About the Course

SCHEDULE: 6 Week Course
Wednesdays: May 1, May 8, May 15, May 22, June 5, and June 12  (skipping May 29)
10:30 am - 12:00pm Pacific

LOCATION: Online via Zoom

SLIDING SCALE: $150 - $250

Living with chronic pain is a challenge on many different levels. In this 6 week online series we will take a closer look how we can use the Buddhist teachings to help us to not only suffer less but to enjoy life to the fullest while living in an body that is subjected to pain and illness, especially as we are aging. 

Using the foundational tools of mindfulness and loving kindness, we will focus in particular on the second foundation of mindfulness, the feeling tones or vedanas. The Buddha taught that all of experience is perceived as either pleasant, unpleasant and neither-pleasant-nor-unpleasant and that how we habitually react to them will increase or decrease our struggle and pain. When we suffer from chronic pain the inborn negativity bias of our brain will hyperfocus on what is unpleasant or painful. But the truth is that pleasant and neutral feeling tones are still part of our experience. We will look at the traditional Buddhist teachings as well as what recent research is showing about pain regulation and perception.

Each week we will spend time exploring the topic through a short talk, reflection, small and big group discussions and a guided practice. During the week you are encouraged to put the shared material into practice so you can fine-tune in class in the Q&A and discussions. 

We recommend you get a copy of Dr. Wolf’s book “Outsmart Your Pain” to deepen your understanding. 

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Pricing options

The base level tuition is intended to support the course instructor and pay expenses that make courses such as this at the Sati Center possible. Please consider offering generously within your means.

However, money should not be a barrier to receive these teachings. If none of the tuition levels are within your budget and you feel that you would benefit from the course, please contact us.

Instructor

Christine Wolf

Christiane Wolf, MD, PhD is a former physician, internationally known mindfulness and Insight (Vipassana) meditation teacher. She is the author of “Outsmart Your Pain” and the coauthor of “A Clinician’s Guide to Teaching Mindfulness”. Dr. Wolf is the lead-consultant and teacher trainer for the VA’s (US Department of Veteran Affairs) National Mindfulness Facilitator Training.She was trained as a Dharma and retreat teacher through Spirit Rock Meditation Center, the Insight Meditation Society and Insight Retreat Center under Jack Kornfield, Joseph Goldstein and Gil Fronsdal.Originally from Berlin, Germany, she is a senior teacher at InsightLA in Los Angeles, where she lives with her husband and their three teenagers. For more info please visit christianewolf.com.

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Testimonials

I attended your recent Chronic Pain workshop through Spirit Rock. I just want to tell you how HELPFUL the Pain Story activity was. I had a very traumatic … surgery as a teenager…and I had no idea the potential impact that may have on my life with chronic pain. I have done yoga for almost 40 years and that helps but I am now incorporating mindfulness and it has been a game-changer. Hope to see you again soon! 
D.P.
I just finished “Outsmart Your Pain” and was deeply moved by it. I have been struggling with several health issues for the past three years following a partial colectomy for colon cancer. I have tried every alternative therapy and treatment available to me yet without success. Your book and the guided meditations have truly inspired me and given me hope. I just wanted to say thank you from the bottom of my heart.
L.K.
Dear Christiane, as I’m typically in tears by the end of each workshop session, I wanted to send a more cogent communication! I can't express how mind blowing and life changing your workshop has been for me. … I have listened repeatedly to your live sessions, each time gleaning more and your delivery (voice, compassion, kindness, understanding, humour, BRILLIANCE) just shines and teaches us in a remarkably non threatening and accessible form, somehow, despite the fact this could be and typically is a threat to our very core- I mean, these are life long defenses! I’m delighted and so appreciative, in any case: Thank you, thank you, forever!
Liz H.