Putting on Our Own
Oxygen Mask 

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You Give So Much,

But Who Is Caring for You? 

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​You’re someone who shows up — for your work, your clients, your colleagues, and the people who rely on you.

But when you spend your days supporting others, there’s often little left for yourself.

You might notice:

💭 Feeling tired even after rest.
💭 A constant sense of pressure to do or be more.
💭 Speaking gently to others, but critically to yourself.

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This isn’t weakness — it’s your nervous system doing its best to protect you.
When we stay in “go mode” for too long, the body forgets how to shift into a state of calm, safety, and connection.

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This 90-minute workshop is your invitation to pause — to understand what’s happening in your body and mind, soften self-criticism, and rediscover steadiness through self-compassion.

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🌿 What You’ll Learn

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In this evidence-based and experiential session, you’ll explore five key areas:

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🕯 1. Burnout: The Cost of Not Caring For Ourselves

We’ll examine stress and burnout through a Polyvagal lens, understanding how the body transitions between ventral vagal (calm and connected), sympathetic (fight-or-flight), and dorsal vagal (collapse) states.

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You’ll learn that burnout isn’t a personal failure; it’s a physiological survival response.

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We’ll explore the three main causes of stress and burnout that drain the nervous system:

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• External causes – workload, system pressures, constant connectivity, and competing demands.

• Internal causes – perfectionism, self-criticism, imposter thoughts, and emotional overdrive.

• In-between causes – emotional resonance, empathy fatigue, and vicarious stress from caring for others.

 

Recognising these patterns is the first step in restoring balance and energy.

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🌸 2. What Is Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC)?

You’ll discover how Mindful Self-Compassion (developed by Dr Kristin Neff and Dr Christopher Germer) helps us meet difficulty with understanding rather than judgment.

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We’ll explore the three key components — Mindfulness, Common Humanity, and Self-Kindness — and how they allow us to soften reactivity, stay present, and include ourselves in our own caregiving circle.

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You’ll also learn about the two complementary faces of self-compassion:

• Tender self-compassion — soothing, comforting, and nurturing ourselves in times of pain.

• Fierce self-compassion — protecting, motivating, and setting healthy boundaries when something needs to change.

Together, they create balance — helping us care deeply while staying grounded and self-respecting.

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💫 3. The Science of Self-Compassion

Learn how self-compassion changes both your body and brain.

Through a Polyvagal framework, we’ll explore how self-compassion activates the soothe system — shifting you out of stress physiology and back into a state of calm connection.

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When you practise self-compassion, your body releases a cascade of supportive neurochemicals — oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins — which reduce threat responses, ease pain, and support feelings of safety and belonging.

You’ll also discover how these shifts improve heart rate variability, balance the nervous system, and create conditions for clearer thinking, emotional steadiness, and genuine wellbeing.

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You’ll experience in real time how small moments of warmth and kindness toward yourself create measurable physiological change — the foundation of nervous system recovery.

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🌿 4. The Myths of Self-Compassion

Many people believe self-compassion means being weak, selfish, or unmotivated.
We’ll gently debunk those myths and show how compassion builds strength, clarity, and sustainable motivation.

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🌞 5. Self-Compassion Practices for a Busy Day

You’ll learn brief, practical tools you can use anytime — between meetings, after difficult conversations, or before sleep.

Practices include grounding through the senses, affectionate breathing, and the Self-Compassion Break — micro-moments that restore calm and steadiness.

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🌸 You’ll Leave With

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• A clear understanding of stress and burnout.

• Insight into the three main causes of stress that drain your nervous system.

• Knowledge of tender and fierce self-compassion — and when to use each.

• Practical self-compassion tools to use throughout your day.

• A guided meditation recording and reflection worksheet.

• A steadier, kinder relationship with yourself.

 

 

 

💫 Workshop Details

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Format: 90 minutes (live via Zoom or in-person)
Investment: NZ$59 (Earlybird $49)
Includes: Replay · Guided Meditations through the Self-Compassion Starter Kit and a Certificate of Attendance for CPD. For Mind Fitness Gym members, the replay will be available for an unlimited time. (i.e you can still access this content through 
Spaces: Limited for connection and discussion

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Complimentary Gift

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When you register, you’ll also receive Dr Robyn’s Free Self-Compassion Starter Kit, which includes meditations included in the workshop, and a Yin yoga class that introduces the components of self-compassion