Healthy Living Magazine - Winter 2010

The Gawler Foundation magazineAn integrated approach to health healing and wellbeing

healthyliving Issue 5 | Winter 2010 $5

2 healthyliving - The Gawler Foundation magazine

New beginnings at Hawthorn

Hawthorn will be the second home for the Gawler Foundation with the opening of the brand new Gawler Foundation Hawthorn Centre in Burwood Road. This is the fi rst dedicated site for the Gawler Foundation in Melbourne and represents the achievement of a long held aspiration for Ian Gawler and all those associated with The Gawler Foundation’s work.

The Hawthorn Centre will offer programs and services that provide hope, choice, and peace of mind where health and wellbeing are challenged by illness or lifestyle factors. The central location will mean that many more people will be able to access The Gawler Foundation programs and expertise.

The Centre will offer counselling, meditation, a resource centre and programs like the Living Well: Cancer Support Progam and various Support Groups. The Centre will also welcome anyone seeking information on Cancer, MS and other lifestyle illnesses and the choices that are available when considering an integrative approach to healing.

“Anyone can call into the Hawthorn Centre and gain access to the information that puts us at the

Our Hawthorn location

The Gawler Foundation at Hawthorn is located at 565 Burwood Road, Hawthorn 3122. Telephone 03 5967 1730.

The Hawthorn Centre is an easy 200 metre walk from Auburn station on the Belgrave, Lilydale or Alamein lines.

Check our website for more details www.gawler.org

Melways Reference 45 F 11. →

Welcome to The Gawler

Foundation's brand new centre in

Hawthorn, Melbourne.

Opening in June, The Hawthorn

Centre will offer people and their

families greater access to our re-

sources and programs.

forefront of cancer care.” says Karin Knoester, CEO. “People, especially the newly diagnosed and their families, are often overwhelmed by information and don’t know where to start. At the Centre we provide support to assist in navigating a healing journey.’

Supporters of The Gawler Foundation, a not for profi t, non denominational charity, have made the Hawthorn Centre possible through signifi cant fund raising and generous donations.

“We are grateful for the continued support of all our contributors.” says Karin Knoester. “Many people tell us how much they have gained from our programs and we are blessed to have this new centre and be able to extend our outreach.”

The new premises in Hawthorn is a charming old building which provides a sanctuary-like environment for people attending programs. The Hawthorn Centre will mirror the essence of the Yarra Junction retreat and its natural environment, providing an oasis in the city for all those who visit. Drop in and say hello when you are in the area.

Hello everyone and welcome to our June edition of Healthy Living. As winter is a time of hibernation it is somewhat paradoxical that we here at the Foundation are in fact spreading our wings wide

and bringing something new into existence.

The Hawthorn Centre opens this month, offi cially on 25th June. Located at 565 Burwood Road, Hawthorn the Centre has been a dream for a very long time. So, what will we do there? We will be running our 12 week 'Living Well' cancer program, support groups, drop in meditation groups, meditation programs, counselling and our Integration program which is a follow up to our residential Life and Living program and our Living Well programs.

In addition we will have a resource centre with a large selection of books and resources - much like our resource centre at the Yarra Valley Living Centre. We hope it will truly be a place of welcome for people for whatever reason they come. So, please do come and say hello. Enjoy a cup of herbal tea, sit down and rest awhile.

We welcome back to the Foundation Siegfried Gutbrod who has accepted the position of Therapeutic Director. Siegfried may be well known to many of you as he worked with TGF for 9 years or so some fi ve years ago. The role he takes on is challenging and considerable and I know that he does so with great commitment and enthusiasm. You will see Siegfried in our residential programs, and perhaps occasionally at the Hawthorn Centre.

By the time you receive this magazine you will have had your Tax Appeal mailing delivered to your door. This appeal features an especially close friend of the Foundation - Scott Stephens.

Scott's story is one of great hope and determination and I know you will be inspired by it. Scott also shares his journey with participants in our Life and Living program and he truly is an inspiration. Your donation goes a long way toward helping people like Scott who come to us with seemingly so few options. I hope you are able to contribute to our appeal.

That's it from me. Stay warm and be kind to yourself.

The Gawler Foundation Inc. is a not for profi t

organisation committed to an integrated

approach to health, healing and wellbeing that

includes the body, emotions, mind and spirit.

Our mission is to work within an integrative

medical framework to provide access to the

best possible instruction and support for the

implementation of self-help techniques for

people experiencing cancer, MS or other

serious illness.

Directors of the Board

Irene Goonan, President

Ray Cummings, Treasurer

Alistair Bennallack

Professor Avni Sali

Janne Palthe

Shelley Oldham

Dr Mark Nethercote

Karin Knoester, CEO

The Gawler Foundation

55 Rayner Court

PO Box 77

Yarra Junction VIC 3797

Phone (03) 5967 1730

Fax (03) 5967 1715

Email [email protected]

Web www.gawler.org

ABN 79 160 595 251

Editorial

Editor and Designer, Lindy Schneider

[email protected]

Additional Design, Judd Zekas

[email protected]

Editorial Committee

Paul Bedson, Senior Therapist

[email protected]

Christine Johnson, Community Relations

[email protected]

Membership and Subscriptions

Sue Skinner: [email protected]

© The Gawler Foundation 2010

The contents of this magazine do not necessarily refl ect

the opinions of The Gawler Foundation and should not

be construed as medical advice.

The Gawler Foundation accepts no responsibility for the

accuracy of any of the opinions, advice, representations

or information contained in this publication.

The Gawler Foundation encourages readers to be

discerning with information presented and when making

treatment, dietary and lifestyle choices.

