Introduction to Treatment Activities

Welcome to the Treatment Activities section. This is the heart of the Mind & Body Pain Care program, where you will find a variety of gentle, whole-person tools designed to help you manage chronic pain by addressing both the mind and the body together.

Because everyone’s journey is unique, it is best to look through these options and pick a few that interest you. We recommend watching or listening to the activities first so you know exactly what to expect before you dive in.

Here is a summary of the resources you will find on the following pages:

• Movement & Exercise: These activities are about more than just fitness; they are about helping you move with confidence and without fear of setbacks. You can explore mindful movement practices like Yoga, Tai Chi, Qigong, and Pilates, or learn how to retrain your nervous system through the Feldenkrais Method.

• Mindfulness Activities: This section provides tools to calm your nervous system and shift your brain’s perception of pain from "danger" to "safe". You will find practices for somatic tracking, breathing techniques, and "pendulation" to help you build tolerance and ease.

• Lifestyle Activities: Small changes in your daily routine can have a big impact. Here, we cover essential topics like pacing to avoid flares, sleep hygiene, anti-inflammatory nutrition, and how to align your daily actions with your personal values and goals.

• Behavioral Activities: Healing often involves looking inward. These resources help you cultivate self-compassion, resilience, and curiosity, while also exploring how personality tendencies and social connectedness influence your experience of pain.

• Other Activities & Topics: For those "tough days," you can find a "Flare Menu" to help soothe your body. You can also explore specialized techniques like vagal nerve stimulation or dive into deeper topics like the connection between stress, trauma, and pain.

Whether you are starting with a five-minute meditation or a gentle stretching routine, remember to start where you are and be patient with yourself