Publisher's Synopsis
Compassion Fatigue, also known as Secondary Traumatic Stress Syndrome, is pervasive among care giving professionals and family members. It increasingly affects the rest of society as our social and political systems become less stable and rife with conflict and threatening circumstances. Constant exposure to the sounds of suffering, the images of trauma, or the threats of war and terrorism cause the brain to release adrenaline and other hormones and chemicals that prepare the body for action. If the threats are not immediate but only secondary, seen on television or experienced through other media, the body absorbs the energy, causing tension to develop in the muscles and causing the body to remain on active alert as it exhausts itself by expending more chemicals, more hormones. The body and mind become simultaneously wired and tired. FlowMotion is a series of movements and breathing exercises designed to animate and release the stagnant energy trapped in the body, breaking the adrenaline short circuit of Compassion Fatigue. Based on Qigong, an ancient Chinese martial art used to harmonise breath, energy and movement, FlowMotion provides relief from emotional, intellectual, spiritual and physical burnout. Breath of Relief -- Transforming Compassion Fatigue into Flow contains detailed descriptions of the FlowMotion exercises, helpful visualisation activities that calm the mind, and vibrant illustrations to guide you through the movements. This publication also comes with an instructional DVD that shows Karl demonstrating the different aspects of the basic stress relieving movements so that you can experience the joy of FlowMotion and the Breath of Relief that comes with master of this technique. This Book is also authorised by the National Association of Social Workers and other accreditation boards for continuing education units. Visit the Breath of Relief web site for a complete listing of continuing education.