Printed on 100% post consumer waste recycled paper

using vegetable oil based inks.

From the CEO

Karin Knoester is The Gawler Foundation’s Chief Executive. She can be contacted by email: [email protected]

100%

ISO

Finding research evidence on the internet - a starting point

In the past access to scientifi c research

papers was mainly restricted to

professional researchers who were

able to obtain the published journal

articles through university libraries.

The development of the internet has

changed this situation. By using some

key websites it is now possible for

anyone with internet access to examine

the research evidence on a particular

health topic.

This article describes some simple steps to fi nd the research evidence on a particular health topic. The aim is to locate a reliable and comprehensive review of the published research.

The approach described here is based on the method that researchers use for fi nding review articles - we recommend this as the starting point for fi nding research evidence on the internet.

One of the main challenges involved in examining the research evidence on a particular topic is the sheer volume of published research studies. For example in the fi eld of cancer research more than 100,000 research articles are published each year in the scientifi c journals.

The prospect of reading the numerous research articles on a particular topic can be daunting. Researchers address this issue by fi rst searching

for a high quality review of the published research studies.

In particular we look for a review paper that is called a systematic review.

What is a systematic review?

A systematic review provides a comprehensive overview of the available studies in a particular area. It provides a thorough analysis of the results, strengths and weaknesses of the studies.

A systematic review will often include a meta-analysis which is a technique for analyzing and summarizing the statistical results of the included studies. This provides us with an overview of the fi ndings of the pooled results of the studies.

A systematic review is a resource that is highly valued by researchers. We save a great deal of time that would otherwise be taken up in searching for and examining all of the relevant research publications on the issue. Also this type of paper provides us with the overall perspective that is gained by combining the research results across many studies.

Why is this so important?

This is important because we consider scientifi c evidence to be convincing when the fi ndings of one study are replicated in subsequent studies that use a similar design.

We are currently preparing an evidence summary on the issue of fl axseed oil and prostate cancer.

A Systematic Review:

• addresses a focused, clearly formulated question

• uses systematic methods to identify, select and critically appraise relevant research studies

• uses systematic methods to collate and analyze data from the studies included in the review.


Finding research evidence on the internet - a starting point

healthyliving - The Gawler Foundation magazine 5

Dr Greg Rumbold is a Research Offi cer at The Gawler Foundation. He has worked in health research for over 20 years in areas including public health, alcohol and drug research, and evidence based medicine.

The individual studies on this issue have not produced consistent results. In some cases similar studies have produced opposite results.

Fortunately there are some review papers that have been published in the past few years that provide us with an overview of this evidence and highlight the inconsistency in the fi ndings.

In general researchers place little weight on the fi ndings of a single study. Instead we look for the fi ndings that emerge from an analysis of all the relevant studies.

We may not always be able to locate a comprehensive review article that addresses the particular research topic that we are interested in.

However it is well worth taking the time to check whether one is available before taking any further steps to examining the research literature.

Where to fi nd a systematic review.

There are two web sites that we recommend at the fi rst option for searching for systematic reviews on the internet.

They are the web sites for The Cochrane Library and PubMed Clinical queries.

► The Cochrane Library

The Cochrane Library is a regularly updated collection of databases of high quality research on health care interventions. Cochrane library access is funded by the Commonwealth Government and is therefore freely available to Australians.

You can the library at http://www.thecochranelibrary.com. You can enter your search terms in the search bar at the top of the page.

Any relevant reviews are listed and you can access the review article by clicking on the link. An abstract and plain language summary is also available. The site includes a detailed help page.

► PubMed Online

PubMed is an online, freely accessible version of the Medline database. It is a comprehensive database of articles from health and medical journals compiled

Flaxseed Oil & Prostate Cancer

As a follow up to our prostate cancer management story by Dr Charles 'Snuffy' Myers (Auturm issue 2010), we are currently preparing a comprehensive review article on the issue of fl axseed oil and prostate cancer.

When this is article has been completed we will make this review available on The Gawler Foundation website together with a plain language summary and links to the key research papers.

"we consider scientifi c evidence to

be convincing when the fi ndings

of one study are replicated in

subsequent studies that use a

similar design"

by the National Library of Medicine of the United States.

The clinical queries page of PubMed can be accessed at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/corehtml/query/static/clinical.shtml.

On this page you will fi nd a section with a search bar for systematic reviews. By clicking on the link of a review article in the search results you can read the abstract and in some cases you will be able access the full text of the review for free.

I hope this helps you in your own research initiatives.Solid, reliable, well researched evidence can be found on the internet - you just need to be diligent, check the sources and stay with trusted sites.


By Paul Bedson

Mindfulness is the ability to notice and pay attention to what is actually happening around and inside of us

at each moment.

Mindfulness is like waking up to life. Have you ever felt that you are moving through your life almost like a sleepwalker?

When we fall into mindlessness our days can become a grey blur. Instead of noticing the rich variety of colours in life, a mindless life becomes beige.

In a mindless state we notice less and take so much for granted. Do you ever take time to enjoy the simple pleasures of everyday life?

The warmth of the sun, a child’s laughter, a friendly smile, a small act of kindness, a refreshing shower, a soft breeze, a delicate fl ower? With the practice of mindfulness, we come to our senses and start to actually show up in our own life.

Mindfulness meditation is the practice of waking up to the present moment by paying attention to the here and now.

The meditative paths of the various traditions of Buddhism, the yogic traditions, and several others have established the practice of mindfulness meditation over many centuries.

