The Wellness Challenge 2014

The Mindd Our Kids Wellness Challenge is the greatest challenge any of us will ever face – a change in lifestyle! .
The Wellness Challenge is a virtuous cycle that will provide a supportive environment for leading practitioners to guide and educate mums on how to care for their sick children and for themselves while raising funds and awareness for Mindd Foundation.
Mindd Ambassadors, Patrons and practitioners will donate their time to train and educate mums and one another while raising funds for and awareness of effective Integrative Healthcare for our kids.
While this inaugural challenge is limited to a few, the aim is to workshop and develop a program that can educate and empower mums across Australia.
Mothers have the power to create health in their families – for their kids, for their partners and for themselves. The Wellness Challenge empowers mums to give the gift of optimum health, wellness and happiness to their families and community.
The Challenge will be held in a remote setting in Northern NSW for 5 days (Friday August 1-Wednesday August 6).
Millions of people globally are successfully raising money for charities by engaging their community in collaborative events that raise funds and awareness. Many of these events are quite challenging and for all but the elite athlete stress the body in ways that do not fit the Integrative Healthcare model.
The Mindd Our Kids Challenge (MOK) asks the community to support participants in a journey to wellness and disease prevention that nurtures their health while posing the greatest psycological challenge – changing lifestyle.
Participants will be challenged to adopt an Integrative approach to heatlhcare and lifestyle by;
  • taking 5 days out to care for themselves
  • detoxing with fresh, unrefined, organic food that avoids sugar, caffeine, alcohol, gluten and dairy
  • daily exercise
  • daily spiritual practice (meditation, prayer, gratitude)
  • daily energy work (yoga, xi-gong)
  • daily creative expression (music, art, writing)
  • daily connection with human beings who care and offer support
  • connecting with nature
  • daily instruction in cooking, nutrition, psychology, anatomy & physiology
All of the above will be created and lead by experienced chefs and health professionals.
Integrative Healthcare Strategies for:
The Foundation
As a non-profit Health Promotion Trust set up and run by a team of patients, medical doctors and health care professionals, MINDD promotes an integrated health approach and treatments. Our key campaign is fast-tracking effective treatments to children during key developmental stages.
Since 2005, Mindd Foundation has trained over 1500 practitioners with internationally recognized accreditation, run 6 international conferences, held over 60 seminars, promoted over 2000 healthy products and helped thousands of Australian children some of whom have recovered from Autism, ADHD, depression and much more. The Mindd website, www.mindd.org has many hours of talks on Integrative Health approaches and offers ongoing support to practitioners and families with recipes, treatment information, access to practitioners. and healthy product promotions.
Background
The
Problems
Modern diseases are at an all time high and are now affecting our children in large numbers
  • 16-24 year old Australians have a mental illness prevalence of 25% with depression being the most common in females (1).
  • More than 20% of Australian teens suffer from some mental health condition (2)
  • 1% of Australian children have Autism (3)
  • 10% of Australian children struggle with ADHD (4)
  • Up to 70% of Australian children are low in iodine which lowers IQ (5)
  • Allergies affect 1 in 3 Australian children, Asthma
    1 in 4 (6)
  • Childhood cancer, diabetes, obesity and depression have each more than doubled in two decades (7).
(1)(2) Australian Community Surveys, 2007 (3) Autism; Autism ACT, B. Buckley, A4. (4) ADHD & Mental Health; M. Sawyer, Australia & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 2001 (5) Are Australian Children Deficient in Iodine. C.Eastman et al, University Sydney, 2006 \(6) Allergies; B. Hill, Australian Society of Clinical Immunology & Allergy Annual Conference, Nov 2003. (7) Childhood Disease rise in Past 2 Decades; Dr R. Cosford, DAN! Conference 2009
But there is hope. Emerging research points to diet and lifestyle impacting on the 70 trillion plus cells in the human body as well as the 700 trillion plus cells that make up the “good bugs” in our digestive tract. By recognising that disease is not solely genetic, we can take charge of our health as well as the wellbeing of future generations.
The Challenge Coaches

Simon Borg OliverMSc BAppSc (Physiotherapy)

