Living through Pain

September is Pain Awareness Month. Join us at the beautiful Bedruthan Hotel and Spa, Mawgan Porth on Thursday 21 September to gain a new understanding of persistent pain and holistic approaches to managing symptoms.

This fully funded event includes a series of 10-minute tasters interwoven between speakers. Combined with immersive workshops, we hope to create a multi-sensory experience through which to explore how non-medicalised therapies, treatments and activities may assist with reducing the experience of persistent pain.

The event is aimed primarily at those who work in roles where they support and care for individuals experiencing persistent pain. The morning programme (talks and tasters sessions) will also be livestreamed via CHAOS TV to enable everyone interested to learn more and increase understanding to benefit themselves, their friends and/or family, as well as anyone they care for or support in a professional capacity.

TALKS

Dr Monty Lyman, medical doctor, research fellow at Oxford University, and author of bestseller 'The Painful Truth - the new science of why we hurt and how we can heal'

Dr Monty Lyman is a compelling speaker who, through illuminating stories and examples, will guide us to a new understanding of what pain is and how we can use this understanding to more effectively overcome the experience of persistent pain.

'Everything we think we know about pain is wrong. Full of cutting-edge research, innovative findings and compelling case studies, The Painful Truth is an exploration of our most fascinating feeling. This book not only provides hope for reducing and managing pain, but also takes us to a deeper understanding of what it means to be human.' https://www.montylyman.com/books/thepainfultruth

Sean Jennings

Sean will tell his story of overcoming opiate addiction and managing pain without the use of prescribed medication. He now dedicates himself to sharing his experiences and advocating for a Skills not Pills approach. He is part of the Beyond Pills Campaign and recently spoke at Westminster Abbey at an event attended by 2050 delegates from 46 countries!

Kevin Feaviour, Chronic Pain in Cornwall https://pain.cafe and Imagine If https://www.imagineif.net

Kevin will provide an introduction to initiatives to support those living with persistent pain locally including a new Cornwall wide network of pain cafes based on Dr Francies Cole's Ten Footsteps approach to living well with pain.

WORKSHOPS (not livestreamed via CHAOS TV)

Everyone attending in person will have the opportunity to take part in all three of these workshops but, in order to create a relaxing space in which to experience these therapies, they will not be filmed or livestreamed.

Amanda Winwood, Made for Life Organics - touch therapy

From the heart of Cornwall, Amanda has pioneered ethical organic skincare that is suitable for sensitive skin and promoted accessible wellness for all for over 18 years. A former Hotelier and Tourism Operator with over 30 years’ experience, Amanda and her team have trained over 3000 therapists in spas, salons, healthcare and hospices across the UK to confidently open their doors to people with mental health issues and those going through cancer. Amanda is a trained therapist, Mindfulness Coach, Reiki Master, published Author and has gained recognition and awards for her work in introducing Cancer Touch Therapy™ across the UK. She will demonstrate how touch therapy can be used to assist with managing persistent pain.

Emily Foulkes, Music for Good (formerly Cymaz Music) - sound therapy/singing for pain

Emily has conducted postgraduate research on singing for pain management and developed a unique research based programme which includes movement, breath work, mindfulness, sound therapy, voice work and singing. Emily and her partner (a sound therapist) will deliver a workshop specially developed for this event giving an insight into, and opportunity to experience, some elements of the therapies they offer.

Kellie Gilmour, Falmouth Meditation

Being diagnosed with a debilitating spine condition in 2004 forced Kellie to readdress her life. Before accepting surgery, Kellie turned to study to better understand her condition and explore other possible routes to relief. She became her own experiment in how to achieve healthfulness and happiness and her interest grew, surpassing the goal of just her own rehabilitation. After many years of learning and practice, Kellie feels a duty to share the experience and knowledge gained on her journey, for the benefit of others on their roads to recovery and long-term health.

Meditation, in particular, is an invaluable, evidence-based, scientifically proven, tool that Kellie uses for herself and for her clients, to promote mental and physical wellbeing. In this workshop, Kellie will be teaching you a very simple but powerful technique that you can then share with your family, friends and those you care for, with proven benefits effects when experiencing stress, fatigue and pain.

