Past Events

Moving Shame in the Early Career Researchers (ECR) Experience

ECRN Events

  • 1 December 2023
  • 2:30 – 5:30 pm
  • 21 Stacey Street, London WC2H 8DG

This event is part of the Paul Mellon Centre’s 2023/24 ECRN programme.

Have you considered using yoga and mindfulness to reflect on your academic life and research practice? In this session we will consider how your research might have been affected by shame, imposter syndrome, self-doubt, self-criticism and low confidence, and in particular how they manifest for early career academics in the arts and humanities. Facilitated by Gemma Lucas and Chloe Asker, we will use gentle yoga, mindfulness and creative practices to help move shame in our academic bodies and lives.

Gemma will first explain how she uses yoga and art in her research on shame. Both Gemma and Chloe will then guide you through gentle yoga practices and collaging/zine-making activities whilst we reflect on our personal experiences of shame in academia.

Please wear comfortable clothes in which you can move. If you own an exercise or yoga mat, please bring it with you. If you do not own one, we will have a limited number available for you to use.

About the facilitators

Gemma Lucas is a yoga teacher and researcher at the University of Exeter who uses gentle yoga and art practices to explore how shame is an under-acknowledged factor in our mental health.

Chloe Asker is one of the convenors of the Paul Mellon ECRN. They also have a Queer creative health practice, focused on developing mindful, embodied, feminist and gentle approaches to research and academic life.