Simon Borg-Olivier is a Co-Director of Yoga Synergy, one of Australia’s oldest and most respected yoga schools. The Yoga Synergy style is based on a deep understanding of yoga anatomy, yoga physiology and traditional Hatha Yoga. Simon has been teaching since 1982. He is a registered physiotherapist, a research scientist and a university lecturer. Simon has been regularly invited to teach at special workshops and conferences interstate and overseas since 1990.
Suffice to say, Simon has led an extraordinary life. At the age of six, he was introduced to yogic breathing (pranayama) by his father George who taught him to swim underwater, and the main bandhas (internal locks) through a family friendship with Rhodesian Olympian Basil Brown. At the age of 17, he met a Tibetan Lama who introduced him to the philosophy and practice of Tantric Yoga. In 1985, Simon met his primary teacher Natanaga Zhander (Shandor Remete) with whom he studied for almost two decades. He has also studied with such internationally revered Indian teachers as BKS Iyengar, K. Pattabhi Jois and TKV Desikachar. Since 2007, Simon has been developing his yoga practice and understanding by studying with Master Zhen Hua Yang.
Anthea Koullouros
Owner of OVViO
The Organic Lifestyle Store, Naturopath, Herbalist and Organic Lifestyle Educator
Anthia has 20 years experience as a Naturopath, Herbalist and Organic Lifestyle Educator. She offers her clients and patients a no nonsense, fad free, honest and informative approach to achieving health and happiness and overcoming illness. She is an example of amazing health and vitality and that in itself is the essence to her success.
Pete Evans
Chef, TV-personality Chef Pete Evans has over 20 years experience in creating and presenting award-winning foods with broad appeal. He is a qualified chef and restaurateur, and is well known for his highly successful food-focused cooking shows and cook books. He has opened 6 award-winning restaurants, authored 7 internationally successful cookbooks and hosted numerous TV programs including his current role as co-host and judge of My Kitchen Rules.
In recent years, Pete’s love of fresh and healthy food, and his passion for nutrition and wellness have influenced his recipes and cooking style.
Pete is a Mindd Foundation Ambassador.
Catherine Oates-Smith

has over 20 years experience in leadership, senior management, business development and marketing roles across legal, fundraising, television journalism and community advocacy in Australia and the U.K. She is a highly motvated business leader with proven senior management and board experience. Catherine holds two non-for-profit positions and recently started up an online retail business. Originally practicing as a lawyer in Australia and the U.K, she spent seven years as a television journalist and producer for BSkyB in London. She then returned back to Australia for family reasons and honed her executive leadership skills working and establishing a major charity, now called the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse Foundation. Combining her legal, professional, media and marketng skills, for six years she then led business development for a top 10 law firm before being appointed COO of another law-firm. For 9 months she was a full time carer to her daughter whilst she suffered from an acute and usually fatal illness. She has made a full recovery.

Helen Padarin
BHSc, NDHelen Padarin is a biomedical naturopath and nutritonist working to help children and adults with MINDD disorders. Helen utlises nutrition, specific diets, such as GAPS and BED, nutri3onal supplements, herbal medicine and lifestyle habits. To achieve health and treatment goals. She is passionate about real food, fermented foods and educa3ng and empowering individuals and families to take control of their health. Helen contributes artcles to health magazines and has wrioen a chapter on paediatrics, autsm and ADHD for the textbook for practitioners and university students called “Clinical Naturopathic Medicine” published by Elsevier and released in June 2011. Helen has practices in Sydney Australia and Wellington NZ. See www.nourish-ed.com for more info.
Dr. Christabelle Yeo
MBBS, MRCP (London), MSc (Nutrition)
Dr Yeoh is a general physician who specialises in Nutritional and Environmental Medicine. She is experienced in the management of gut disorders, allergies and other immune disorders, chronic fatigue and chronic infections. She sees children on the autism spectrum and approaches these individuals with a wholistic approach integrating the key foundations of nutrition, understanding the neurophysiological connections between the brain and body and helping to identify the total load of factors which lead to chronic health conditions.

Jessica Sepel

ND
Having recently completed a Bachelor of Health Science and now specializing in Nutritional Medicine, Jessica’s policy to a healthy lifestyle is informed by a well-researched understanding of nutrition, and complemented by a passion to achieve physical and psychological balance.Her specialties include: nutritional advice, mood disorders (anxiety and depression), hormonal imbalances, contraceptive advice, fatigue, anti ageing techniques, immune support, skin abnormalities and breakouts, detoxification, weight loss, food allergies, digestive malfunctions, sleep disorders, daily stress, eating disorders/anxiety related to food and body image. Jessica also specialise in metabolic individuality (eating right for your metabolic type), maximising natural metabolic function through food and specific supplements. She places emphasis on the uniqueness of an individual and tailor treatment according to each

.