Mindfulness develops attention, concentration and the ability to simply be present with little or no future orientation, past orientation or goal orientation— choosing to be a human being rather than a human doing.

Waking Up to Life

Paul Bedson is senior

therapist at The

Gawler Foundation

and facilitates the

Foundation’s Living

in Balance program

which is largely about

balancing the energies

of Yin and Yang, Fire

and Water in your

everyday life.

Mindfulness meditation cultivates a state of awareness that is less dominated by thinking, less stimulated by imagination and memory, less active, and more open, receptive and in touch with the aspects of one’s experience that are here and now.

Mindfulness practice slows down the forward projection of the thinking mind, which is overly committed to achieving, getting, having, holding and protecting.

Mindfulness practice slows down the momentum of the ego or the personality, and allows contact with a deeper, stiller, quieter part of one’s true nature. Through this practice, the meditator steps off the treadmill of chasing dreams and running from nightmares. They put down the masks and roles in the drama of life.

Rather than going somewhere to be someone and attain something, the meditator just listens, watches, feels and pays attention to present moment experience.

Effortlessly, the dreams and dramas become less important and less addictive.

These simple words by Michael Leunig beautifully describe a mindful life:

God help us to live slowly

To move simply

To look softly

To allow emptiness

To let the Heart create for us

Amen.

Mindfulness of Breath

The most basic, yet possibly the most profound, mindfulness technique for meditation is paying attention to the experience of breathing. Across the various meditation traditions, this may well be the most widely practised of all meditation techniques.

Mindfulness of Breath is practised by continually focusing our attention on the breath and simply bringing our attention back to the breath each and every time it wanders. There is no need to change, deepen or improve the breathing pattern; simply pay attention to the breathing as it is.

This is a mindfulness practice, not a breathing exercise. The aim is to be aware of the feeling of the breath rather than controlling it in some way or trying to achieve a particular outcome with the breath.

We will start by noticing any aspect of the breath. For example, we may notice the air as it moves through

'Meditation: an in-depth guide' written by Ian Gawler and Paul Bedson will be released in June.

The book guides the reader through the 4 steps of Mindfulness-Based Stillness Meditation: Preparation, Relaxation, Mindfulness and Stillness.

Here is an extract from ‘Mindfulness.’ Look for a follow up extract ‘Stillness’ in our next issue.

Ian Gawler

� Paul Bedson

MeditationAn In!depth GUIDE

ed

ita

tio

n


Why not wake up this morning?

RUMI

the nostrils and over the area above the upper lip, or we may be aware of the feeling of the breath in the chest and abdomen.

Perhaps, if we listen closely, we can even hear the subtle sound of our breathing. Attention can be directed to the sensations of warmth or coolness, or movement as the air touches the nostrils, or we could direct the attention towards the movements of the chest and tummy.

Or our attention can be inclusive of both areas. We can notice the beginning of the inhalation, then the middle and fi nally the end of the inhalation. We can notice a gradual feeling of fi lling and rising as we inhale. As we hold our attention more particularly on the breath we may notice a slight, effortless pause between the end of the inhalation and the beginning of the exhalation.

Then we notice the beginning, the middle and the end of the exhalation. We can notice a gradual feeling of sinking or emptying as we exhale.

We may notice another effortless pause at the end of the exhalation prior to the next inhalation.

Mindfulness of Breath can be a stand-alone practice or it can be integrated into the complete practice of Mindfulness- Based Stillness Meditation.

For beginners on the path of meditation, Mindfulness of Breath is a wonderful introduction to the profound benefi ts of mindfulness.

When beginning, practice for fi ve to fi fteen minutes to establish familiarity and ease with the technique.

Here then is the formal exercise with which you can practise and develop Mindfulness of Breath as

the focus of attention. ►

Meditation - An in-depth guide is availalbe

from the Gawler Foundation Resource

Centre on 03 5967 1730, online from

www.gawler.org and good bookstores.

Exercise : Mindfulness of BreathTake a moment to adjust your position . . . gently close your

eyes and settle into your body . . . If you are sitting, ensure your

body is as upright and open as is comfortable for you . . . If you

are lying down, lie in a balanced and symmetrical way. Now,

in your own way, take a few moments to relax your body . . .

Perhaps feel the muscles softening and loosening . . . relaxing

and releasing . . . just simply letting go . . . Perhaps taking a

deeper breath or two helps . . . and as you breathe out, notice

that natural feeling of relaxing and releasing a little more with

each out breath . . . just simply letting go. With your eyes gently

closed, become aware of the space before your eyes . . . like

a fi eld of darkness . . . perhaps there are some muted shapes

or colours . . . just simply rest your attention there. Now pay

attention to any sounds outside the room . . . just listening . . .

with a gentle curiosity . . . Let the sounds come and go . . . no

need to judge . . . Now notice any sounds that may be coming

from inside the room . . . Now the sound of your own breathing . .

. even if very soft . . . just listening. As you bring your awareness

to your breath, notice what sensations there are as you breathe

in . . . and as you breathe out . . . Feel the air touch your nostrils

. . . Feel the slight movement of your chest and your tummy .

. . Listen to the gentle sound of your own breathing . . . Allow

your breath to take up whatever rhythm feels natural for you at

the moment . . . quite effortlessly. If you notice your attention

wandering or becoming distracted . . . simply bring your attention

back to the next breath . . . being aware of this breath . . . and

this breath . . .being aware of what it is to be breathing in . . . and

breathing out . . . simply being with the breath . . . aware of the

breath.

