Mindfulness for Managing Pain
Although I’ve been absent for a bit, I’ve been focusing on some family needs as my mother-in-law passed away in the late summer at the age of 102. She and her husband before her, had been the dedication of my wife’s regular and frequent contact & care for the better part of the past 14 years.
Next came the unanticipated need for rotator cuff surgery and forced slow down before and after surgery….more on the surgery below.
Anyway, I’m back and re-engaged with life and solo passages…..take care today!
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Part 2: Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction practices
Over these months since I took the 8-week MBSR/Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction course through the Center for Mindfulness at UMASS Medical Center in Worcester, MA, I have noticed an overall reduction in “distractive & repetitive negative ruminations”; I keep up frequent walks with a heightened appreciation for the moments I’m there and with my/our dogs; I’m aware of more moments also not while explicitly being in a place that’s ‘easy to appreciate’, if you will….walking in the woods and fields with our dogs.
I’ve also noticed the need for a “reminder & refresher of sorts” ….around my practice itself…..Can I expand my practice? What else is there to discover or uncover?
My ‘reminder’ came in the form of shoulder/rotator cuff surgery that became necessary and necessitating my wife, Jill, to be available for my 4 week immobility and rehab…we thought the worst as far as mobility and driving needs….I was also warned about pain and lack of sleep due to pain.
Before my surgery I received another email noting the Mindfulness for Managing Pain program, led by Ginny Wholley (who is also the subject of an upcoming podcast on Solo Passages), so I thought ‘perfect timing!’ and signed up immediately.
The course is 4 weeks and moves along at a good pace, especially if you’re familiar with the purpose or “what is mindfulness” which is “being present in this moment, non-judgmentally”.
In my next blog, I’ll delve into some of the things we are learning that aid in “managing & discovering our pain” or at least our “relationship to pain”.