10-MINUTE TASTERS

Aimee Stapleford - chair yoga

Founder of The Nook Wellbeing + Creative Space CIC, Aimee is a Trauma-informed Yoga Therapist and Creative Arts Facilitator. Chair Yoga involves gentle movement and breath-work from the support and comfort of a chair. Chair Yoga is perfect for anybody wishing to gently build strength, mobility and to de-stress. Due to the slower pace to this style of exercise, it is suitable for more mature participants, those recovering from illness and/or injury and living with long-term illness, limited mobility and pain.

Chris and Rachel Simpson - Tai Chi https://seahorsearts.co.uk + https://www.cornwalltaichi.co.uk

Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese practice that has become increasingly popular all over the world in recent years. It is a form of martial arts that emphasizes slow, gentle movements and breathing techniques to help improve the flow of energy throughout the body.

Chris and Rachel are part of the Taoist Cultural Arts Association. They were taught by Chee Soo, author of six books, who taught for 60 years from the 1930s to 1990s, and have been leading classes themselves for over 30 years. In that time, they have gained a lot of experience of teaching Tai Chi and Massage, and using diet to rebalance the body, mind and spirit, to assist overcoming chronic pain caused by injuries.

Chris and Rachel will offer a brief insight into why they feel using slow movements and deep abdominal breathing in Qigong exercises and the Form (a series of flowing movements) can initiate deep healing from within. As 10 minutes is not nearly enough time to begin to understand or experience this ancient practice, there will also be the opportunity to join an additional, optional, workshop following on immediately after the end of the event . When you register to attend, please indicate if you are interesting in joining this to assist us to gauge potential numbers.

You can also see a blog post about Tai Chi and pain relief on the Cornwall Tai Chi website

Deborah O’Nyons – introduction to health coaching and supported self-management

Deborah is Clinical Lead For Supported Self Management and Health Coaching Clinical Lead for NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board. The event will also be compered by Debbie who has been absolutely instrumental in putting the amazing programme for this event together.

Nicolle Mitchell - massage

Nicolle has practiced massage in Cornwall since 1998. She offers a holistic and integrated approach to massage and wellbeing. Holding pain constantly is stressful. When we are chronically stressed, we hold it in our bodies, often as muscle tension or stress related health issues. That tension can then feed into the negative loop of pain, compounding our distress. Massage can help ease some pain, tension or at least take the edge off by reducing stress levels and easing strain in other areas of the body. Nicole’s aim is to show you some immediately usable techniques to help with pain management or breathe through an episode.

Q and A / exhibitors

We will also have a short Q and A with a panel including the speakers, and we'll be joined by a small number of local exhibitors including some of those involved with delivery of talks, workshops and 10-minute taster sessions, offering the opportunity to delve deeper and ask more personal questions through informal conversations.

Optional sea swim

Weather, sea conditions, and interest permitting, we hope to make the most of the hotel's fantastic beachside location with an optional sea swim following the end of the event. So please bring swim wear and a towel with you, if you'd like to take part. Sea temperatures will be almost balmy by late September (or at least about as warm as they get in the UK) so it is an ideal opportunity to experience the many benefits of cold water swimming. Please be aware that anyone taking part is responsible for ensuring their fitness to enter the water and safety while in there. We strongly recommend checking tide and wind conditions first, wearing a brightly coloured swimming cap to aid visibility, appropriate footwear (to offer protection against weaver fish and anything sharp) and taking an inflatable float into the water with you. Anyone can experience cold water shock and it is recommended that you should only stay in for one minute for every degree eg if the water temperature is 15 degrees, then the maximum recommended time in the sea is 15 minutes.

To find out more about Living Through Pain, view the virtual delegate pack here: https://reachcornwall.org.uk/living-through-pain-virtual-delegate-pack

We are holding this event in partnership with Hospitality Table Cornwall.

Attending this event is free of charge thanks to part-funding by the European Social Fund.