After two serious spinal injuries, Vidyamala Burch found herself facing the loneliness of disability and chronic pain with few skills or resources to turn to. But instead of giving up, she set out on a mission to embrace her physical challenges with compassion, acceptance, and peace. Living Well with Pain and Illness shares the fruits of her courageous life's work, teaching us how the practice of mindfulness can help us thrive in the face of health challenges of any kind. Drawing on the wisdom of a dozen years teaching meditation and a lifetime of study of the benefi ts of mindful living, Vidyamala encourages readers with insights and instruction in: The five-step model of mindfulness and how to use it to foster healing. The Breathworks approach to meditation, and how to apply it to health concerns such as migraines, arthritis, and chronic fatigue. Step-by-step techniques, illustrations, and case studies demonstrating how to effectively bring mindfulness into daily life. Chronic pain has been called the modern world¿s silent epidemic. Billions are spent every year in an attempt to cope, yet the best solution available may be absolutely cost-free: mindful living. In Living Well with Pain and Illness, Vidyamala Burch presents a work that is at once an inspirational memoir and practical guidebook for using mindfulness to reframe your relationship with physical and emotional suffering.
Living Well with Pain and Illness
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle.
Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Vidyamala Burch has suffered from chronic back pain for more than 30 years due to congenital weakness, a car accident, and multiple surgeries. She is a cofounder of the well-respected Breathworks organization, which assists people experiencing chronic pain, illness, and stress in managing their condition through meditation, body awareness, and creative life approaches. Vidyamala resides in the U.K.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
The reader of this book should understand that the author is afflicted with painful chronic illness - and she does seek out and accepts treatment from the mainstream medical community. This has been necessary. But this book is not about mainstream medicine. It is about what mainstream medicine (except for some psychiatrists and Psychologists) have no comment nor any interest in offering as therapy. "Where is the money?"
The author, by using Mindfulness techniques, has achieved more than temporary pain release, but also a state of character formed emotional release that allows her to continue the fullest enjoyment of life - probably better than most so called healthy people. The purpose of her book is to help others triumph over painful illness just as she has.
The 230 page book is clearly and simply written. Their are even some simple drawings to illustrate the postures described in the text. The reader can go as far into the book as they wish, and then stop when they feel they have devoted enough time to their problems. But I think most readers who get past the first few chapters will become convinced of the efficacy of Mindfulness and fascinated enough to not only complete the book, but also will want to pursue more knowledge of the subject. I have. In fact, I have acquired several books and CD's on Mindfulness. As I progress by reading and practice meditating, I continue to benefit - even in unexpected ways. For example, people I don't even know stop to talk with me these days. (Hmmmm. What does that say about the old me?)
As I see it, the study of Mindfulness is to develop a realistic, close, and loving bond between your mind, your body, and the whole wide world of creatures and things. It can help the depressed to stop over-thinking for example - that is to say repeating in one's mind past bothersome events that no longer exist and so cannot be changed. It helps to break away from many harmful and/or nonproductive thinking. Sounds kind of corny but it works to reveal the human experience refreshed, as through the eyes of a toddler. Whatever one may see every day can become transformed into beautiful and miraculous treasures. I am not talking about hallucinations. I am not talking about being in a trance. I am talking about being fully awake; fully alive; and fully in the sane and real world - in all of its fullness. (Hopefully a sane and real world does exist.)
If you are presently experiencing physical pain and/or physical illness, "Living Well with Pain & Illness" would be a good book to start with. And a CD set "Mindfulness Meditation for Pain Relief," by Jon Kabat-Zinn, would not be a waste of money. If you are experiencing psychological problems such as depression, anxiety, fear or panic, you might start with the book, "Calming Your Anxious Mind," by Jeffrey Brantley MD and Jon Kabat-Zinn PH.D. A good start for many people might be the CD set - also by Jon Kabat-Zinn, "Mindfulness Meditation - Cultivating the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind."
The author, by using Mindfulness techniques, has achieved more than temporary pain release, but also a state of character formed emotional release that allows her to continue the fullest enjoyment of life - probably better than most so called healthy people. The purpose of her book is to help others triumph over painful illness just as she has.
The 230 page book is clearly and simply written. Their are even some simple drawings to illustrate the postures described in the text. The reader can go as far into the book as they wish, and then stop when they feel they have devoted enough time to their problems. But I think most readers who get past the first few chapters will become convinced of the efficacy of Mindfulness and fascinated enough to not only complete the book, but also will want to pursue more knowledge of the subject. I have. In fact, I have acquired several books and CD's on Mindfulness. As I progress by reading and practice meditating, I continue to benefit - even in unexpected ways. For example, people I don't even know stop to talk with me these days. (Hmmmm. What does that say about the old me?)
