Words by Smiley Team
Breathing. It’s something we do every single day, without even thinking about it. But it’s also something that can improve our mood and make us feel calmer. This, paired with mindfulness – where we focus on the present moment – can help people live happier lifestyles.
Vidyamala Burch, is the co-founder of Breathworks, UK-based mindfulness organisation. She teaches people mindfulness-based approaches and tools to help them live well with pain, illness and stress. Importantly, she’s keen to reach people who may not have access to these tools, to help boost their wellbeing.
She began teaching mindfulness after her own personal experience living with health challenges. To ensure all people have access, no matter their circumstances, Vidyamala established Breathworks as a charitable foundation in 2009.
[Learn more about the art and science of happiness]
“Through that we fund bursaries, course discounts, research and partnerships to enable wider accessibility and support for those who most need it,” she says. “Over the past 12 months, we've been able to double the number of bursaries we've awarded, and we hope this number will continue to increase.”
As part of the organisation’s work to help people regardless of income, Breathworks created the ‘Take Back Your Life’ course, which was developed by two of the teachers who wanted to create a more accessible version of their Mindfulness for Health course.
“Take Back Your Life is currently available as fully funded courses in Manchester and Tower Hamlets, so is free for all participants who join,” she says. “The course has been tailored to be accessible for all including for those with lower literacy or where English isn’t their first language.
“We hope to bring the course to lower income areas, minority groups and to those who have been who have been especially hit hard from financial and social repercussions of Covid-19. We welcome those who wouldn’t ordinarily be able to join our courses due to financial limitations. It’s also very relevant for anyone living with Long Covid.”
[Discover inspirational and positive stories on Smiley Movement]
These courses are so important to wellbeing, says Vidyamala, because many people struggle with their minds these days. “Mental health problems are on the rise and are one of the main causes of the overall disease burden worldwide,” she says.
“We are also faced with enormous global challenges such as the pandemic and climate change. It means we live in an increasingly uncertain world and anxiety and fear have increased for many of us.”
Mindfulness is a simple and accessible way to get your mind working with you rather than against you, she says. “Through simple training we can learn to dial back some of the automatic reactions that lead to so much distress and to build greater resilience and inner strength.”
To find out more about the organisation, visit Breathworks' website.