Leila MasonM.D., MPH, FRACP, FAAP, DTMH, IBCLC

Leila Masson is an integrative Paediatrician who combines Allopathic Medicine with a nutritional and biomedical approach to help her patients attain optimal health. She received her medical doctorate from the University of Berlin, did her paediatric specialist training at the University of California at San Francisco. She received her Master in Public Health from Harvard University and her Diploma in Tropical Medicine from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Leila has worked in the US and Europe and volunteered for 2 years setting up a clinic in Pakistan, before moving to New Zealand, where she has lived and worked for the last 12 years. Leila has a busy practice in Auckland, specializing in a holistic approach to children’s health problems, including allergies, asthma, behaviour problems, autism spectrum disorders and ADHD.

Leslie EmbersitsDirector Mindd

Foundation

Leslie is the Founding Director of Mindd Foundation. She has nearly 30 years of experience in advertising, marketing and film across New York, Los Angeles and Sydney. She has been practicing yoga and meditation for over 20 years and in 2003 she ran a woman’s yoga and mediation retreat outside of Sydney called Bootcamp for Goddesses.

In 1997 Leslie became a mum which began her campaign for more informed healthcare for children. In 2004 she began seminars on kids health that officially became Mindd Foundation in May 2005. Leslie has a Bachelor of Arts from Yale University and a Masters in Film Producing from the University of Southern California.

Maria HuntB.A Dip. Ed. Master Practitioner NLP and

Hypnotherarpy

Maria Hunt is Head of Australia for Body Ecology (USA) and she is also the spokesperson for AGM Foods/Grainfields Australia.
Maria practises alongside a medical doctor in Sydney and she regularly commutes between her two busy practises in Sydney and Armidale, NSW. Whilst using the Body Ecology principles (B.E.D.) she also works within the parameters of the Pfeiffer and DAN protocols for individuals within the Autism spectrum.
Maria conducts consults all around the world via phone or in person. She presents at international conferences, lectures throughout Australia and she is a frequent guest on the TVSN health channel; successfully launching and advocating the benefits of fermented food products.
Dr Martha Herbert
Dr. Martha Herbert is an Assistant Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School, a Pediatric Neurologist at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, and an affiliate of the Harvard-MIT-MGH Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, where she is director of the TRANSCEND Research Program (Treatment Research and Neuroscience Evaluation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders).
Dr. Herbert earned her medical degree at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. Prior to her medical training she obtained a doctoral degree at the University of California, Santa Cruz, studying evolution and development of learning processes in biology and culture in the History of Consciousness program, and then did postdoctoral work in the philosophy and history of science. She trained in pediatrics at Cornell University Medical Center and in neurology and child neurology at the Massachusetts General Hospital, where she has remained. She received the first Cure Autism Now Innovator Award and is now on the Scientific Advisory Committee of Autism Speaks. Her background in pediatric neurology, evolutionary biology and history of science has oriented her toward systems biology, brain connectivity and dynamism, and brain-body interrelationships.

Rachel BourkeMeta-Coach (ACMC)


Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) Trainer,
Neuro-Semantics Trainer

Rachel has worked with a diverse client base, from large corporates to small businesses with spectacular results including 100% growth year after year for some of her entrepreneurial clients.
Her mission is to show that being great at selling is enjoyable, trainable and hugely rewarding. Her belief is that to greatly increase your sales you need to ensure you are the person that people love to buy from.
The Sales Skills Rachel teach are so effective that we can successfully improve sales performance immediately.
The Skills and Research she drawn upon include the advanced skills of NLP and the latest research in Neuroscience and its application to Business (Neuro-Leadership).

Sam AdkinsBA (Hons), Adv Dip Hom (Syd)

