Chronic Illness Programs: The TENDing Method
Evidence-based nervous system regulation and body-based practices for chronic health conditions
Stop fighting your body. Start tending to it. Our programs teach you sustainable, trauma-informed practices for living well with chronic illness, Long COVID, ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, dysautonomia, and other complex conditions.
How TENDing Method Works
The TENDing Method is a comprehensive 10-week program taught in two parts: TENDing Foundations (weeks 1-6) and Advanced TENDing (weeks 7-10, optional). Designed for people living with chronic health conditions, this virtual group coaching program combines nervous system regulation, body awareness practices, and sustainable behavior change strategies.
What Makes TENDing Method Different
Expert Collaborative Teaching Learn from three instructors: Michele (founder with lived chronic illness experience), Dr. Karen Lawson, MD (20+ years behavior change expertise), and Dr. Brenna Erickson, DC (nervous system specialist, the Migraine Whisperer).
Science-Informed, Compassion-Led Grounded in polyvagal theory, trauma-informed care, and integrative medicine—delivered with genuine understanding of what it's like to live in a body that needs extra tending.
Community That Understands Small cohorts (max 12 participants) create genuine connection with others who truly get what you're experiencing. No explanations necessary.
Sustainable, Not Overwhelming Gentle micro-practices designed for real bodies with real limitations. This isn't another exhausting protocol—it's about building practices you can actually maintain.
Current & Upcoming Cohorts
TENDing Foundations BETA
6-Week Foundational Program | Virtual | Beta Pricing
Join our inaugural beta cohort and help shape the future of the TENDing Method. Learn nervous system regulation, body scanning, emotional awareness, and daily tending practices.
Key Details:
Start Date: March 31, 2026
Schedule: Tuesdays, 4:30-6:00 PM CST
Duration: 6 weeks
Format: Live virtual sessions with recordings
Group Size: Limited to 12 participants
Investment: $797
What's Included:
✓ 6 live weekly 90-minute sessions
✓ Complete course materials & practice guides
✓ Private community access
✓ Guided practice recordings
✓ Monthly office hours (3 months)
Advanced TENDing - June 2026
4-Week Expansion | Virtual | Beta Pricing | Weeks 7-10
Short Description: For TENDing Foundations graduates ready to go deeper. Explore beliefs, grief, Long COVID insights, supplement strategies, and create your sustainable path forward.
Prerequisite: Must complete TENDing Foundations
Key Details:
Start Date: July 7, 2026
Schedule: Tuesday 4:30-6:00 PM
Duration: 4 weeks
Format: Live virtual sessions with recordings
Group Size: Limited to 12 participants
Investment: $517 (Standard: $997)
What You'll Explore:
Week 7: Thoughts, Beliefs & Identity
Week 8: Grief, Loss & Letting Go
Week 9: Long COVID & Supplement Strategies
Week 10: Your Sustainable Path Forward
Special Focus: Evidence-based information on Long COVID, post-viral illness, ME/CFS, MCAS, dysautonomia, and personalized supplement strategies.
Image Alt Text: "Virtual group coaching session for chronic illness support"
TENDing Foundations - May 2026
6-Week Foundational Program | Virtual | Reduced Pricing
The first official cohort following our successful beta. Get the refined curriculum at founding member pricing—save $1,700 off the standard rate.
Key Details:
Start Date: May 12, 2026
Schedule: Thursdays, 4:30-6:00 PM CST
Duration: 6 weeks
Format: Live virtual sessions with recordings
Group Size: Limited to 12 participants
Investment: $1,297 (Standard: $2,997)
What You'll Learn:
Week 1: Welcome Home - Creating nervous system safety
Week 2: Understanding Your Nervous System
Week 3: The Body Scan Practice
Week 4: Befriending Your Emotions
Week 5: Daily Tending Practices
Week 6: Integration & Your Path Forward
TENDing Foundations - June 2026
6-Week Foundational Program | Virtual | Reduced
Short Description: Summer cohort of TENDing Foundations. Learn the foundational practices for nervous system regulation, body awareness, and sustainable self-care.
Key Details:
Start Date: September 8, 2026
Schedule: Tuesday 4:30-6:00 PM
Duration: 6 weeks
Format: Live virtual sessions with recordings
Group Size: Limited to 12 participants
Investment: $1,797 (a savings of $1200 off the future rate!)
Image Alt Text: "Virtual group coaching session for chronic illness support"
TENDing Programs Are Designed For
People living with:
Long COVID and post-viral illness
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)
Fibromyalgia
Dysautonomia and POTS
Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)
Chronic Lyme disease
Autoimmune conditions
Chronic migraine and headache disorders
Other complex, multi-system chronic health conditions
You'll benefit from TENDing if you:
Are tired of protocols that promise quick fixes but leave you more depleted
Want to understand your nervous system and how it affects your symptoms
Need sustainable practices that fit into real life (not 47-step morning routines)
Crave community with people who truly understand chronic illness
Are ready to stop fighting your body and start listening to it
Want trauma-informed, compassionate guidance from experienced practitioners
This is NOT for you if:
You're looking for a cure or quick fix
You're not ready to engage with body-based practices
You prefer one-on-one coaching only (these are group programs)
You're seeking medical diagnosis or treatment (this is educational coaching, not medical care)
Meet Your Teaching Team
TENDing programs are taught by a collaborative team of three instructors, each bringing unique expertise to create a comprehensive approach to chronic illness management.
