Reclaim Your Life
Less Suffering. More Support. Skills Proven* To Work.
8-week live online program · Skill-building · Small groups · Expert teacher
Begins week of March 1, 2026
Mindfulness & Self-Compassion For Chronic Pain & Illness
A personal welcome from Saraswati Pottekkatt:
Who Is This Proven* Program For?
You’ll benefit from joining us if you’re:
Lonely or isolated and yearn for safe connection and belonging
Tired of pushing through the day and want a new way of living
Done explaining yourself and seek understanding in a relaxed, informal space
Afraid, angry, anxious, depressed, grieving and want skills for finding peace
Overwhelmed by negative thought loops and want a way out of them
Feeling resistance around your pain and illness and want support finding acceptance
Terrified of what’s happening in your body and need practical help and care
Lost in your experience of pain and illness want someone to show you the way out
What Is The 8-Week Program?
This is a skills-based, experiential program that builds on itself and deepens over 8 weeks:
8 live 90-minute skill-building sessions
One 15-minute 1-on-1 session with your teacher at the start of the program
Weekly Q&A sessions with skilled teachers
Weekly themes and optional home practice
Same group of around 8-12 people and the same teacher each week
Private community chat space with your group
The Proven* Curriculum
This is a hands-on program with an expert teacher working directly with you in a small group.
Week 1
Foundations for friendly and safe connection to the body as your home base
Learn and practice anchoring as safe sensation, exploring how sensation, emotion & story contributes to suffering
Week 2
Compassionate attention and finding your anchor amid pain and illness
Practice bringing compassion to self-judgment, noticing how judgements interact with sensations and emotions
Week 3
Self-compassion and being friendly to yourself
Practice the self-compassion break, learning the 3 components of self-compassion and noticing differences in how respond to yourself versus a friend
Week 4
Mindful awareness of stress responses
Notice and share moments of stress that effect self-compassion practice, noticing tension and ease in the body to apply self-kindness
Week 5
Mindful movement and cultivating ease and joy in the body
Explore easeful movement, savoring what you can do, noticing pleasure in the body
Week 6
Turning towards emotions to acknowledge shame with kindness
Compassionate self-observation and exploring how self-compassion softens shame
Week 7
Skills for working with pain and uncomfortable physical experiences
Regulation through self-compassion, different practices for moving between discomfort and neutral/pleasant sensations
Week 8
Celebrating growth, self appreciation and gratitude
Practice recognizing, learning, healing, growth and gratitude. Savor positive experiences, celebrate wins and explore ongoing integration
Meet The Teachers
Our qualified teachers have decades of experience applying mindfulness to chronic pain and illness.
What Does The 8-Week Program Cost?
We offer two pricing tiers making the program accessible to more people while enabling those who want more 1-on-1 support to receive that.
Groups for all meditators, women, or BIPOC
or $120 per month billed annually (save 20%)
Everything in the Base Membership.
PLUS:
Weekly 90-minute meetings
Mentorship from a dedicated expert mindfulness meditation teacher
A small group of at most 12 peers, for shared support and connection.
Groups open to all, to women, or to BIPOC
Groups for certified mindfulness graduates
or $60 per month billed annually (save 20%)
Everything in the Base Membership.
PLUS:
Monthly 90-minute meetings
Mentorship from a senior mindfulness meditation teacher
Specifically designed to support you on your journey as a certified mindfulness teacher or mentor
A small group of at most 9 peers, for shared support and connection.
Tier 1
Eight 90-minute live weekly sessions
15-minute 1-on-1 session with your teacher at the start of the program
Optional weekly Q&A sessions (recordings available)
Optional home practices
Private community chat space with your group
Tier 2
(limited seats available)
Everything in Tier 1
PLUS:
Three 1-on-1 sessions (45-min) with your teacher
Ongoing personal support from your teacher throughout the program
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can join this program?
Anyone who’s experiencing chronic pain and illness that is seeking practical skills for working with their experience and wants to find a way to live that feels free and peaceful. You do not need a medical diagnosis to join.
Do I need mindfulness experience to join?
No experience is needed. Our teachers are well-versed in meeting people where they are so you will benefit from this program whether you are completely new to mindfulness, a beginner practitioner or an advanced practitioner.
Do I have to be on camera or speak in the group?
This is an informal, relaxed space that meets you where you are. You’re welcome to attend the session however you need to. Lying down/screen off/no speaking. It’s all okay. We encourage you to be authentic to your needs and capacity. That’s part of the practice 🙂.
What is your refund policy?
We offer a 100% money-back guarantee. Click here to read our full refund policy terms and conditions.
Who is Banyan?
Banyan is an online mindfulness community co-founded by Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach. We’re committed to helping people reducing their suffering by learning how to apply mindfulness in practical ways in their daily lives.
Who is this program NOT for?
People seeking medical advice or in need of urgent psychological support. People wanting to vent or do a lot of symptom sharing each week.
What if I can’t find a time slot that works for me?
We have designed our program to give you the highest probability of finding a weekly time slot that works for you.
We also have team members dedicated to helping create additional time slots, as needed.
In the rare case that you cannot find any time slot that works, you will receive a 100% refund.
What if I have a flare-up and miss a session?
We’ve got you! This entire program is designed to suit the needs of people with chronic pain and illness. You’ll receive two items for each session: 1) the guided meditation 2) a recap of what was taught. These recordings are located in the Program Resources.
Is there a time commitment between sessions?
Yes, you will receive guidance and recordings to support regular practice between the live sessions. This will be optional, and highly encouraged.
What does it mean to complete the program?
Completing the program means attending at least 6 of the 8 live weekly group sessions (weekly Q&A sessions are optional). If you miss more than two live sessions, you may still complete the program by scheduling a 1:1 make-up session with a Banyan teacher to cover the missed material. Make-up sessions are optional and available at the 1:1 rate of $150 per session (depending on teacher capacity). In order to be eligible for subsequent Chronic Pain & Illness Programs , you must complete the program.
Groups are capped so space is limited. Click below to reserve your spot.
Registration closes at midnight, Pacific Time, Wednesday, February 25.
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How Does Sign-Up Work?
This is a 100% risk-free commitment. You will create an account, make payment and then choose a weekly time slot that works for you. In the unlikely event that we cannot find a time slot that suits you, we will refund you 100% of your payment.