Sam is an experienced Homeopath, who has practised internationally in both the UK and Australia. Her clinic is currently based in Double Bay. She has been in practice since 2003. Sam treats a wide range of ailments that has a particular interest in treating behavioural problems in children. Her firm belief is the homeopathic approach is an effective alternative in many cases to the use of medicines such as Ritalin. Sam is co-founder and practitioner at The Happy Baby Clinic, which is a Natural Holistic Centre for mothers and their babies. She specialises in Homeopathic Coaching and runs www.TheHomeopathicCoach.com to enable and empower individuals to use basic homeopathy at home. Sam Adkins is also a sought after speaker, and is well known for providing valuable insights into health and wellness. She is a member of the Australian Register of Homeopaths and the Australian Homeopathic Association.
Matthew Bourke
Matthew is the director of an Integrative Natural Health and Wellness Centre – Optimum Health Essentials in Mona Vale on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. The clinics focus is “The Science of Feeling Amazing”. Matthew specialises in Chiropractic, Applied Kinesiology, Neuro-Emotional Technique, Neuro-linguistic Programming (Master Practitioner), Positive Psychology, Peak Performance and Functional Biochemistry. He has worked in Europe and Australia and studied Vedic philosophy and meditation in India. The Science of Feeling Amazing focuses on integrating different modalities and health systems to restore health and maintain a centered state of mind amongst the many challenges of modern living and at various stages of life.
Therese Kerr
Neuro-Therapist. Author, Speaker
The skin, the body’s largest organ, plays an important role in fending off toxins and sending sensory messages throughout the body. So its important that you surround yourself with toxic-free home and personal care products. Therese will explain the health benefits of organic skin and personal care products and provide samples of her own organic personal care range.
Michele Chevalley Hedge
Nutritional Medicine Practitioner.
Health Writer and Presenter
For over 10 years, Michele Chevalley Hedge has dedicated her studies and career to Nutrition. A dynamic health advocate, she runs her practice A Healthy View, in Sydney and New York. Michele’s knowledge is surpassed only by her enthusiasm and mission to help people through awareness and education.
Michele is a regular contributor to Sunrise Breakfast Show on Channel 7, Prevention Magazine, Family Circle, MindFood, Wellbeing, Good Health Magazine, Women’s Fitness, The Sunday Telegraph, Body & Soul Health section, News.com, Nine MSN, Sydney Morning Herald, ABC Radio, Sun Herald and Sunrise Channel 7 Weekend Breakfast show. Michele is also the author of Beating Sugar Addictions for Dummies which was released in 2014.

Jemma RiveraAdvanced Yoga, Qigong & Ayurvedic Therapist, Wholistic Lifestyle Mentor, Presenter and founder of Jing Life.

From a dance, presenting and acting background, Jemma has always had a strong attraction to the Spiritual Path for self- discovery and self- development from an early age.
She continues to study with great Masters in Australia and internationally, all who have fertilized her understanding and appreciation of the Ancient Arts of Yoga, Qigong, Tantra and Ayurveda. This journey has assisted in her own evolution, also to bring forth a high level of integrity to all people she meets, teaches and encounters in her life.
Jemma has gained certification in Qigong with her studies in China with The World Medical Qigong Society, Dr Xu from Xiyuan Beijing Hospital and Master Yu from Mt. Wudan. Jemma has also been featured in national & international yoga festivals and major events. Jemma’s passion for writing and presenting has led her presenting on a wellbeing program on Foxtel, “Wellspring”, has also contributed in Good Health & Medicine Magazine and Body & Soul.
Integrative Healthcare offers Treatment Solutions for;
ADHD, anxiety, asthma, Aspergers, autism, conduct disorder, chronic fatigue, depression, diabetes, digestive disorders, dyslexia, dyspraxia, eating disorders, eczema, epilepsy, food intolerances, heart disease, learning delay, memory loss, mood, behavioural, obesity, sensory processing disorder, sleep disorders and more.

Did You Know?