Michele Renee, DC, MAc
Founder & Lead Instructor Creator of the TENDing Method
Karen Lawson, MD, DABIHM, NBC-HWC
Co-Instructor & Health Empowerment Specialist 20+ years behavior change expertise
Co-Developer & Nervous System Specialist The Migraine Whisperer
Brenna Erickson, DC
Frequently Asked Questions
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A: Live attendance is encouraged for the full experience, but not required. All sessions are recorded and available for 6 months. We understand that chronic illness means some days you simply can't show up—that's exactly why we build in this flexibility.
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A: The entire program is designed for bodies that need flexibility. Rest when you need to. The recordings and materials will be there when you're ready. This is about tending, not pushing through.
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A: No. The TENDing Method is an educational coaching program, not medical treatment. We provide evidence-based information and body-based practices, but we don't diagnose, treat, or prescribe. Always work with your healthcare providers for medical care.
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Can I take TENDing Foundations more than once? A: Yes! Some participants find value in repeating Foundations with a new cohort to deepen their practice. Contact us about returning participant pricing.
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Do you offer payment plans? A: Yes. Payment plans are available for all programs. Details are provided on individual program pages.
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What's your refund policy? A: If after the first session you feel the program isn't right for you, we'll refund your investment in full, no questions asked. After session 2, all sales are final.
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We offer flexible pricing based on project type and complexity. After an initial conversation, we’ll provide a transparent quote with no hidden costs.
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Collaborative, honest, and straightforward. We're here to guide the process, bring ideas to the table, and keep things moving.
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have a different chronic condition than the ones listed. Is this still for me? A: If you're living with any chronic health condition that affects your daily life and you're looking for nervous system-based, body-aware practices, TENDing may be right for you. The principles apply across many conditions. Email us if you're unsure: hello@bodyluminary.com
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What's the difference between TENDing Foundations and Advanced TENDing? A: TENDing Foundations (weeks 1-6) teaches the foundational nervous system regulation and body awareness practices. Advanced TENDing (weeks 7-10) goes deeper into mental patterns, grief work, Long COVID/post-viral insights, and creating your sustainable long-term protocol. Foundations is a complete program on its own; Advanced is optional for those who want to continue.
Q: Will there be more cohorts after these? A: Yes! We'll be offering multiple cohorts throughout 2026 and beyond. Join our email list to be notified about new cohort dates and early registration opportunities.
Email Signup Section
H2: Stay Informed About New Cohorts
Body Copy: Get notified when new cohorts open, receive early registration access, and get free resources for living well with chronic illness.
[Email signup form]
Form Fields:
Email address (required)
First name (optional)
What brings you here? [Dropdown: Long COVID, ME/CFS, Fibromyalgia, Dysautonomia, MCAS, Chronic Migraine, Other chronic condition]
Privacy note: We respect your inbox. Unsubscribe anytime.
Final CTA Section
H2: Ready to Start Tending?
Body Copy: Your body has been waiting for you to come home. Choose your cohort and begin your journey.
[Two CTA Buttons]
Primary CTA: Browse Current Cohorts
Secondary CTA: Contact Us With Questions
Additional SEO Elements
Image Alt Text Templates:
For all program images on this page:
"Virtual chronic illness coaching session - TENDing Method"
"Woman practicing nervous system regulation for Long COVID"
"Diverse group in virtual chronic illness support program"
"Person using body awareness practices for fibromyalgia management"
"Compassionate chronic illness coaching community meeting online"
Internal Linking Strategy:
Link to these pages from the programs page:
/about - "Meet our teaching team"
/contact - "Questions? Contact us"
Individual program pages for each cohort
Blog/resources page (if you have one) - "Learn more about chronic illness management"
External Linking (if applicable):
Consider linking to:
Research on polyvagal theory
ME/CFS resources
Long COVID resources
Reputable chronic illness organizations
Schema Markup to Implement:
Course Schema for each program listing
FAQ Schema for the FAQ section
Organization Schema for Body Luminary
Review Schema for testimonials (if you have structured review data)
BreadcrumbList Schema for navigation
Structured Data Example for TENDing Foundations:
json
{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Course", "name": "TENDing Foundations", "description": "6-week nervous system-based program for chronic illness featuring body awareness, regulation practices, and sustainable self-care strategies", "provider": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Body Luminary", "sameAs": "https://www.bodyluminary.com" }, "instructor": [ { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michele [Last Name]" }, { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dr. Karen Lawson" }, { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dr. Brenna Erickson" } ], "hasCourseInstance": { "@type": "CourseInstance", "courseMode": "online", "duration": "P6W", "startDate": "2026-04-03" }, "offers": { "@type": "Offer", "price": "1297", "priceCurrency": "USD" } }
Content Optimization Notes:
Primary Keywords Used:
Chronic illness programs
TENDing Method
Nervous system regulation
Long COVID coaching
Virtual chronic illness support
Body-based practices
Trauma-informed chronic illness care
Secondary Keywords Integrated:
ME/CFS support
Fibromyalgia management
Dysautonomia coaching
MCAS support
Post-viral illness recovery
Chronic migraine program
Polyvagal theory
User Intent Addressed:
Informational: What is the TENDing Method?
Comparison: Which program is right for me?
Transactional: How do I enroll?
Local: Virtual (accessible anywhere)
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Ready to Start Tending?
Your body has been waiting for you to come home. Choose your cohort and begin your journey.
Questions before getting started?