July’s mindfulness meditation webinar began with a quote from a Buddhist monk: “When we get too caught up in the busyness of the world, we lose connection with one another–and ourselves.” Webinar host Gwenn Herman, LCSW, DCSW, Clinical Director of Pain Connection and a person who has lived with pain for 20+ years, believes strongly in the efficacy of mindfulness. In “From ow to om: Using mindfulness to reduce pain and stress,” she taught mindfulness meditation to webinar participants hoping to use it as a tool in their treatment plan.

Although she led the workshop, Herman was quick to explain that she was still continually learning about the subject. Mindfulness meditation is, most simply, the process of bringing one’s attention to experiences occurring in the present moment. For chronic pain patients, Herman explained, it is “a way of working with the mind and body to decrease pain and suffering and increase happiness.”

Mindfulness meditation originated in Buddhism, but has recently seen a boom in popularity, especially as scientific results continue support the practice. After Herman’s pain began, mindfulness meditation “took me a while to develop, because the last thing I wanted to do was to be close to my pain. I wanted to push it away and forget about it,” she said. “It is a process. It doesn’t happen right away, and everyone develops their own relationship to mindfulness. It really comes down to what you’re able to do and how you’re able to incorporate it in your life.”

Watch a recording of this webinar or sign up for the next webinar here.