Introduction to Mindfulness for People affected by Parkinson’s
The programme
Sessions run on three consecutive Mondays, September 15, 22 and 29th, from 7pm to 8pm, and are free of charge.
The aim is to introduce mindfulness and its possible relevance to people with Parkinson’s, and to give people time to experiment with and absorb a variety of the key mindfulness practices and the thinking behind them. At every point, there will be opportunity for people affected by Parkinson’s, to meet and talk about the possible relevance mindfulness training could have for them.
If this interests you, or if you’re interested but can’t make this date, please get in touch:
Azizë Stirling, communitybasedmindfulness@gmail.com
The Mindfulness for Parkinson’s programme has been running since October 2019, drawing people from the Oxfordshire and Aylesbury areas. But more recently, people from all around the country are taking advantage of the fact that most of the programme is being delivered online.
The programme runs year-round but runs more actively during the 6 months when we are funded (National Lottery). This includes weekly drop-in sessions, specific 8-week courses, less formal sessions, all of which are done online, with the retreats being face-to face. Whenever possible we make it free-on-the-point-of-delivery.
Quotes from participants on a previous 8-week course:
I have found it very useful to be able to see the difference between primary symptoms and secondary symptoms – ie my response (reaction) to the primary. This helps focus my attention on what’s happening as it happens. You can’t change the primary, but you can make a choice about the secondary. This makes me feel that I can choose, develop coping skills and not feel locked in. Being able to choose to stop, and breath whenever I become aware that I need it. Over the time of this course, I find that I am becoming more sensitive to what’s going on in my mind and body and have more confidence that I can respond appropriately with my mindfulness skills. This opens the door to compassion for me, and that also changes how compassionately I can respond to others. It has changed the extent to which I can appreciate life around me and be grateful. This goes on to have positive consequences and creates virtuous circles. The more I can bring myself into the present moment the less time I spend in suffering-producing negative states
Pain – more generally a change in attitude, accepting it as it comes, knowing that it will change. I no longer resist it in the same way
Loss of dexterity – hand writing, and even typing can be affected, preparing vegetables. Now, I don’t worry about it. Accept it and can now see that my hand writing is better if I do short bouts of it, Have learned to work with it
Pain – my attitude has changed I’m no longer so concerned about it and somehow this seems to have reduced the amount of pain that I’m aware of. Balance/mobility - falling over, restricted how much I could leave the house. I’m less anxious than I used to be, but it is still an issue. But generally, I feel freer to leave the house.
Tremors – if I work my muscles too much, but then I find if I do mindfulness with breathing and then softening key muscle groups esp in the face the tremor will ease if not go away completely. I have increased the time I do practices from just the morning to now include the evening. This has made a difference to the quality of my sleep. I can now use the breathing anchor meditation which can help with the stiffness by encouraging softening and letting go of tension.
The camaraderie was a big positive. It allowed for more than just a social kind of enjoyment but contributed and supported the depth and the relevance of our learning.
This can be very challenging. Understand better that choosing to accept things rather than resist them as resisting them is fruitless, frustrating, and impacts one’s sense of wellbeing… hadn’t thought about being compassionate to oneself before and I found that illuminating
Acceptance – this has been key to the changes I have experienced.
I’m better at accepting what I can and can’t do.
Fatigue – pacing has helped with this
The pacing has helped with looking after myself so I can avoid the stressful situations that can set off my symptoms
Learning about the scientific basis for mindfulness, I found this reassuring and it gave me more confidence in the process.
More information
If you’d like to know more about this programme please check out this page, and especially the first-person accounts given in end-of-project reports to our funders, National Lottery.