Health Practitioners Professional Development

Facilitated by Dr Craig Hassad

Venue: Yarra Valley Living Centre, Yarra Junction

Dates: Friday 13 August - Sunday August 15, 2010

Mindfulness-based meditation, stress management and cognitive therapy are attracting enormous interest in the mental health and medical fi elds. This three-day experiential live-in program is designed for health practitioners from various disciplines who are interested in developing or extending skills in practice and delivery of mindfulness therapies. Participants will be introduced to a range of mindfulness practices and explore how mindfulness can form the core of a comprehensive approach to stress manage-ment, counselling and cognitive therapy.

By Dr Ian Olver

I have been exploring perspectives on complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) as part of a project to edit a book on this topic. As different perspectives are expressed new questions arise. For example, CAMs include healing practices often grouped under the term mind-body medicine. The suggestion is that a cognitive process will alter the body’s function. This group usually includes meditation, prayer, and creative expression therapies involving music or art.

One question is whether prayer should be classifi ed as a complementary therapy and investigated as such. In the USA, 91% of patients used at least one form of CAMs if you included prayer, relaxation and exercise. Similarly, in a study in Nigeria prayer accounted for 49.4% of the CAMs use. In Brazil there is actually a much lower rate of local herbal CAMs use than in the West, but this is only apparent if prayer is excluded from the CAMs data because infl ates the overall reports of CAMs use.

In the USA different types of CAMs were used by different groups. In general, whites used more CAM than non-whites, except in the case of prayer, and CAM users were better educated, except in the use of prayer. The authors of the study contended that these patterns are hidden if all practices are just reported together as CAMs. Prayer, therefore, should probably be considered a specifi c subgroup of CAMs with those that pray having different characteristics to other users of CAMs.

Spirituality, Prayer and Complementary Thera

"a positive association between spiritual wellbeing and general quality

of life has been reported"


, Prayer and Complementary Therapy


Professor Ian Olver, Chief Executive Offi cer, Cancer Council Australia, is a keynote speaker at the Profound Healing - Sustainable Wellbeing Conference, Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 November 2010 at the Hilton on the Park in Melbounre.

His topic at the conference is “Perspectives on complementary and alternative medicine.” He will also be involved in a panel discussion focussed on “Integrative Healthcare: challenges, opportunities and vision for the future.”

Spirituality, on the other hand,which is often defi ned as the search for meaning to one’s life, should be considered separately from religiosity, which is just one form of spirituality. Religiosity is usually considered in terms of formal affi liation with organised religion.

The Behavioural Research Centre of the American Cancer Society published a study examining the association between spiritual wellbeing as measured by the FACIT-Sp scale which has the subscales of Faith, Peace and Meaning, and CAMs use in over 4000 cancer survivors.

They studied 19 CAMs in 5 domains and divided mind/body methods into Religious/Spiritual (R/S) and non R/S. They found that the Meaning and Faith subscales were associated with greater use of CAMs but the Peace with less CAMs use if R/S CAMs were excluded.

As part of their conclusions, the authors suggest that R/S CAMs should be thought of as a separate category of CAMs.

In other studies, a positive association between spiritual wellbeing and general quality of life has been reported. This is an important association because one component of improving quality of life would be to improve spiritual wellbeing. It is a great challenge to scientifi cally explore how this component can be maximised and thereby included as part of evidence-based CAMs. The debate centres on whether spirituality and prayer can or should be subjected to such enquiry.

From the harpThe Gawler foundation's resident harpist, Michael Johnson, has been composing, recording and performing for over thirty years. Since 1991 he has been facilitator of the "Mindfulness Music" sessions at the Foundation, with his harp as the feature of these sessions, the aim of these being to provide music as a tool to aid people in their meditative practice.

As well as performing alongside an eclectic combination of artists such as Tony Gould, Jane Rutter, Wilber Wilde And The Melbourne Welsh Male Choir, he has eleven CDs and DVDs to his name and his compositions are regularly aired on national radio and television.

Michael is also composer in residence at the ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS MELBOURNE . For two years he has lived in one of the houses in the gardens, recording and composing music for one of his most popular CDs, "Dancing in the Garden."

His work at the gardens now involves running the meditative concerts series, "Twilight Music." These

concerts are held once a month in the Terrace restaurant, as the sun sets over the ornamental lake. The concerts have featured some of Australia's most gifted musicians.

For more information about these concerts, and the upcoming Winter Concert Series, visit www.twilightmusic.com.au.

Michael will also play at the opening of our Hawthorn Centre.


Residential Programs for Cancer, Multiple Sclerosis and other Illness

► Life and Living

A ten day transformative program to meet and help overcome the challenges of cancer.

Location: Yarra Junction

Venue: Yarra Valley Living Centre

Dates:● Monday 12 Jul - Thursday 22 Jul

● Monday 6 Sep - Thursday 16 Sep

● Monday 4 Oct - Thursday 14 Oct

● Monday 1 Nov - Thursday 11 Nov

● Monday 6 Dec - Thursday 16 Dec

► Health, Healing and Beyond

A fi ve day follow up program for people who have completed 'Life and Living' or 'Living Well', the 12 week cancer, healing and wellbeing program.



Dates:

● Monday 25 Oct - Friday 29 Oct

► Healing Meditation Retreat

Three day retreat for people dealing with illness to facilitate their healing process.



Dates:

● Wednesday 28 Jul - Friday 30 Jul

● Monday 22 Nov - Wednesday 24 Nov

► Taking Control of Multiple Sclerosis

Five day practical and inspirational program

facilitated by Professor George Jelinek.



● Monday 23 Aug - Friday 27 Aug

► Diabetes Recovery Program

Five day practical and inspirational program facilitated by Dr Craig Hassed and Professor George Jelinek.



