Accessibility

We host our sessions through Zoom, if you haven't used Zoom before and would like to learn then watch this tutorial video here. Our goal is to create an inclusive environment where everyone can fully engage with our content and discussions. If you have any questions/suggestions regarding accessibility, please don't hesitate to get in touch. Your feedback helps us continually improve our efforts to ensure that all participants feel welcome and supported.

We are committed to making our virtual sessions accessible to all and we understand that some individuals experience electromagnetic sensitivity (EMF) or prefer hard copies of materials for various reasons. For individuals who prefer/require hard copies of materials, we are happy to provide alternative formats whenever possible. Please reach out to us here. We will do our utmost to assist you and ensure your experience is as comfortable as possible.

Weekly Community Zoom sessions

Join our weekly community zoom sessions for those living in the UK. The sessions will run every Thursday from 7-8:30pm.

Our Community Champion volunteers Roselle, Amie and Alice will be hosting these weekly sessions. The sessions will be informal meetings that create an opportunity for people living with MCAS to connect with others, share stories and experiences and seek support from each other. We will be running this session virtually through zoom, so feel free to join us to chat about all things MCAS! Find out more here and book your place here.

Join our WhatsApp Group to connect with other members of our Community Zoom Sessions. The WhatsApp group is a space to continue conversations from the sessions, speak to others who attend and seek/give support. Please note, this WhatsApp group is not moderated. Please report any issues by email. 

QiGong 

Join our weekly QiGong sessions on a Tuesday evening from 7-7:45pm. These sessions are open to anyone with MCAS or caring for someone with MCAS (or suspected MCAS). Please note, Duncan does take breaks so these sessions are not on every single week. 

Qigong (sometimes alternatively spelled Chi Gong or Chi Kung) is an ancient practice that makes up one of the branches of Traditional Chinese Medicine, alongside acupuncture. Check out our YouTube video for more information about Qigong.

Come along and meet Duncan and enjoy a session of deep breathing, mindfulness, and removing energetic blockages, to help energy flow more smoothly throughout the body and create an overall sense of well-being. 

You can find out more about Duncan and Qigong here or book your place here. These sessions have been made possible due to funding from Sports England.

Seated and Bed Pilates

Join our Seated Pilates sessions on a Monday lunchtime 12-12:30pm and our Bed Pilates sessions on a Tuesday morning 10-10:30am, hosted by Leanne English from Mobilates. These sessions will be gentle, accessible seated movement classes that focus on the key principles of Pilates including alignment, breathing, focus and moving with control.

The classes will aim to help you strengthen your joints, ease your aches and pains, enable you to move more freely, and give you the confidence to show you what you can do and how you can exercise safely.  Leanne will adapt to your needs, so if you need to join us from your bed, your wheelchair or need to stand, you will be supported and encouraged to listen to your body and find a movement that works for you. 

These sessions have been made possible due to funding from Sports England. Find out more and book your place here. 

Virtual self-massage session with lymph drainage introduction

Join Ellen from Flexback's twice monthly Virtual Massage sessions on a Tuesday from 5:45-6:45pm and a Friday from 10-11am. 

Come along, meet Ellen, and learn some self-massage techniques to help you relax and spend some time thinking about self-care. This session will also feature an introduction to lymph drainage. All techniques will be optional, so feel free to join in with the movements that you feel comfortable with.

Ellen is a qualified Level 5 BTEC Clinical Sports and Remedial Massage Therapist and specialises in the assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries and pain – both sport and work-related.

You can read more and book your place here.  

Gentle Seated Yoga

Exciting news! Yoga is back. Join our Gentle Seated Yoga sessions hosted by Meg Hughes on Fridays from 2-2:30pm. 

Join us for gentle, slow, relaxing movement and yoga postures from your chair (or bed/standing if you prefer!) specially designed for people with MCAS. Ease yourself into the weekend, relieve pain and tension, and focus on your mind and body. There is absolutely no previous yoga experience required, this event is designed for all levels.

