The Seasonal Way: ICB-funded wellbeing project in Burnley

 Over 26 weeks, participants took part in: 

• Our 8-week Meditation and Mindfulness course,  similar in structure to Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction programmes, often used in clinical and wellbeing settings to support people with stress, anxiety, low mood, pain and emotional regulation. The course is rooted in the Zen tradition, Dawn was personally trained  by Julian Daizan Skinner Roshi, founder of Zenways. However, the programme is delivered in a fully secular and non-religious way. There is no religious teaching, doctrine or belief system attached to the course.  Instead, participants are guided through practical meditation, mindfulness and breathing techniques that support the nervous system, build self-awareness, and offer simple tools for everyday life. It brings together ancient wisdom and modern wellbeing in a grounded, inclusive and accessible way.  See  Zen Meditation for Emotional Healing & Mindfulness 
• Winter  practice focuses on the  kidney and bladder lines connected into the bones and bone marrow, the spine and the brain. We did some Zen Taiso- theres a big emphasis on keeping the joints open and functional, and also strengthening the centre, the tanden and the hara(that belly power, that grounded core) Accupressure points included KI1 and SP6 . For more info see  Winter Zen Yoga. Waking up in this body. 
•  Spring practices included; working with the liver and gall bladder meridians or fascia lines as science refers to them. Opening space in the sides of the body, the hips, the inner legs, the shoulders and allowing the diaphragm to move more freely. Working with key acupressure points associated with the liver and gall bladder. Gentle breath work to regulate the nervous system and facia release exercises for the neck, vagus nerve and face. See   Spring, anger, fascia and the courage to grow  for more indepth information.
• Seasonal food education 
• Shared lunches to reduce isolation and support community connection 
• Before and after evaluation using established wellbeing tools