Dates:

● Monday 29 Nov - Thursday 2 Dec

Residential Programs Promoting

Health and Wellbeing

► Weekend Meditation Retreat

Weekend retreat.



Dates:

● Friday 19 Nov - Sunday 21 Nov

► Living in Balance

Five day retreat.



Dates:

● Monday 28 Jun - Friday 2 Jul

● Monday 27 Sep - Friday 1 Oct

► Moving to your Rhythm - A Women's

Retreat

Weekend retreat.



Dates:

● Friday 27 Aug - Sunday 29 Aug

► Movement Mindfulness Stillness

Weekend retreat.



Dates:


► Pathways to Intimacy

Weekend retreat.



Dates:


► Reclaim Your Life

Six day retreat with a variety of experienced facilitators.

An integrative wellbeing program designed to empower

you to improve your quality of life and make your heart

sing!

2010 Gawler Foundation Programs

Non-Residential Programs and Ongoing Meditation and Cancer Support Groups


2010 Gawler Foundation Programs

Non-Residential Programs and Ongoing Meditation and Cancer Support Groups



Dates:

● Sunday 17 Oct - Friday 22 OctResidential Programs

► Living Well - Cancer, Healing and Wellbeing Twelve weekly sessions to meet and help overcome the

challenges of cancer.

(Programs run for 12 weeks from 9.30am - 12.30pm

weekly)

Location: Hawthorn

Venue: The Gawler Foundation at Hawthorn

Starting Dates:

● Tuesday 24 Aug

Location: Springvale

Venue: Springvale Council Offi ces

Starting Dates:

● Wednesday 18 Aug

Location: Footscray

Venue: The Bluestone Church

Starting Dates:

● Monday 30 Aug

► Integration Program

An eight week program designed for those who have

previously completed Life and Living or Living Well and who would like to continue to develop, deepen and share their healing methods and experiences through an interactive support group program. This program will be held in Hawthorn.

Location: Hawthorn


Starting Dates:

● Thursday 2 Sep, 12.30pm - 3.30pmngps

► Meditation Group The Melbourne Meditation group meets weekly and provides an opportunity to: Share your experience with others and maintain your momentum & commitment to regular practice.

From the stillness of meditation discover the power within to live your life to its full potential.

Location: Hawthorn


Starting Dates:

(All programs run from 1.00pm - 2.00pm)

● Tuesday 11 May - July 27

● Tuesday 24 Aug - 16 Nov

► Ongoing Cancer Self-Help Support

Group

The format for this program focuses on sharing new

ideas and experiences with others and reinforcing

the principles of self-help, group meditation and

mutual support.

(All programs run from 2.30pm - 4.30pm bi-weekly)

Location: Hawthorn


Starting Dates:

● Tuesday 24 Aug

Location: Footscray

Venue: The Bluestone Church

Starting Dates:

● Monday 30 Aug

Mindfulness-Based Stillness Meditation

and Imagery

► Eight Week Non-Residential Program The 8 week meditation course is an excellent opportunity to learn or deepen your meditation and relaxation skills.

Location: Hawthorn


Starting Dates:

● Monday 21 June, 10.00am - 11.30am

● Thursday 26 Aug, 10.00am - 11.30am

● Wednesday 1 Sep, 6.30pm - 8.00pm

● Thursday 21 Oct, 10.00am - 11.30am

● Monday 25 Oct, 12.30pm - 2.00pm

»Venue details continued over.


Joining the journey...

►Mind Body Spirit Series

Don't miss this inspiring series.

Location: Melbourne

Venue: Abbotsford Convent

Date: ● Saturday 5 June, 2010

Topic: Meeting Stress Constructively

Date: ● Saturday 2 October, 2010

Topic : Food as Therapy

Bookings: Email [email protected] or call The

Gawler Foundation on 03 5967 1730.

Program Venue Information

The Gawler Foundation at Hawthorn

565 Burwood Road,

Hawthorn Vic 3122

Springvale Council Offi ces

397-405 Springvale Road,

Springvale Vic 3171

The Bluestone Church

8A Hyde Street,

Footscray Vic 3011

The Yarra Valley Living Centre

55 Rayner Crt, Yarra Junction Vic 3797

Programs cont.

Melbourne Based Events

Greg Rumbold PhD Steve de Lisle

Greg Rumbold is a research psychologist and

has worked as a researcher in the health fi eld

for over 20 years. He has worked in a number of

areas of health research including public health,

alcohol and drug research, and evidence based

medicine.

Gregs qualifi cations include a: PhD,a Bachelor

of Science (Honours) and a Doctorate of

Philosophy.

Greg's aim is to identify and collate the

research evidence that underpins the work of

the Foundation and facilitate access to this

research evidence through our website. "We will

then be able to encourage researchers, health

professionals and consumers (people living with

the disease) to use these evidence reviews to

understand treatment options more fully and be

able to make informed and confi dent decisions."

he says.

A psychologist, group therapist and meditation

instructor, Steve is currently completing a

Doctor of Clinical Psychology degree with a

health specialisation. Steve has worked with

the emotional issues confronting people with a

variety of chronic illnesses and has a particular

interest in a holistic approach to health. Steve

also has experience working with high confl ict

separated families.

Steve writes, “I am very excited about working

for TGF. I was a support person with my wife

when she attended the 12 week program back

in 1998. The program changed both our lives.