Meg will adapt to your needs, so if you need to join us from your bed, your wheelchair or need to stand, you will be supported and encouraged to listen to your body and find a movement that works for you.

Find out more and book your place here. 

Mindfulness Drop In

Join us on Wednesdays from 1-1:30pm for a half hour session of you time to relaxed and friendly mindfulness session hosted by Ann Garratt. These sessions will be running every Wednesday with regular breaks. 

Bring along a cuppa and get yourself comfortable, as you completely unwind, restore and feel supported. Included will be a short guided meditation, mindfulness practice or breathwork practice each week.   

Each week, Anna Garratt will guide you through a wellbeing practice. Subjects covered will include mindful awareness of the body, self-compassion, forgiveness and breathwork. 

Find out more and book your place here. 

Creatives with MCAS

Are you someone with a passion for creativity or perhaps you've been wanting to ignite that creative spark within you? Mast Cell Action are excited to share our Creatives with MCAS sessions, which on the second Tuesday of each month at11am-12pm. 

This is your chance to express your artistic talents, whether it's through the magic of poetry, the strokes of a paintbrush, the moulding of pottery or any other form of creation that stirs your soul. Come along and share your creations with a like-minded community, whether you're a seasoned artist or someone just starting on their artistic journey. There will of course be an opportunity for lots of chat, MCAS or otherwise while we get crafty! You can read more and book your place here.

Theme for October: Draw a plant growing in an unusual place. Bring a quote you like and tell us why. 

Meditation for MCAS

Exciting news! We are trialling three sessions of Meditation for MCAS hosted by Charlotte Eardley Wilmot on Monday 6th, 20th and 27th October from 6-6:40pm. 

A quiet and welcoming space to come into your body and help you find a place where everything is okay, right now. If you like the idea of feeling ‘Zen’ and feeling improvements in your health, stress levels and wellbeing, we’d love to see you at to this session.

The aim is to show you different meditation techniques with roots in the Zen tradition to help you find your own ‘way’. If you think you’d like to develop a regular, daily meditation habit, Charlotte is here to support you.

Find out more and book your place here. 

Urology and MCAS

Join us on Wednesday 10th December from 2-3pm for a webinar on urology. Mast cells and pelvic health. In this webinar Camila Gonzalez, advanced physiotherapist in urology, will discuss how mast cells can influence pelvic health, especially bladder symptoms and give practical information to live better with pelvic conditions.

Camilla is an advanced physiotherapy practitioner, specialising in urology and pelvic health. She completed her physiotherapy course in Chile, has been working in the UK for the last 7 years, she is currently only seeing NHS patients and working at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh. She is a member of pelvic, obstetrics and gynaecology physiotherapy.

Find out more and book your place here. 

POTS in Children

Join us on Wednesday 10th December from 7-8pm for a session exploring POTS hosted by paediatrician Dr.Pramod Nair. 

This talk will cover understanding what is POTS?, How it presents and is diagnosed? There will be a discussion on management and longer term perspective, We will have time for a Q&A at the end. Please send in any questions in advance of the webinar to events@mastcellaction.org

Dr Pramod Nair is a paediatrician with cardiology expertise working at Bedford Hospital and his private practice being at the Saxon Clinic in Milton Keynes. He is also the Clinical Lead for Paediatrics at Bedford Hospital. He has over 25 years’ experience in a broad range of paediatric specialities and is an active member of the PECSIG and RCPCH.Find out more about Dr. Nair here. 

Find out more and book your place here. 

Managing Extreme Fatigue

Join us on Wednesday 17h December from 7-8pm for a session on Fatigue hosted by Roselle O'Brien.

Fatigue, extreme fatigue, is a reaction that many people with MCAS and other mast cell activation related issues and disorders experience. Join us and, together, let's take a closer look into the whys and wheretofores of fatigue--what's going on with our bodies? what's going on with our mast cells?--while exploring some strategies to better understand how to support our energy needs in the face of mast cell activation.

Roselle O'Brien is a psychotherapist, creative arts therapist, educator, holistic life, health & nutrition coach, and licensed nurse, find out more about Roselle here. 

Book your place here.