YOGA TOOLS TO SUPPORT CAREGIVERS

Caregivers often put themselves last and may exhibit feelings of guilt when presented with an opportunity to focus on themselves. As we learned in Module Two, though, caregivers can benefit from self-care techniques as a way to replenish and restore during their loved ones’ dying process.

 

End of life professionals include hospice nurses, chaplains, social workers, CNAs, case managers, staff, volunteers, funeral directors and so on. They are “up close and personal” with death on a daily basis, and there is a great need for self care to combat potential burn out and compassion fatigue.

 

The recipe that we used with the dying person can also be used with end of life professionals as well as the family members and friends who care for their loved ones:  

 

Centering/Sankalpa

Mudra

Breath

Movement 

Meditation

 

Where: A great way to get in the door to serve these populations is to volunteer to teach a class for staff and volunteers at local hospitals (especially in the palliative care and oncology units), hospice agencies or funeral homes. These classes can be closer to 20-30 minutes, or up to an hour. Please keep in mind that these folks are busy and may not initially be open to committing to a long period of time.  

 

You may want to start by offering simple “Opening the Shop” sequences at weekly staff meetings, morning huddles or grief groups.  

 

How would you use the above recipe to create an offering for a monthly grief group?

 

How would you serve a caregiver whose loved one is asleep when you visit?