Long COVID Care is a peer support group incorporating yoga therapy to support health and recovery.
It offers local weekly support group meetings (online) with others who understand the challenges of Long COVID. Having Long COVID can be very isolating and one aim of the group is to reduce isolation and use shared experience to support each other.
The meetings include a yoga-based practice such as focus on breath to restore healthy functional breathing, relaxation practice, paced yoga incorporating breath awareness and meditative practice which are designed to promote health and recovery.
These recorded practices are accessible for use outside of the weekly meetings.
1-to-1 sessions provide time and focus on individual symptoms and factors. These sessions provide support in assessing how current health is and looking at how best to manage health.
This project was started with funding from Amersham & Villages Community Board and Sport England and Leap
Aims of the Long COVID Care Group:-
To establish a group building peer-support; to gain the benefits of support and to reduce feelings of isolation.
To allow individuals in the group to experience or consider how actions and activities, including mind-body activities practised in the sessions, affect them and their health.
To encourage individuals in a suitable personal way, to be active participants in their self-care for health and recovery.
Results of the initial phase of the support group
Questionnaires showed that 100% participants rated the Long COVID Care group as very good.
100% of participants reported that the peer-support meetings provided them with benefits in feeling supported and less isolated.
100% of participants reported that the meetings and resources allowed them to experience and consider the actions and activities that positively affect them and their health.
100% of participants reported that the Long COVID Care group and resources allowed them to feel better equipped to manage their health and make the right decisions for them and their health.
How do I know if I have Long COVID? Long COVID is when COVID symptoms last longer than 12 weeks.
Symptoms are extremely wide-ranging and fluctuating, and can include breathlessness, chronic fatigue, “brain fog”, anxiety and stress. You should speak with your GP about your symptoms to assess them and your health. It is difficult to diagnose Long COVID and other conditions need to be ruled out. Bear in mind that not everyone receives a diagnosis of Long COVID even if it is very likely that they have it.
Long COVID Care Group
Long COVID Care encourages people whose health has been affected by COVID-19 or who have Long COVID (with or without a diagnosis) to come together to find a supportive place to talk.
The group share concerns affecting them and what they find or have found helpful for them.
It’s hard for family, friends colleagues and employers to fully understand the challenges and complex nature of a fatigue condition such as Long COVID. The group come together to support each other with understanding for what living with Long COVID is like.
Using Yoga Therapy
Each group meeting includes a short yoga-based practice with the aim of supporting health and recovery. Examples are relaxation, breath awareness to help health, gentle yoga, fatigue management tools, dealing with stress and stress symptoms, practices for dealing with mental challenges and calm ruminating thoughts.
Individual meetings to provide personal support are available.
If you have developed symptoms after COVID and have Long COVID (a diagnosis is not required) and would like to attend this supportive group,
contact Barbara at barbaradancer@gmail.com
The weekly meetings are currently free to attend and are on on Mondays between 11am-12.15pm.
There is a charge for 1-2-1 sessions. If further funding is secured, these may be provided at minimal cost or no cost.
For futher information about joining, please contact me at barbaradancer@gmail.com
