Episode 4: Coping with Covid Mindfully with Hitendra Solanki

In this show, you'll hear Melissa interview Hitendra Solanki, senior lecturer in development studies at London South Bank University and Wellbeing and Mindfulness Practitioner and Advisor. They talk about using mindfulness as a strategy to support us during COVID-19. At the end of their conversation, he also shares a mindfulness practice that you can experience for yourself.

Show Notes

Hitendra Solanki is a senior lecturer in development studies at London South Bank University. He’s been active in the development and humanitarian sector for over 16 years. Most recently, he worked as a Mindfulness and Wellbeing Adviser in Action Against Hunger UK. He also led the 3-year Mindfulness & Wellbeing project as part of the Start Network’s Transforming Surge Capacity programme. You can see us reference his work in the recently published paper, “Working Well? Aid Worker Well-being and How to Improve It.”

You can find Being Inside, the project he describes in the show, here: https://www.beinginside.com/

‘Being. Inside.’ is a wellbeing initiative that brings regular live guided mindfulness meditation online, as we move through these uncertain times.
Mindfulness practice has been scientifically proven to enhance self-awareness, improve psychological wellbeing, increase general health, reduce stress and anxiety, and strengthen mental resilience. These live, hourly sessions, professionally delivered by qualified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) trainers, with long-standing experience in the humanitarian and academic sectors, are provided completely free, and are open to everyone, everywhere, every weekday. To book a place, please visit the Being. Inside. website where you can register for any of the live sessions you wish to participate in. 

This podcast series is part of the CHS Alliance Initiative to Cultivate Caring, Compassionate aid organisations being led by Melissa Pitotti and Mary Ann Clements who host this podcast and which you can read about here:

https://www.chsalliance.org/get-support/article/cultivating-caring-compassionate-aid-organisations/

If you'd like to get involved with or support the work we are doing please do get in touch at [e-mail].

What is Embodying change: Transforming power, culture and well-being in aid organisations?

A podcast for humanitarians who want to work in closer alignment to core values like compassion, accountability, solidarity and equity. Born in 2020 in collaboration with CHS Alliance and Mary Ann Clements, the podcast is now entering its next evolution and is hosted by Melissa Pitotti.