spend much time meditating, 10-minutes a day provides huge benefits.

Meditation & Mindfulness courses are available at the Como Centre in Grove, Oxfordshire.

Mindfulness Meditation

Welcome to my new Mindfulness & Meditation Blog.