Virtual sessions for people with MCAS

We host regular exercise, creative and community Zoom sessions, as well as stand-alone, topical sessions.  If you have any questions, you can contact us here. You can view and book all of our virtual sessions here.  

Our virtual sessions are hosted through Zoom and are free to anyone over 18+ with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome or for those supporting someone living with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome. Our sessions are only suitable to those living in the U.K, this is due to our funding and due to the differences in medical systems, benefits, treatment and medications around the world. If you live abroad you are more than welcome to explore our free resources on our website or view our videos on YouTube.

Any donations received go towards us being able to provide more virtual sessions to those in need within our community. If you are able to donate, no matter how small, it will be gratefully received. You can donate here.

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. 

Treatments: Meds, Reactions, & Being Brave to Try

Join us on Wednesday 22nd October from 7-8pm for a session exploring how to overcome fear with new medications hosted by Roselle O'Brien.  

Roselle is a psychotherapist, creative arts therapist, educator, holistic life, health & nutrition coach, and licensed nurse. She specializes in mast cell activation related issues and disorders. Find out more about Roselle here.  

Taking medications can often be an area of challenge for many people with MCAS and/or other mast cell activation related issue or disorder. It can be hard to figure out triggers and make sense of reactions. Join us as we take a closer look at what's going on in our bodies, common MCAS and mast cell activation medications, and some strategies for symptom management. Find out more and book your place here. 

Pain and the Brain

Join us on Monday 3rd November from 7-8:30pm for a session exploring how pain is processed by the brain, hosted by Deborah Bircham from Live Well with Chronic Illness. You can find out more about Deborah here. 

If the brain generates pain, it opens up the possibility that we can use the brain to change the pain. There are many studies showing that tools such as hypnotherapy and mindfulness can do just that - change the way our brains generate pain signals.

In this talk, we will explore how we can use brain-based tools to moderate and change our pain experience, and help us to live better with pain.

Find out more and book your place here. 

Gastrointestinal Symptoms, Diet and MCAS

Join us on Wednesday 12th November from 7-8pm for a session hosted by dieticians and members of our dietetic advisory board, Chloe Hall and Nichola Williams.

Find out more about Chloe here and Nichola here. 

Join us for an interactive Q&A session exploring the complex relationship between diet, gastrointestinal (GI) health, and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS).

This webinar will dive into how mast cell activity can impact the gut, common challenges people face with digestion and food sensitivities, and practical dietary strategies that may help manage symptoms.

Find out more and book your place here. 

Online Wellbeing Retreat for the MCAS Community

Join us on Saturday 29th November from 10am-3:30pm for our first ever online wellbeing retreat hosted by Ivy Lewis, Anna Garrett, Deborah Bircham and Rebecca Fredericks. 

Our Wellbeing Advisory Board members have got their heads together and put together a programme of restorative and restful sessions aimed specifically for people living with MCAS. We understand how difficult it is to attend ‘real life’ wellness retreats and spas, with this event you can enjoy all the benefits of a retreat experience in the safety and comfort of your own home! This day aims to relax you, uplift you and inspire you, and leave you feeling refreshed and restored.

Find out more and book your place here. 

Diet and MCAS: a Webinar for Dieticians

Join us on Monday 1st December from 7-8pm for an informative and practical webinar for dieticians supporting those with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome or MCAS hosted by dieticians and members of our dietetic advisory board, Alison Holloway, Chloe Hall and Nishti Uddeh. 

MCAS is a complex and often misunderstood condition that can significantly impact nutritional intake, food tolerance, and overall wellbeing. In this session, we’ll explore the role of diet in managing symptoms, share practical strategies for working with individuals with multiple sensitivities, and provide insights into collaborative, person-centred care.Find out more about Chloe here, Alison here and Nishti here. 

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.