Showing posts with label Meditation in the Australian desert. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Meditation in the Australian desert. Show all posts

24 March 2014

Size does matter! Dogs, telomeres, cancer and you

Ever wondered why dogs age so much faster than their owners? Interested in how it may be possible to help dogs with cancer through natural means – and what we may infer from this for us humans?

This week we go Out on a Limb and consider how telomere support may not only delay aging but may even be helpful against cancer. Also, an important reminder that the early bird discounted rate to attend Meditation in the Desert closes soon – March 31st, but first




               Thought for the Day

                      When another person makes you suffer
                      It is because he suffers deeply within himself
                      And his suffering is spilling over.
                      He does not need punishment,
                      He needs help. 

                            Thich Nhat Hanh








Remember how we often say one year of dog life is equivalent to 7 years of human life? Remember telomeres? They are the protective caps on the end of our DNA. I have written a couple of previous blogs on how aging in humans is directly related to the rate at which our telomeres shorten (see links below) so maybe it is not surprising to learn that research published recently showed that the aging of dogs, cats and horses is all directly associated with telomere shortening.

This research also found that in broad terms the telomere biology of canines and humans is similar, but that dogs lose telomere DNA about 10 times faster than humans. Also, the lifespan of each particular dog breed correlates positively with the average telomere length of that particular breed.



This is linked to another fact you probably are aware of and that is certain breeds of dogs are much more likely to die at a younger age and also to get more cancers than other breeds.

Boxers are a good example of this – they die young and are very prone to cancer – and as a breed they have relatively short telomeres!




REFERENCE: Fick L J et al. Telomere Length Correlates with Life Span of Dog Breeds. Cell Reports 2, 1530–1536, December 27, 2012

The original paper includes a  ‘List of Average Telomere Lengths and Life Spans for 15 Major Breeds Examined’.  To read it CLICK HERE      

Coming from a veterinary background myself, I have been very interested to hear from people giving their animals Product B. Product B is the synergistic combination of herbs that is the only Australian product currently registered as providing telomere support by the TGA.

I have a friend whose Golden Retriever was diagnosed about 2 years ago with an extensive and very difficult cancer. I had referred this friend to a top Veterinary surgeon who was able to operate where others had said they could not, but even so the operation was only partially successful and the prognosis was given that the dog was very unlikely to live beyond Christmas of 2012.

I remember visiting in October 2013. The dog was running around like a spring puppy, full of beans and showing no signs of the cancer. Sadly she did deteriorate rapidly just before this last Christmas and died having lived both very well and way beyond reasonable expectations.

Was the dog just lucky? Was it the Product B she was given twice daily?

Through my old veterinary friend Trevor Chatham who many will know is passionate about Product B, I have become aware of numerous other dogs that have been given Product B. It seems that in nearly every case the dogs have responded very well to the product and have started aging youthfully!

According to Trevor, conditions in dogs and cats that may be helped by giving them a Telomere Support product such as Product B include:
1.   Slowing down and decreased mobility due to old age

2.   Hormonal issues related to old age

3.   Some cancers

Trevor has collected some amazing stories that support his conclusions and you will find them inspiring. I would love to hear from anyone else who has an animal and Product B story.

1. Vicky’s dog had a Grade 2 Mast Cell Tumour :  Click here.

2. Margo’s 18 year old dog :  Click here.

3. Garth’s 10 year old dog :  Click here.

WHY PRODUCT B?
The significance of telomeres and their length is becoming more and more evident. The faster your telomeres shorten, the more rapidly you show the signs of ageing and the more likely you are to get any of the chronic degenerative diseases. For anyone who does happens to get cancer, the evidence is clear. The more you can protect or lengthen your telomeres, the more likely you are to survive.

Speaking more generally again, the evidence also suggests that the more you can protect your telomeres and maintain their length, the more good health is likely to last into a long and vibrant old age.

We know that a healthy lifestyle and meditation can protect telomeres and both have been associated with actually lengthening them. Both make sense on telomere grounds!

Product B is the only product to have been registered to date with the TGA (Australian Government Therapeutic Goods Administration) as a formulation that provides telomere support as well as for its other potential benefits. I have been recommending it to others for around 18 months now and have had nothing but good feedback,

Speaking personally, I have been taking Product B myself for over 18months and notice real benefits. I am convinced my memory has improved, my energy levels are higher (they were already pretty good) and from all the science, it is highly likely the telomeres are longer! It is the only supplement I take these days unless travelling when I usually take some extra multivitamin/minerals and Vit C.

