The Breathworks Foundation

Mindfulness and compassion for pain, stress and illness - helping people reclaim their lives

The Breathworks Foundation was established in 2009 to ensure that mindfulness and compassion training is available to everyone, regardless of circumstances. It brings to life the vision of Vidyamala Burch, Breathworks Co-Founder, who passionately believes that no person or community should be excluded from Breathworks training programmes and courses simply through financial or personal hardship. This is based on her experience of living with severe pain and disability all her adult life. 

Partnerships

Take Back Your Life

The Take Back Your Life project is a modified version of the Breathworks Mindfulness for Health course for those with low literacy levels or those who aren't fluent in English. Outcomes from the pilot scheme have been amazing and further courses are being developed and delivered, thanks to the 2019 seed funding.

The Breathworks Foundation and St. Michael's Hospice - A Successful Partnership based on Community Values

Born out of a shared objective to serve the community, the partnership between The Breathworks Foundation and St. Michael’s Hospice has flourished since the initial vision in 2015 to create a regional mindfulness centre of excellence in Herefordshire.

Living with and beyond cancer with mindfulness - A feasibility research study

Is delivering a mindfulness course to people with cancer feasible, acceptable and of any benefit? That was the question asked when preliminary meetings in a collaboration between Breathworks, Maggie’s Cancer Centres, and the Health Psychology Department, University of Manchester, began in December 2016.

Breathworks Spreads to Poland

Breathworks Teacher Dawid, who received a teacher training bursary, talks about how this enabled him to spread the Breathworks approach to Poland by teaching courses in Kraków.

Dharmakirti takes Breathworks to the Spanish speaking world

In 2004 Dharmakirti, a yoga and meditation practitioner of eight years, took his skills to a huge prison in Valencia, Spain, to help prisoners find ways to ease their suffering. However, he soon realised meditation on its own wasn’t enough — the prisoners were also seeking ways to deepen their understanding of life and connect more. What else could he offer with a wider perspective?

The Foundations of Mindfulness - Week online retreat

There is a weekend only option for this retreat which will include an overview of all 4 foundations and then an in-depth experience of exploring the body as a gateway to mindfulness.
The Foundations of Mindfulness - Weekend online retreat

There is a weekend only option for this retreat which will include an overview of all 4 foundations and then an in-depth experience of exploring the body as a gateway to mindfulness.
Mindfulness, the Natural World, and the Experience of Awe

Awe is a beautiful feeling that underlies many of our peak moments in life. So what exactly is awe, and how can you experience more of it in daily life?
What Compassion Means to Me

Breathworks Teacher Katherine Michaelis shares what she has learned from studying, practising, and teaching compassion practices.

Presence at the End - Mindfulness at St. Michael's Hospice

A Personal Account of mindfulness teaching in St. Michael's hospice in Hereford by Palliative Care Staff Nurse and Breathworks Teacher, Gail
Tinnitus and Mindfulness

Suryadaya shares her touching journey with tinnitus, the many unexpected difficulties it has introduced to her life, and how mindfulness has helped her to manage it, and to continue to live with appreciation and joy.
Recipients of Teacher Training Bursaries

Hear from people we have helped with a bursary to attend the Breathworks Teacher Training Programme.
Recipients of Course Bursaries

Hear from people we have helped with a bursary to attend a Breathworks mindfulness course.
Mindfulness After a Spinal Cord Injury

Breathworks' Online Mindfulness for Health course has recently been utilised in a study investigating people's experiences of recovering from recent spinal cord injuries. The findings are great news!
Mindfulness for Chronic Dizziness

Balance is a sense that we take for granted… until it goes wrong. A senior lecturer in audiology details the difficulties of chronic balance disorder, and how mindfulness may be able to assist patients in recovery.

Breathworks Teacher Training Programme

Become accredited as a mindfulness & meditation teacher with the Breathworks Teacher Training Programme. Start your training now.
Mindfulness for Health course

Award winning mindfulness and compassion course to give you the tools and skills to live well with chronic pain and illness.
Online Introductory Teacher Training

Our introductory teacher training is now available as an online training course. Find out more and apply here.
Mindfulness for Stress course

Learn the foundational skills of mindfulness, compassion, and meditation, and how to apply them to stress and anxiety in your life.
Breathworks Community of Practice

Become a member of our new online community - gain access to our increasing library of content, regular live practice sessions, and connect with a world-wide community of Breathworks practitioners and teachers.
Free Guided Meditation and Mindfulness Practices

This selection of free, short guided meditations and mindfulness practices are an effective introduction to mindfulness.
3 Mindfulness Tips for the End of Lockdown and 'Re-Entry Anxiety'

With lockdown restrictions easing, here are some mindfulness tips to help you stay sane!
Lightening the Load: Letting Go - A day retreat - September 2021

On this day retreat, we’ll take our cue from the arrival of Autumn to start letting go of what we no longer need, e.g., thought patterns that don’t serve us well, ideas about who we are that no longer fit, self-critical judgements that undermine us
London Mindfulness Courses - Breathworks Centre of Excellence

Breathworks mindfulness courses in London are run at the Breathworks Centre of Excellence, operated by the West London Buddhist Centre.
Live Tuesday Meditations with Vidyamala

These weekly sessions are designed for everybody - whether you are using our free online mindfulness resources, or simply want to drop in and give meditation a try!