When illness is a truly lived experience, we may not be able to heal our conditions, but we can take ownership of our experiences, have a healthy mindset in relating to it all, and cultivate skillful means that allow us to find a place of contentment irrespective of how the body feels in any given moment.  

Our ability to feel whole and abundant isn’t tied to any external conditions, but rather our capacity to accept where we are in each moment, direct compassion towards ourselves, and hold a space of curiosity and care.

Having dealt with an autoimmune condition myself, I wanted to curate a workshop that provides a safe container for us to explore our relationship to self in the context of illness, for you to feel seen and heard, and most importantly, engage in ways to that connect you deeply to these elements of acceptance and compassion.

This topic is near to me, as I have suffered most of my life with chronic conditions, flare-ups, and difficult circumstances related to illness — so I really know how it feels to be living in a body that holds challenges, experiences pain, changes often, and is in constant need of attention and care.

Through my many years of teaching, study, and self-practice, I have learned to cultivate ways to live with illness such that the energy around it feels loving towards myself and isn’t the totality of my life.

My autoimmune condition is part of who I am, but not who I am.

I'm looking forward to sharing meaningful practices that can truly help guide you towards living a life that feels abundant.

In this workshop, we will explore:

  1. How to reduce our inflammatory response and incorporate stress reduction
  2. Learn how to fully accept our illnesses, with the lens of compassion and care.
  3. In this acceptance, bring care to our parts of the body and mind that need more attention. To “parent” our parts so that we can heal what may be a difficult relationship.
  4. To tend to our needs as they appear
  5. To love our bodies in all their forms, feelings, and sensations
  6. Learn mindfulness practices to create a sense of internal stability and ground.
  7. To connect to our breath
  8. Move in gentle ways that are supportive of the body rather than depleting.
  9. Yin yoga postures that bring relief to flare-ups, bloating, pain and discomfort

Sign up for Janine's workshop, create a studio BE profile, and receive a 14-day complimentary trial and member discounted price. ⁠

Guest post by studio BE Facilitator Janine Tandy.

Practice with Janine via her custom-designed grounding yin class for lockdown on the studio BE platform.

Janine holds a Master of Public Health and is a RYT vinyasa and yin yoga teacher. She is a certified Wellness Coach with the Institutes for Integrative Nutrition, and is currently enrolled in the 500 Hr Insight Yoga Institute. You can learn more about Janine on her website or @janinetandyyoga.

Feature photo via the author