  • Australian children are struggling with epidemics; allergies (1 in 3), asthma (1 in 4), ADHD (1 in 10); Autism
    (1 in 100). Childhood cancer, diabetes, obesity and depression have each well more than doubled over the past 2 decades.*
  • Nutritional deficiencies create an imbalance in neurotransmitters which can affect behaviour, concentration, mood, sleep and addictions.
  • Many individuals with learning and behavioural disorders have auditory, visual or sensory processing issues that do not show up in standard hearing, vision or behavioural tests.
  • Digestive health can drive allergies, anxiety, ADHD, arthritis, asthma, autism, bedwetting, depression, diabetes, eczema, infections, learning delay, mood and sleep disorders.
  • 70% of the neurotransmitters in your brain are also in you digestive tract.
  • Food allergies and intolerances can be misdiagnosed as ADHD.
  • Digestive disorders can drive attention deficit, allergies, asthma, anxiety and chronic infections.
  • Individuals with learning delay may have auditory or visual processing problems not detected in standard tests.
  • Minerals, vitamins, essential fats and amino acids support neurotransmission which affects concentration, mood, sleep and addictions.
  • An experienced
    Integrative practitioner can help identify underlying triggers and then select and sequence the right treatments. An educated and willing patient can help create best outcomes. And an informed approach saves time and money!
  • By recognising that disease is not solely genetic, we can take charge of our health.
    And by understanding epigenetics, that diet and lifestyle can trigger genetic expression, we can help prevent disease going down the generations.
“Most people would agree with the statement “Food can cause disease” but fewer people are familiar with the concept that “Food can cure disease” and that disease actually goes away as a side effect of creating health”
Dr Christabelle Yeoh
Mindd Foundation Medical Advisory Board
“ Many of today’s complex and chronic diseases are multi-system problems that do not have a quick, one stop fix but that can be improved dramatically with an Integrative approach. This is not a replacement or alternative to conventional medicine but a complementary approach that can yield dramatic result when tailored to the particular needs of the individual. The only question we need to ask is “Are we prepared to do what it takes to be well? ”
Leslie Embersits
Founding Director,
Mindd Foundation
“ If we take full advantage of our body’s natural healing power by restoring intestinal balance, tailoring our food and nutritional intake and using integrative whole body approaches to our overall health we can prevent and alleviate the symptoms of chronic illness ”
Dr Leila Masson
Paeditrician

WHY SPONSOR?

  1. Make a positive contribution to the country by empowering Mothers to take charge of their children’s healthcare.
  2. Promote your organisation and your products to a highly targeted community that is motivated to purchase Integrative products and services
  3. Increase brand awareness, respect and likability through affiliation with a respected organisation with a world-class Medical Advisory Board that is helping Australian children.
  4. Support and benefit from a charity that is growing the Integrative Healthcare consumer base and recruiting investment into products that help people and the planet.
  5. Network and build relationships with leaders in the Integrative Healthcare movement
  6. Create positive PR and raise positive awareness of your company or organisation as a whole
  7. Receive Mindd partner benefits; invitations to special events, speaker receptions and information evenings

SPONSOR BENEFITS

  1. Logo on MOK promotional material (posters, flyers, and advertisements)
  2. Logo/link on MOK e-materials (Mindd website, e-flyer, social media)
  3. Listing as Mindd Partner on main partner page of Mindd website
  4. Product samples and/or information kits to delegates
  5. Logo and 200 word write-up on Mindd Partner page
  6. Promotion as Mindd partner in selected Media Releases

Will Women Lead the Environmental Health Movement?

How can we imagine that ordinary people might be able successfully to challenge the overwhelming internal logic of the global economic system because of concern over environmental health?

There is an Ethiopian proverb that when spider webs unite they can tie up a lion. The lion of the globally destructive patterns of production and consumption may one day be ensnared and ultimately domesticated by the gossamer webs of human consciousness and community action. What will happen when ordinary people, whose lives are often mortally wounded by the destruction of the biosphere, come to understand that their wounds are so often intimately related to the wounds of the earth?

What will happen when a working woman comes to a realization that her own breast cancer, her husband’s lymphoma, her brother’s melanoma, her son’s learning disability, his best’s friend’s attention deficit disorder, her daughter’s endometriosis, her niece’s cleft palate, her cousin’s chronic anxiety and panic disorder, her best friend’s severe chemical sensitivity, her best friend’s daughter’s asthma, her uncle’s infertility, her neighbor’s son’s testicular cancer, and her sister’s daughter’s childhood leukemia, may form a pattern?

What will happen when this working woman begins to understand that these new human pandemics, that affect her family and her community directly, may be profoundly connected to what is happening to the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and the animals of the earth?

I believe this working woman will understand that the cancers and infertility of the fish, the disappearance of the frogs, the cleft palates of the mice, the shifts in gender orientation of the birds, the susceptibility to viruses and infections of the seals, the disappearance of the songbirds, — that all this and much, much more may be telling us a story that is also our story.

The story that the birds and the fish and the mice are telling us is the story of InterBeing — the story that all life on earth is truly, breathtakingly, concretely connected right now, and that what we do to the mice of the field and the birds of the forest, we also ultimately do also to ourselves and our families right now.

I do not believe that we can hide from this story much longer. It is among the great stories of our time.
Michael Lerner, http://www.commonweal.org/pubs/lerner/article_extinction.html
The Age of Extinction and The Emerging Environmental Health Movement
Mindd Foundation