As if Sharon's health dramas were not enough, on Monday 28 September 2009 I was diagnosed with coronary heart disease. It was an enormous shock to both of us. We had to do something as my risk of a heart attack was very high. My main heart artery was blocked at a 90% level.
I had my open heart surgery on Monday 19th of October at The Wesley Hospital in Brisbane. It was a heart double bypass procedure. I consider myself lucky to be alive.
If I hadn't taken notice of the slight tightness in my chest when I was playing soccer, I think I would have had an early departure from this planet. But that was not meant to be. I made a good recovery in hospital and was released early. I am now doing well and have returned to work. The job ahead is to reverse any remaining plaque in my arteries.
I have found one book in particular most helpful, that is "Reversing Heart Disease Now" by S. Sinatra and J Roberts. An easy read for anyone who wants to keep their blood vessels healthy.
In the Brisbane Botanical Gardens 15 November 2009
Richard
SO MUCH TO LEARN. Posted 28 October 2009
Sharon's lymphoma (described below) has shown some signs of improvement with her spleen shrinking and her energy increasing. It's early days, but the signs are positive.
We wish to publicly thank everyone who has given us support over the last few months. It means a lot to us to have people giving love, prayers and healing energy.
We have learned so much this year about how the body works in recovery from serious disease and also how to prevent disease developing in the first place. We are looking forward to sharing this knowledge with others when we resume our teaching tours in the latter part of 2010.
Richard and Sharon
TOUR CANCELLATION - OUR APOLOGIES. Posted 26 September 2009
Whale watching, Gold Coast, Queensland, 24 September 2009
You will now notice on this web site that there have been many cancellations and there are no definite dates set for SMART workshops. The reason for this is Sharon's illness.
In April this year, just two days before we (Sharon and Richard) were due to leave on our European teaching tour, Sharon was diagnosed with a rare form of non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. For this particular condition, conventional medicine has little to offer. So here is the opportunity for Sharon to put into effect all the healing modalities that she is familiar with, and to learn about many more.
We deeply regret having to cancel our latest tour to Finland, Holland, Denmark, England, Norway, South Africa, USA and all other destinations. We hope to resume teaching around August 2010. This is the time when we are expecting Sharon to be fit enough to teach again.
We wish to offer our deepest gratitude to all those who have sent prayers, healing energy, love and supportive wishes. Every bit of this positive energy is helpful.
We would also like to express our special thanks to our workshop organizers who have put in so much time and energy into making our overseas trips so successful. We have spoken to all of our current organizers and they have expressed their full support for Sharon's journey towards recovery.
Sharon has shown certain signs that her recovery from cancer has started. We will keep you posted on this site with future developments. Sharon is looking forward to sharing her journey to full recovery with you.
The picture above was taken while we were whale watching off the Queensland Gold Coast. Calm waters and friendly hump back whales. Makes one want to stay alive.
TWO WEEKS IN INDIA. Posted 3 February 2009
We spent the last two weeks of January in India. We had a wonderful time staying at the Kalariyil Dharmikam Ashram in Kerala. We received treatments and tuition every day from Kalari treatment experts. The daily massage was challenging because it was painful at times when they worked on blockages in muscles and joints. The basic aim of the treatment was to balance the energy in the body using Ayurvedic and Kalari healing principles. We had two experts massaging at any one time. Sharon had two women and Richard had two men working.
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One of the nice things was that the water supply came from a deep well and was safe to drink. The Ashram was kept very clean, so people didn't pick up the dreaded tummy bugs when staying there.
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We were treated like royalty by Swami (Sat Guru Hanuman Das) and his loyal staff.
We really enjoyed our stay. We would like to publicly thank Swami for his warm hospitality and generous sharing of his extensive knowledge.
We came back feeling more balanced and lighter. Nice to be back though!
OUR RECENT VISIT TO SYDNEY. Posted 29 October 2008
Just a quick trip down to Sydney to the RAA national Conference.
Sharon and Graeme at our trade table in Sydney
FIRST SMART FOR ATLANTA, GEORGIA. Posted 6 October 2008
We had a small, but enthusiastic group attending SMART 1. Thank Yo'all. It was difficult for people to attend workshops given the current economic crisis so thank you for all who came. For all who want to learn Reflexology and Aromatherapy from the best teacher (Roz) in Atlanta at "The Heal Centre", check out www.healcenteratlanta.com
SMART RETURNS TO FINLAND. Posted 6 September 2008
Sharon & our wonderful hostess, Anna-Kaarina relaxing after the SMART 2 workshop
We have recently completed teaching in SMART 1 & 2 in Tampere, Finland. It was such a pleasure to go back to Finland and to teach such enthusiastic and warm people. Thank you once again to our hosts Anna-Kaarina and Seppo. We can strongly recommend Anna-Kaarina's teaching college Medika Nova http://www.medikanova.fi
SCOTLAND GETS IT FiRST DOSE OF SMART. Posted 16 September 2008
In the wild west of Scotland & Dick making friends on the shore of Loch Ness
A few miles short of Findhorn (yes the Findhorn) in Scotland is where we ran the first SMART 1 workshop in Scotland. The hospitality of the people was wonderful. A special thanks to our hosts, Sandy and Chris. Check out Sandy's web page: www.sand-ease.co.uk
SMART RETURNS TO NORTHERN IRELAND. Posted 23 September 2008
In Ballymoney we had a lot of people who had done SMART 1 return to do SMART 2. Unfortunately, the second SMART 1 didn't go ahead this time. Again the warmth and enthusiasm of the locals made carting heavy suit cases around the world worthwhile. Many thanks to our very special host Sharon Johnston seen above with Sharon Stathis relaxing after the workshop.
LAST YEAR'S SOUTH AFRICAN CONGRESS GREAT SUCCESS. Posted 13 May 2008
A week before the LA workshop, we attended the South African Reflexology Congress in Durban organized by TSARS. Sharon was the keynote speaker with "Ayurvedic Reflexology" and Richard also gave a presentation on "Sound Healing".
The congress was a great success and a credit to the organizers, and in particular Yavanee Singh.
Sharon with Kasa bowl and Richard involved in an authentic, intense, meaningful moment.
Many people at the Congress asked Richard for the words to a song that he wrote called "I Deserve". The words & music are now only a click away
SMART EXPANDS IT'S TEACHING BASE
The SMART 1 & 2 workshops are now available for a wider range of bodyworkers. These include Massage Therapists, Reflexologists, Physiotherapists, Podiatrists, Nurses, Bowen therapists, and therapists using other forms of energy therapy that incorporate touch.
SMART workshops are of interest to anyone who works on the feet or hands. There are a wide variety of body workers who are already finding this work useful in their practice. SMART techniques can be used as a stand alone therapy or be incorporated into existing body work techniques.
INDIA, FEBRUARY 2008. Posted 29 February 2008
In February this year we attended a wonderful conference in India. The conference was called AYURVEDA AND YOGA: WHERE SCIENCE MEETS CONSCIOUSNESS. It was held at Rishikesh - In The Himalayas.
Rishikesh is located 8 hours very frightening drive north of Delhi. We listened to many interesting speakers including Dr Robert Svoboda and Dr David Frawley. We learned so much and bathed in the Ganges (The Ganga)
After the conference, we drove another 3 hours north and were able to see the snow covered peaks of the Himalayas through the Indian smog.
Sharon bathing in the mighty Ganga (Ganges River)