Customer Reviews

Body Scan: Managing Pain, Illness, & Stress with Guided Mindfulness Meditation

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I love this CD!!!
Its amazing to have at my fingertips a tool that I can use to prompt me to take "time out" from the day (and activities), in confidence that I will return to it with more awareness of and connection with my mind and body after doing the practice.
I sometimes use it as a "stop-gap" between doing one thing then the next, and can choose whether to do it for 20 or 40 minutes. Sometimes, I just feel tired and lie down thinking its for 20 minutes but once I'm there, realise that its one of the kindest things I could do for myself - and keep lying on after its finished playing! I don't remember giving myself the permission to do that prior to using the CD (probably cos it was very rare for me to go just lie on my bed!).
Now it's a real treat - one to which I can give myself fully, and after doing so, I'm more wholly present to the rest of my experience(/my life?!).
I don't have loads of money, but I can safely say that this has been my best value-for-money CD ever, based on the amount of times I've played it, the quality of my "listening experience", and its endurance factor - cos I'll still be using it years from now.
Hope this helps anyone unsure about trying this CD.

But don't just take my word for it - decide for yourself!!

The CDs in this series were an integral part of the Breathworks Pain Management course at the Manchester Buddhist Centre but they need not be associated with pain, fatigue, long term illness. They will help anyone at all seeking peace, centredness and mindfulness. They are the ideal antidote to the feeling that we are being pulled this way and that, victims of our emotions. They reflect the love and clarity of the course leaders. In that timeless moment when they are leading the meditations they become guides to a world where all manner of things become possible, all manner of things shall be well. I cannot foresee a time in my life when these CDs will lose their power to restore, release and encourage.

One of my biggest fears regarding my pain has always been that of my acknowledgement of it's continual presence. I have spent many years perfecting my technique of separating my brain and body to enable me to function to my greatest potential. However, this cd, threw a rather large spanner into my method, which has led to many discoveries. By actually taking time to reconnect to my body and to discover what is occuring, I've found a great deal of physical tension surrounding most of my muscles - which has been my body's natural method of protection for the pain, to hold it. Which in turn increases it. By doing the body scan this tension becomes released, and days which mentally I have wiped out as a day for pain have surprised me to become changeable. I would strongly recommend this cd as I feel it has given me tools for pain management and a useful connection between my brain and body.
Ehlers Danlos Type III, Fibromyalgia, Scoliosis

I would like to recommend the Breathworks Body Scan meditation CD to anyone. I received it soon after being diagnosed with breast cancer and used it everyday, usually after lunch, to help me relax. Often I fell asleep and felt really rested after it! It definitely helped me feel in touch with and at peace with my body, and let go of some tension and feel more positive about my body. I am sure all of this benefited my immune system and helped my recovery.

I lent the Body Scan CD to my daughter, who was pregnant at the time, and she also found it very helpful in letting go of tensions and relaxing as she was going through a very stressful house move.

I also found the Breathworks Kindly Awareness CD very helpful, as it was hard at times to feel love and compassion to myself.

I particularly enjoyed the quality of Vidyamala's voice on the CDs - gentle, balanced and authoritative.

I've had M.E. (chronic fatigue syndrome) for the last 3 years; this CD has transformed the way I manage both the physical and mental challenges of living with a chronic illness.

Listening to the CD enables me to have "constructive" space for myself during the day, and helps me to keep perspective. It is useful as a way of breaking up different activities - ensuring that I don't over do it, but meaning that as long as I stop before I am too tired, I get more done in the day! It is also extremely relaxing - perfect for a racing mind in an exhausted body!

Now that I am getting better, and have more energy, I still include the bodyscan in my daily routine, but often the 20 rather than the 40 minute version!

This CD has been a lifesaver. Following a traumatic car accident I felt so disconnected from everything, but the gentle voices of Vidyamala and Sona helped me connect with my body, my experience and life more generally again. For the first month after the accident I did the body scan several times every day, and still aim to do it once a day a year later. I feel less irritable, calmer and more spacious when I listen to the CD. It also helps me fall asleep if I play it last thing at night, or if I find I can't sleep in the middle of the night as it helps me calm my mind. A definite must and a perfect gift!

I have a long standing back injury and have tried many many treatments from all sorts of disciplines. This body-scan and mindfulness approach is the most effective thing I have ever done for my back pain. I got the benefits by using the CD over time so this is not a quick fix. But it does work.

This is an excellent cd that invites the listener to allow their attention to move from place to place in the body, and to gradually let go of tension without having to feel like 'letting go'.
The accents of the people doing the narrative are very soothing, UK rather than US accent, and easy to listen to.
it could only be improved with the addition of a backing tape to ensure background noises are somewhat disguised. (eg a binaural tape)

This Body Scan meditation leads you slowly and gently around your body, as you become aware of each part in turn it allows the pain and tension to be released. I found Vidyamala's voice, in particular, full of compassion, gentleness and understanding, helping to enter a deep state of wellbeing and relaxation. The speed she moves throughout the meditation is just right, not too fast, not too slow. The recording shows what a great and deep understanding the speakers have of chronic pain, stress, other ill-health, and the body and the mind. I am sure this recording will help many others, from complete beginners to those with more experience, to make profound differences to their lives. I strongly recommend this CD.

I bought the Body Scan CD to help me with my stress and anxiety. Listening to and being guided through the Body Scan puts me back in touch with what I am experiencing in the here and now. It allows a more open experience, that is spacious, and more creative. The great thing about the CD is that all you have to do is just lie down and listen to it, which is fantastic when I'm stressed and wound up. The calmness and kindness of both Vidyamala and Sona's voices allows me to feel held and the stress and anxiety just seems to dissipate. Sometimes I use it at the beginning of the day so I can start the day's activity relaxed and aware. When I use it at the end of the day, just before going to sleep, it helps me to let go of the day's activity,which induces a deep and restful sleep.