Also, if cancer came again, Product B would be the one herbal combination I would take. This is based on the research collated on the HerbalTS website I put together where Product B can be ordered: CLICK HERE www.herbalts.net

Wishing you and your animals long and healthy lives!

RELATED BLOGS
Is this the elixir of youth?

DNA and the dangly bits

NOTICEBOARD
Meditation in the Desert – Early bird discounted rates close March 31st, 2014

Dates: Friday August  29th; meeting at 4pm, to Sunday September 7th around 4pm, 2014.



For thousands of years, deserts have been places of inspiration and renewal for those on the spiritual journey. Join like-minded people and share a unique experience in the Central Australian Desert. Immerse yourself in meditation, join in noble conversation amidst noble company, and take the opportunity to reconnect with the essence of who you really are.

After a week of meditation in the desert north west of Alice Springs comes an extraordinary invitation to enter into the spirit of this land sharing several days with its senior indigenous custodians. The experience of a lifetime.

Venue
Hamilton Downs, an historic homestead 1 ½ hours drive from Alice Springs that looks out over the Western MacDonnell Ranges (photo above). This is a remote location and as such basic good health is a pre-requisite to attend.

Departure and return point: The Chifley Hotel, Stott Terrace, Alice Springs. Special rates are available at the Chifley.

Cost
Includes accommodation* and dinner at the Chifley for August 29th along with breakfast August 30th. Also included is bus transport from Alice Springs to Hamilton Downs and back, the retreat, basic bunk style accommodation or choice of using a swag to sleep under the stars (swag complementary), high quality vegetarian meals and the Indigenous cultural exchange content.

More details CLICK HERE

Enquiries and Bookings
Email info@insighthealth.com.au or call +61 (3) 59666130

This retreat is very popular and regularly fills, so we recommend early booking secured with your deposit. Remember, the early bird discounted rate closes March 31st.

Add on Tour
Many people take the opportunity to visit other places of significance when they come to the Central Desert. We have negotiated a specific post retreat tour that you may like to consider and participate in with your fellow retreatants. This tour will need to be booked directly with the organizers Wayoutback Safaris LINK HERE



04 March 2013

Meditation in the Desert
















PLEASE NOTE: This blog relates to Meditation in the Desert 2013. For details of retreats Ruth and I present currently, please go to our website : iangawler.com : CLICK HERE  

For thousands of years, deserts have been places of inspiration for those on the spiritual journey. To enter into the central Australian desert is like entering into a “meditative field”. There is something about this place; maybe it is the fact that the land here is so ancient, maybe it is the vast blue sky, the incredible array of stars at night.

Maybe it is the fact that the Indigenous Australians survived here for tens of thousands of years, imbuing their country with their rituals and respect and knowledge. In this way, maybe going into the Australian desert is like going to India, where the atmosphere of the spiritual focus in life is palpably in the air; in the ground itself.

Ruth and I have the good fortune of a long and close connection with this central desert. Ruth lived in Alice Springs for 10 years, working in Aboriginal health and then a community general practice. I seem to have been magnetically drawn there on a regular basis for 25 years.

So after many requests it is on again! For the fifth time, Meditation in the Desert will provide the opportunity to share a unique meditation experience in the remarkable Central Australian landscape. An opportunity to unwind, reconnect with your own true nature, and experience something of Australia’s ancient land and culture. Seven days of meditation will be followed by an extraordinary time sitting with traditional elders, the indigenous custodians of this unique environment.

Overseas visitors could find this a great addition to an Australian tour and there is an early bird discount available for everyone if you book and pay before the end of March.

But first, before more details:

Thought for the Day

You must train the mind like a muscle. 
If you want to train your body you must practise exercise regularly. 
Likewise, if you want to train your mind you must practise meditation on a day-to-day basis. 
You will not be able to carry a heavy load with weak muscles. 
Training is a gradual process. 
                                                                          Garchen Rinpoche





Meditation in the Desert will be held again at the heritage listed Hamilton Downs Youth Camp, a converted pioneer’s cattle station homestead about 120kms NW of Alice Springs.

We will be in the beautiful desert landscape north of the Western MacDonnell Ranges, with this the actual view:

While meditation is the main focus, we use the gentle sharing of our personal stories as a way of helping to deepen and integrate the experience.



The Program:
I will be providing a well structured and in depth teaching on the practice of meditation. This will be supported and extended by an exploration of Buddhist mind science and philosophy, in a way that is accessible to all. The teaching sessions will be supported by the meditation practice sessions that follow each day. Meditation in the Desert is open to anyone who is ready to deepen their meditation and spiritual growth in the context of the heart of our land and our Indigenous heritage. It is intended for people from all spiritual traditions or of no particular faith.