As I see it, the study of Mindfulness is to develop a realistic, close, and loving bond between your mind, your body, and the whole wide world of creatures and things. It can help the depressed to stop over-thinking for example - that is to say repeating in one's mind past bothersome events that no longer exist and so cannot be changed. It helps to break away from many harmful and/or nonproductive thinking. Sounds kind of corny but it works to reveal the human experience refreshed, as through the eyes of a toddler. Whatever one may see every day can become transformed into beautiful and miraculous treasures. I am not talking about hallucinations. I am not talking about being in a trance. I am talking about being fully awake; fully alive; and fully in the sane and real world - in all of its fullness. (Hopefully a sane and real world does exist.)
If you are presently experiencing physical pain and/or physical illness, "Living Well with Pain & Illness" would be a good book to start with. And a CD set "Mindfulness Meditation for Pain Relief," by Jon Kabat-Zinn, would not be a waste of money. If you are experiencing psychological problems such as depression, anxiety, fear or panic, you might start with the book, "Calming Your Anxious Mind," by Jeffrey Brantley MD and Jon Kabat-Zinn PH.D. A good start for many people might be the CD set - also by Jon Kabat-Zinn, "Mindfulness Meditation - Cultivating the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind."
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
The book was helpful to me. As someone who suffers frequently from migraines and chronic fatigue, the Breathworks approach to meditation, and how to apply it to health concerns such as migraines, arthritis, and chronic fatigue. Step-by-step techniques, illustrations, and case studies demonstrating how to effectively bring mindfulness into daily life. When you have pain, anything is worth a try. Although I take medications daily, these techniques are helpful when the pain just won't go away.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I am a young woman who has been living with cancer and ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome for many years. There is no book out there that I believe in more than this one. For me, Vidyamala Burch's mindfulness-based approach, has healed years of feeling trapped, isolated and at times without hope so that now I can happily get on with making the most of life at last. It's based on the kind of wisdom that can only emerge from the heart of an author's deep personal experience. It's not easy to find something that inspires you to change your life but this book really does. And there is a whole wealth of clearly explained practical techniques, methodologies and tips to support you through the process. Through building awareness the reader can learn to work with unhelpful patterns in thoughts, habits and emotions. The book also explains meditation techniques so well. Meditation and being with the breath ,body and heart can be an invaluable source of inner strength, relaxation and emotional positivity. And finally somebody de-mystifies "pacing"! The approach is not specific to a particular condition so it can definitely be applied to pain, physical or mental illness, fatigue, stress, addiction or just to anybody wishing to get the most out of life. Alternatively, if you're just interested in meditation, it's the best manual out there too. Ultimately, this is a very uplifting book!!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
living better with pain
I am so glad to have this book. It is clearly written by someone who experiences chronic pain, yet is hopeful and uplifting. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Chris Hays
Let go and let yourself be healed
Sometimes pain cannot be avoided but chronic pain is with you 24/7.
Vidyamala helps us go through the cycles of pain. Read more
Vidyamala helps us go through the cycles of pain. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Jackie M. Sthilaire
I'm so glad for Ms. Burch, and wish her relief
I've had this book for a while and have been having the hardest time writing a review. The author, Ms. Burch suffered two spinal injuries and lives with chronic pain every day. Read more
Published 14 months ago by K. Varraso
Exceeded my expectations, it works.
My first thoughts after beginning to read this book were "what a crock". There was no possible way that meditation (which I had never tried before) and acceptance of my... Read more
Published 15 months ago by F. D. Gillett
Get Mindful--get well!
There have been numerous studies showing the benefits of mindfulness meditation with pain relief as well as other benefits. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Snowbrocade
From a pain clinic perspective
Having worked in UK NHS Pain Management for 15 years I had a feeling of 'not more of the same' when a patient recommended this book to me. Read more
Published 21 months ago by A. Reece
Useful methodology, very Buddhist outlook
I ordered this book because I felt it might help me with some chronic pain problems I have. I think it's well written, easy to use, and the practice of mindfulness is a very good... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Caraleisa
Bought for a friend in chronic pain, this book was helpful
I sent this book to a friend of mine who is living with chronic pain. He said that this book was exactly what he had been looking for. That is no small recommendation. Read more
Published 22 months ago by P. Costello
positive, pragmatic advice if not a little long-winded
This book encourages chronic pain sufferers to accept and even welcome painful sensations, and to use mindfulness techniques to reset the nervous system. Read more
Published 24 months ago by A. Fabbri
More Than Physical Pain and Illness!!!
Living Well With Pain & Illness: The Mindful Way to Free Yourself From Suffering by Vidyamala Burch is a wonderful book that invites the reader to use meditation, breathing, and... Read more
Published on May 1, 2010 by Satia Renee
Inside This Book
(learn more)
Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
So You'd Like to...
|
|
