The Breathworks programs were developed primarily by Vidyamala Burch, who has used the practice of mindfulness to manage her own chronic pain for over 20 years. In 2003 she teamed up with Gary Hennessey and Sona Fricker to form Breathworks.

 

Vidyamala Burch, Founder Of Breathworks

 

Vidyamala sustained a spinal injury when she was sixteen. Over 20 years ago she started exploring mindfulness and meditation techniques to manage her own persistent pain and in 2001 began offering these skills to others, initially with funding from the Millennium Commission in the UK.

 

‘Vidyamala makes the practice of befriending your experience through mindfulness, however unpleasant or pleasant it may be, both commonsensical and compelling. I admire her tremendously.’
Jon Kabat-Zinn