The structure of the retreat builds steadily with the intention of guiding both those newer to meditation and established meditators into a more direct and profound experience of meditation.  Participants will find that the extraordinary spaciousness and atmosphere of the desert will support and further deepen their experience.  It is a wonderful opportunity!

The retreat includes walking meditation and basic Hatha Yoga led by Ruth each day. There is a longer break in the afternoons, to rest and relax amidst the peace and silence of the meditative space this desert landscape provides.

Traditional Aboriginal Elders - a rare opportunity for an authentic cultural exchange.
The retreat includes several days being with senior members of the local Arrente and Walpiri tribes. They may teach us how to gather food, make boomerangs, dress and dance… with generosity, humor and a translator!

This provides a unique opportunity to meet and learn from a spiritual tradition that is at the heart of Australia’s history. It helps us to connect with these remarkable people, the land and ourselves in a truly unique way.

More Practical Details:
The retreat includes being picked up by bus in Alice Springs and taken to Hamilton Downs, then at the end of the retreat being returned to Alice Springs, or the airport.

Many people enjoy sleeping out in a swag (provided) amidst the beauty and spaciousness of the night sky, the desert and its magical quality. However, there is also dormitory-style accommodation for those who prefer that.





Be aware that this is a remote location with no internet or telephone access except in real emergencies, so good health and an enthusiasm to be in such an environment is a pre-requisite for attending.







Dates:   Friday 6th  September to Sunday 15th September, 2013

We meet informally in Alice Springs on the evening of Friday 6th September at 5pm. Then on Saturday 7th  September around 8am we travel by bus to Hamilton Downs to formally begin the retreat.

The retreat concludes in Alice Springs on Sunday 15th September, when the bus returns around 4pm. The bus can then also take people to the airport after that time, after it has dropped participants in the town centre and the main hotel.

Cost:  $1970    Reserve a place with a non-refundable deposit of $200, balance due 31st July 2013.

Early bird discount of $1850 if fully paid by the end of March 2013.

The cost includes transportation between Alice Springs and Hamilton Downs, the accommodation in Hamilton Downs, meals at Hamilton Downs, meditation program, a swag (if desired) and all activities at Hamilton Downs. It does not include airfares or travel to Alice Springs. We encourage you to book your airline tickets as soon as possible (we have already) as the flights and seats to Alice Springs often book up early.

Travel insurance is encouraged as we will not be able to provide refunds after 16th August 2013.
Meditation in the Forest starts in a few weeks and is fully booked, so registering early may make sense.

Tour the Central Desert 



Many participants will use the opportunity of being in this part of the country to take a trip to Uluru (Ayers Rock), Wattaka (Kings Canyon) and KataJuta (The Olgas).


You could make your own arrangements for this, however, the same people who are providing the catering (high quality vegetarian food) at the retreat are offering a 4 day add-on tour.







The 4-day Ouback Tour needs to be booked separately through Remote Tours and departs Monday 16th September for 4 days. Passengers will be picked up from their chosen accommodation in Alice Springs.

Ruth and I intend to join in with this tour, but we will not conduct any formal program during this time.



For full details of the add on tour, click here.

PLEASE NOTE: This blog relates to Meditation in the Desert 2013. For details of retreats Ruth and I present currently, please go to our website : iangawler.com : CLICK HERE  

RELATED BLOG
Reflections on a retreat

Retreat and go forwards

NEWS
1. Surviving Cancer - Public Talk in Melbourne CBD

Myself and three other cancer thrivers share their experiences. Peter Roberts joins me with his harp to lead meditation. Bring your family, friends and colleagues. Be inspired, be informed, support this work and those actively engaged with it.

Tuesday, March 5th, St Michaels on Collins, 120 Collins St, Melbourne form 6.30 to 8.30pm; light supper at 6.30pm. No need to book, $20 and $15 concession. All procedes to the Gawler Foundation.

2. A New Way of Living - Weekend workshops around the country
My weekend workshops that will focus this year on the best ways to prevent and overcome cancer are rapidly approaching. Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and then quite a number of regional events. For full details link to my website by clicking here.

3. The tomatoes are on!
For those who remember the blog about the easy way to plant tomatoes (Back a winner), it has been a good year. Picked about 20 Kgms of lovely organic tomatoes last weekend and turned them into pasta sauce for the winter. Yummy!