I decided that the messages conveyed by the

program have important implications for everyone

- so I decided to change careers and become

a psychologist. It seems so right that I am back

with TGF - the place where it all started. I really

hope that I can inspire all those who attend The

Gawler Foundation to get the most out of life. “

TherapistResearch Offi cer


Siegfried Gutbrod has re-joined The

Gawler Foundation to take up a new

appointment as Therapeutic Director.

We are thrilled to have Siegfried back

with us. He has a wealth of inside

knowledge, skills and experience and a

great deal of excitement and enthusiasm.

Many will remember Siegfried for his

vibrancy and zest for life, but he has also

provided counselling and spiritual care for many

in challenging times.

Previously he spent almost nine years with the

Gawler Foundation (1996-2005) fi rst in the role

of General Manager and then therapist and is

widely regarded for his compassion, insight and

understanding. He has a Masters degree in

Counselling and a special interest in ‘end of life’

counselling

Siegfried left The Gawler Foundation fi ve years

ago to make a contribution to the humanitarian

challenge of South Africa in a volunteer role. He

worked for seven months at a large orphanage at

Magaliesburg, near Johannesburg.

He was involved in the day-to-day running of the

Siegfried's

circle of

life

orphanage which accommodated 160 children

and provided physical, emotional and spiritual

care for the many children and villagers dying

of AIDS.

Siegfried then moved to Hermanus in

the Western Cape to join Camphill Farm

Community. This community provided a home

and work environment for 60 adults with

intellectual and/or physical disabilities. The

protective workshops included a large dairy

farm, bakery, vegetable and herb gardens,

candle and craft workshops.

Family reasons brought Siegfried back to

Australia at the end of 2009. Siegfried started

in his new role by participating in a ten day

retreat at The Gawler Foundation.

By Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

Abridged from www.spiritualityandpractice.com

Winter Wonder

By Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

"May you experience each day as a sacred gift woven around the heart of wonder." This blessing was written by the Celtic writer, poet and philosopher John O'Donohue, who died unexpectedly in 2008. We remember him as we experience the wonders of this time of year.

Philosopher Sam Keen coined the term "wonderosity" to describe the combination of wonder and curiosity. Wonder is a natural response to the reports of our senses; we are dazzled by something in the world around us. Curiosity helps us stay open to new experiences, and it takes us to places where we can be amazed.

Winter can be a wonderland for those with eyes to see and ears to hear.

The Wonders of Winter


Winter Solstice - celebration of the longest night

The winter solstice has been celebrated in some way or another for thousands of years. In the Southern

Hemisphere, the winter solstice is celebrated in June on either the 21st or 22nd of the month. Pagan religions associated the winter solstice with signifi cant life changes, intricately linked with the universe and fates that determined the future and effected those lives.

For science-enthusiasts the winter solstice is an interesting astronomical occurrence that offers an opportunity to celebrate what we have managed to learn about the cosmos and affords us an opportunity to revel in the excitement of space exploration and the complexity of the universe.

Winter Solstice marks that day when there is less daylight than at any other time of the year. We commonly refer to it as the shortest

day, or the longest night.

"Solstice" comes from two Latin words: sol (meaning sun) and

live off of stored food and whatever animals they could trap. People were troubled as the life-giving sun sank lower in the sky each noon. Eventually, they feared it could disappear completely and leave them in permanent darkness and extreme cold.

With the passing of the winter solstice and the rising of the sun in the noon sky, they would have reason to celebrate as they saw the sun strengthening once more. Many months of cold weather still remained before the spring thaw, but they realized that the return of the warm season was inevitable.

For this reason, the concept of birth and death/rebirth became associated with the Winter Solstice. Aboriginal people had no elaborate instruments to detect it, but they were able to notice a slight elevation of the sun's path within a few days after the solstice, so, celebrations were timed in this way.

Adapted from www.secularseasons.org

The Wonders of WinterWhile on the surface the winter world appears drab, especially compared to the riot of summer and autumn colours, with wonderosity we can fi nd much to celebrate in these months. Increasing our appreciation for all of Spirit’s Creation by consciously noticing what arouses our wonder is a spiritual practice.

Take trees. A friend recently showed us a series of pictures she had taken of the tree outside her apartment window through the different seasons of the year. Whereas in summer its green leaves fi lled the picture frame with an image of lushness, in winter its bare branches silhouetted against the city skyline created an awe-inspiring metaphor of how nature endures despite the odds in inhospitable environments.

Later, we went for a walk through our neighbourhood park, curious to see how those trees might evoke our wonder. We were amazed at the different types of bark and the often strange shapes of the branches. How generous is our Creator to have given us such a rich palette of tones and textures to admire!

Wonder inevitably brings us closer to what we know to be an all knowing being. As a spiritual practice, you might make a list of the experiences

— past and present — that have drawn out your wonderosity. Looking at the world with the eyes of a child is a direct path to wonder.

Keeping a wonder book is a good way to awaken and expand your sense of wonder. Create a scrapbook with photos, cut-out pictures, and samples of things that evoke your admiration of wonder and generosity.

If you have been keeping a journal for some time, read through old entries for experiences of wonder. Usually you will fi nd they have sparked some of your most vivid descriptions.

If crafts and journaling are not your thing, spend some of the long winter nights reading your favourite wonder writers.


In the bookstore

Financial Members receive a ten percent discount on books and audio and

fi ve percent discount on the Champion Juicer. Please quote your membership number when ordering.

How to order: Go to the shopping cart at www.gawler.org or contact the Resource Centre on: 03 5967 1730; Fax 03 5967 1715 or email [email protected]. SHIPPING RATES: Available through the Shopping Cart on the website or contact us.

