Online events catch up

In our recent survey, many of you told us about additional activities that you would like to see added to our online schedule. We have listened and provided a very exciting taster session for one of the most popular suggestions, Qi Gong.

Join Tracy (our chair yoga teacher) for this free taster session of seated Qi Gong (pronounced Chee Gong). With regular practice, you may learn to

• – Move mindfully and with more ease
• – Feel more energised
• – Use your mind to overcome negative thoughts
• – Qi Gong is also excellent for improving balance

In our recent survey, many of you told us about additional activities that you would like to see

added to our online schedule. We have listened and provided a very exciting taster session for one of the most popular suggestions, Meditation.

Join Tracy (our chair yoga teacher) for this free taster session focussed on Meditation. With regular practice, meditation can help you to

• – Improve concentration and focus
• – Switch off from the regular “chitter chatter” of the mind
• – Be more mindful and compassionate with yourself and others
• – Improve rest and sleep
• – Reduce stress and anxiety
• – Improve breathing
• – Move towards happiness and contentment

Our latest session with Dr Gretchen Hawley focuses on the importance of good posture and the link with core strength.

Dr Hawley explains what muscle structures are involved, how they help maintain better postural holding and contribute to the stability of the spine in different positions. The session will also describe how this plays a significant role with MS and how it impacts on dynamic movements such as walking, standing and completing everyday tasks such as reaching, brushing our teeth, lifting our leg or simply sitting.

This session will cover:

• – Identifying poor postural positions and the impact on function
• – Stretching and strengthening exercises to promote better posture
• – Identifying muscles that become dominant and take over the stabilising role leading to back – pain and muscle imbalance/weaknesses
• – Engagement of core muscles through exercises in lying, sitting and standing positions
• – Q and A from live participants at the end of the session

This introductory workshop will give you an overview of what mindfulness is, the benefits it can have, particularly for those with multiple sclerosis (MS), the evidence behind its use, and how mindfulness can be used to manage stress, anxiety and symptoms of MS.

Our mindfulness practitioner, Phil Startin, provides information on our specially designed mindfulness course for those living with MS, along with guiding a short practice together. He will signpost you to useful resources guiding you where to go next, including letting you know more about our full MBSR eight-week course and our shorter four-week courses.

We currently have spaces left for this course, but only until 2 October so be sure to get in touch with us if you would like to become apart of the full session. Just email us on register@ms-uk.org