Rooted in Tradition, Guided by Science, Designed by You

Enroll Now
Login
Logo for Treasure Coast Yoga Academy

Compassion Circles: Support for Caregivers and Families

Wishlist Share
Share Course
Page Link
Share On Social Media

About Course

This 5-credit CEU course is designed to support caregivers, family members, and professionals in developing, organizing, and leading Compassion Circles. These circles provide a safe and nurturing space for connection, reflection, and shared healing. Drawing on yoga philosophy, meditation, breathwork, storytelling, journaling, and neuroscience, participants will learn how to hold space for others while caring for themselves.

What Will You Learn?

  • Key Takeaways
  • Module 1: Foundations of Compassion Circles
  • - Understand the purpose, structure, and audience for Compassion Circles.
  • - Recognize the role of community support in holistic health and wellness.
  • - Apply yoga philosophy (Ahimsa and Karuna) as guiding principles.
  • - Explore the neuroscience of compassion, empathy, and stress regulation.
  • Module 2: Tools of Support and Self-Care
  • - Learn breathwork practices for stress reduction and emotional regulation.
  • - Practice meditation techniques for grounding and resilience.
  • - Use journaling prompts for reflection, release, and meaning-making.
  • - Explore gentle yoga and chair-based postures for caregivers and those with limited mobility.
  • Module 3: Memory, Storytelling, and Reminiscence
  • - Understand different types of memory from a neuroscience perspective.
  • - Explore the power of storytelling for connection and healing.
  • - Apply reminiscence practices for caregivers and care recipients.
  • - Learn to create safe spaces for story-sharing in Compassion Circles.
  • Module 4: Organizing and Facilitating a Circle
  • - Follow practical steps to organize and promote Compassion Circles.
  • - Develop facilitation skills: active listening, presence, and boundaries.
  • - Create meaningful opening and closing rituals.
  • - Apply ethics and inclusivity to support diverse caregivers and families.
  • Module 5: Integration and Application
  • - Design your own Compassion Circle program.
  • - Learn from case studies and examples of successful caregiver circles.
  • - Practice self-care as a facilitator, sustaining energy and boundaries.
  • - Reflect on walking the path of compassion together.

Course Content

Module 1: Foundations of Compassion Circles
Overview This opening module introduces the foundational elements of Compassion Circles. Caregivers, family members, yoga teachers, healthcare professionals, and community leaders often face high levels of stress and isolation. Compassion Circles offer a structured, supportive space for gathering, sharing, and connecting. In this module, participants will explore the purpose and structure of Compassion Circles, the role of community support in holistic health, guiding principles from yoga philosophy, and the neuroscience of compassion and empathy. Together, these lessons provide a framework for understanding why Compassion Circles matter and how they can be transformative for caregivers and communities.

  • Lesson 1: Defining Compassion Circles
  • Lesson 2: The Role of Community Support
  • Lesson 3: Yoga Philosophy – Ahimsa and Karuna
  • Lesson 4: Neuroscience of Compassion, Empathy, and Stress Regulation

Module 2: Tools of Support and Self-Care
Overview In this module, participants will explore essential tools that support both caregivers and facilitators in maintaining balance, resilience, and emotional well-being. The practices of breathwork, meditation, journaling, and gentle yoga provide accessible ways to regulate stress, process emotions, and cultivate a deeper sense of presence and self-care. This module introduces practical techniques that can be immediately integrated into Compassion Circles, as well as into daily life.

Module 3: Memory, Storytelling, and Reminiscence
Overview Memory and storytelling are fundamental to human connection, identity, and healing. For caregivers and care recipients, especially those navigating neurological conditions, storytelling and reminiscence practices provide powerful tools to foster meaning, strengthen bonds, and support brain health. Neuroscience shows that memory is not a single process but a dynamic system with multiple types, including semantic, episodic, and procedural memory. Storytelling exercises these systems, helping to keep them active while also supporting emotional well-being. This module explores the neuroscience of memory, the healing potential of storytelling, the practice of reminiscence, and strategies to create safe spaces for sharing within Compassion Circles.

Module 4: Organizing and Facilitating a Circle Overview
This module provides participants with the essential skills and structures needed to organize and facilitate Compassion Circles successfully. While previous modules focused on tools and practices, this module emphasizes practical implementation: how to plan and promote circles, how to develop the facilitation skills necessary to hold space, and how to integrate rituals and ethical guidelines. Participants will learn to create safe, inclusive, and compassionate environments that honor diverse caregivers and families, ensuring that every circle becomes a place of healing and connection.

Module 5: Integration and Application
Overview This final module brings together the insights and practices of Compassion Circles into practical application. Participants will learn how to design their own Compassion Circle programs, study real-life examples of successful caregiver circles, and reflect on the importance of facilitator self-care and boundaries. The module closes with a collective reflection on walking the path of compassion together, reinforcing the course’s message of community, resilience, and shared humanity.

Course Quiz – Fill in the Blanks
Please complete the quiz and return it for discussion during the live Zoom.

Earn a certificate

Add this certificate to your resume to demonstrate your skills.

selected template

Student Ratings & Reviews

No Review Yet
No Review Yet
CloseMenu
Logo for Treasure Coast Yoga Academy

Sign Up For Newsletter

Facebook Instagram