Robin Jones is the manager of The

Gawler Foundation’s Resource

Centre. She can be contacted by

email: [email protected]

Reviews by Robin Jones

HAPPINESS Thich Nhat Hanh $24.95

Thich Nhat Hanh’s teaching is that through mindfulness we can learn to live in the present moment and develop a sense of peace. This book collects all of the mindfulness practices that he has developed over the years, to help us live with mindful awareness in every part of our lives. It is divided into sections such as Daily Practice, Relationships and Community, Physical Practices, Mindful Eating and Practising with Children. Thich Nhat Hanh is famous for the gentle, poetic way he conveys ideas. His writing has great power to engage us in his generous, non-judgemental, compassionate way of thinking and to invoke those qualities in us. Fans of TNH, of which there are many, will not want to miss this one.

THE INTUITIVE BODY Wendy Palmer $30.00

In The Intuitive Body Wendy Palmer draws on her practice of Aikido, a Japanese martial art and meditation, to present her approach to rediscovering the part of ourselves that is wise, kind and capable of clear and powerful embodied action. This way of being arises out of what she calls the “intuitive state”, a spontaneous, intelligent and creative aspect of ourselves which has not been distorted by fear and confusion. She teaches us Basic Practice, a simple, 3-step method using breath, balancing the energy fi eld and feeling gravity, as a tool to ground us in our bodies. Then she discusses mental perception and working with the movement and power of our thoughts to create a spacious environment, from which the wisdom of our intuition can arise. Finally, she addresses the nature of

embodied action: entering fully into life situations and working with our perceptions during the many activities and pressures of life. This book is beautifully written. What comes through strongly is that the author has deeply studied and lived these practices, which her generous spirit has urged her to share.

HEALING DEPRESSION THE MIND-BODY WAY Nancy Liebler & Sandra Moss $22.95

A very well-written book explaining the deeper causes of depression, how drugs and “talk therapy” work, why neither, nor both, are the complete answer and using the mind-body-spirit-encompassing, ancient medical system of Ayurveda, to provide a framework for understanding and recovery. Exercises and techniques focus on the areas of meditation, breathing, exercise, yoga, sleep, food and constant attention to the harmonious fl ow of energy through the body. There are groups of insightful

questions, designed to help you work out where you are in each area and what would

help you most. Also a good guide for anyone wishing to maintain health and balance.

“Holism goes deeper than the eye can see. Human beings are more than the mortal

packaging they inhabit. We are a creation of our consciousness. In fact, in a deeper

reality, an energetic pattern of vibration underlies the totality of our being – body,

mind and spirit…..Where attention goes, matter fl ows, it’s been said. The implication of this philosophy is

tremendous: it implies that we can use our consciousness to create our worldview, our mind and our body –

and to heal.”


haw

thorn

yarra valley

program spotlight

For more information on these or any other programs, call the Gawler Foundation on 03 5967 1730 or visit

www.gawler.org

River of Song

The benefi ts of singing together. New!

A 12 week singing program for anyone who

has participated in any Gawler Foundation

program. Monday night sessions are based on

open attendance and no singing experience is

required.

Starting with a meditation and warm up, the

session will fl ow effortlessly into sounding,

chants, rounds and songs using a community

singing model. Build social connections and

enjoy a range of positive physical, social and

spiritual outcomes.

Commencing July.

Integration Program

A follow on 8 week course that provides an

interactive support group for those who have

completed our Life and Living or Living Well

program.

Continue to develop, deepen and share you

healing methods and experiences though

a structured and interactive support group

program.

Commencing Thursday Sept 2

Pathways to Intimacy

A three day retreat that guides participants

in how to develop skills for cultivating more

intimate relationships and more emotional

openness.

When relationships are neglected they stagnate,

become one-dimensional, or simply wither and

die. Intimacy can be learnt and intimacy skills

can be cultivated to develop or attract more

fulfi lling relationships into life, with the self and

with all those that we connect with.

A joyous weekend which will enhance your

meditation practice, communication skills and

ability to give and receive love.

Commencing Friday Aug 20

The Women’s Retreat

A weekend of pampering, refl ective time,

nutritious food and fellowship proved

to be like spiritual medicine for the 24

women who attended our Women’s Retreat

weekend last April. Stepping from the world

of doing into a world of being proved to

be most restorative for participants who

completed the weekend with a revived

sense of life, nourished in their precious

womanhood.

Our next retreat is at Yarra Junction. Please

let us know if you would like to join us.

Commencing Friday Aug 27

The Life and Living program

The next ten day residential program

will commence on July 12. Programs

will also commence on Sept 6, Oct 4,

Nov 1 and Dec 6, 2010.

The Gawler

Foundation is on

Facebook.

Join our online community for our latest news

and views. The fan page is callled The Gawler

Foundation.

Sarah's StorySarah McKechnie attended The Gawler Foundation in 2009. She wrote this story to share her impressions of the 5 day MS program, run by George Jelinek.

One of the gifts of being human is memory. Memories can take you back to a wonderful experience, allowing you to draw the best elements back into the present. Whenever I am in the midst of my busy day, in my city life, I can access the memory of my time at The Gawler Foundation. Like a fisherman I draw may beautiful images from the ocean of my psyche and embrace feelings that support me in slowing down a little and not going at my life so hard.

There was nothing at the Foundation that was hard or rushed – nothing was done or said that was fuelled by fear. And though our time there was

structured and focused, it was never rigid or restrictive. So now, at any time, I can remember, and lay the blueprint of the Gawler-structure over my own routine, re-aligning myself with a more balanced approach.

Often I have dreamed of a peaceful world where we support one another unconditionally, but the dream often overwhelms me, leaving me wondering “How do I begin? It’s too late and I am too small to make a difference.” Thankfully Ian Gawler didn’t let such defeatist thoughts hinder his dream, and we now have his little “peace” of heaven on earth to experience.

Heaven on earth is not just a poetic way of describing the Gawler retreat, it is the truth. To me, heaven is the earth, but it’s an earth where people live together holistically –supporting the individual’s right to health and harmony, whether it be within themselves, with other people, with nature or with the “beyond”. My time at the retreat linked me back into my original dream, giving me a taste of the holistic life I have yearned to live.

And indeed it is something “holistic” that is at the heart of the Gawler program. From the moment you arrive at the gorgeous property, nestled in the Victorian countryside, you feel embraced by an energy of wholeness; of innate goodness. It ripples through everything - from the genuine, heartfelt welcome of the staff, to the rich and deeply affecting content of the meditation and information sessions. It flows from the sounds of birdsong and gentle breeze, to the nourishing, stunningly presented food, prepared with such care that you feel almost too humbled to eat it.

As our days and nights passed, the change in people’s faces was probably one of the most touching experiences of my life. I realized that we had all become more child-like. For just as children are more trusting, so were we; just as children are more sensitive to nature and their surrounds, so had we become; and just as children have hope, so were our hearts now filled with a very real hope for our very healthy future.

Hope shines a special glow and everyone had that glow – rosy and real.



Magnifi cent Millet

5 ways to

include more

millet

»Substitue millet fl our for

regular fl our when baking

»Use millet fl our as a

thickener for soups and

stews

»Use steamed millet

instead of rice

»Start the day with a

warming millet porridge

»Add millet to patties and

sausages.

By Gail Lazenbury

Is that not bird food ? I hear you ask?

This is the current status of millet in the developed world, but wait there is so much more. Millet is cultivated on a large scale in arid areas of India, Sri Lanka and Africa. The “fi nger” millet can be stored for up to fi ve years and is used as a famine reserve food. It is turned into bread in India and used in a daily bread throughout Africa.

We use millet in our kitchen as a whole grain turning it into salads, casseroles and porridge. Millet provides over twice the iron content of whole wheat and four times that of rice. It also has four times the amount of mineral silicon than wheat. Silicon is required for hair growth, blood circulation and helps with protection from arthritis and infections.

Millet will continue to have an expanding role in the future diet because it is gluten free!

For people with wheat allergies, celiac disease and other yeast intolerances millet can be used throughout your diet. It can provide a breakfast that is low in fat, high in fi bre and a complete protein. It is a well balanced food with a great carbohydrate supply.

What does it taste like? Well cooked the right way it can be magnifi cent. For a porridge you just rinse half a cup of millet in a sieve then put it in a saucepan with one cup water and one cup soy milk and simmer for 10 – 15 minutes, add extra milk or water when required.

Millet requires about 5 cups of liquid per cup serve. Then you can add whatever you like - maybe some nutmeg with stewed apple or almonds. It can also take the place of rice with vegetables dishes.

Gail Lazenbury is The Gawler

Foundation’s Catering

Manager.

She can be contacted by

email: [email protected]

Millet and Mushroom Casserole

We have been making this in our kitchen and it came up trumps.

Ingredients:

4 cups cooked millet.

½ cup spelt fl our or rice fl our

½ onion fi nely diced

125 grms mushrooms, sliced

1 ½ - 2 cups water

2-3 tablespoons soy sauce

chopped parsley

Method:

Preheat oven to 350F. Place millet in a casserole dish.

Saute onions and mushrooms in a drop of water until soft.

Add fl our and coat vegetables well. Add water, stirring constantly to keep from lumping. Bring almost to the boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 mins.

Add soy sauce. Cover and simmer for another 5 mins. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.

Poke holes in millet with a chopstick so the sauce can be absorbed. Pour sauce over millet and bake for 20mins.

Serve hot or cool, garnish with parsley.

Recipe from Healing with Whole Foods

by Paul Pitchford available in our

bookshop.

Please support our Tax Appeal 2010

At The Gawler Foundation we are fi lled with hope and appreciation when we see how generously people respond to our requests for support.

This support helps us help people like Scott Stevens.

Scott wholeheartedly practised all that he learnt at The Foundation and focussed on doing whatever it took to get well again; Qi Gong each morning, meditation, fresh juices, walking half an hour each day and eating a nutritional vegan diet.

The Gawler Foundation provided Scott with hope, choice and peace of mind.

Everyday I see the benefi ts of what The Gawler Foundation does for people living with cancer. I see the relief, the hope and the strength that people gain from our approach.

Thanks to the support of people like you, The Gawler Foundation is opening a new centre in Hawthorn in June this year. Our life changing programs and resources will be even more accessible to anyone living with cancer.

Your tax deductible donation will allow us to offer our 12 week ‘Living Well’ program to people on low incomes for a subsidised fee and help us provide real hope to all those people who come to us at such a critical time in their lives.

Please take this opportunity to complete the attached form and return it to us with your tax deductible donation. You can also donate by calling The Gawler Foundation on 03 5967 1730 or online at www.gawler.org

Thank you for your support,

Karin Knoester, Chief Executive

"The juices, the food, I loved it all. Slowly I started to feel better and to regain my strength. I embraced all the ideas. It was not a chore, but a new way to live. Most of all I believed in it. If it worked for Ian Gawler, it could work for me too.”

hopechoice

peace of mind

Scott Stephens

Healthy Living Magazine - Winter 2010

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Transcript of Healthy Living Magazine - Winter 2010