What a treat it was to have the ALA Conference on Light & Health in Adelaide during Mad March – the season of Adelaide Festival and the Fringe and many other events. The city was buzzing but within the hive of activity, the peaceful surrounds of the Baha’i Centre of Learning was a haven for the 2nd ALA Conference. So many attendees commented on the wonderful venue and its special ambiance.
Here is a ‘snapshot’ of the Australasian Light Association 2018 Conference … actually quite a few snapshots, courtesy of ALA Chair, Maniisha Bluntschli. Enjoy!
Pre-Conference Outing
Some of our group attended Soma Sound Bath in the spacious Harts Mill, Flour Shed at Port Adelaide. This improvised performance explored deep meditational states in a live, diverse soundscape interweaving electronic sequences, synthesizer, singing bowls, voice & other instruments. The composer-musician used the latest in mind-heart coherence biofeedback tools directing musical soundscapes in an inner journey of harmonic healing vibrations. Presented by: Sacred Resonance
Pre-conference: Sound/Light
Conference time!
Interesting presentations, engaging interactions, and product demonstrations, too … and lots of smiling faces! 🙂
Thelma van der Werff
Dr Mark Rogers
Old friends meeting new ones
Something is fascinating
Coffee time!
Dr Patricia Benstein
Thelma van der Werff
Enjoying the Sensosphere
Sensora time!
ALA Adelaide 2018
Paula Morgan
Parade of Lights
Saturday night was a lovely night to take a walk after dinner, especially when the city buildings along North Terrace were illuminated with spectacular displays of light and other light installations along the way.
The 2018 Conference on Light & Health last weekend was a great success! Thank you to all those who attended the event, especially those who travelled far – from Queensland, NSW, Victoria and WA.
ALA Chair, Maniisha Bluntschli reports on the highlights …
ALA CONFERENCE REPORT – Adelaide 2018
The recent Australasian Light Association conference held in Adelaide over the weekend of March 3 – 4 was yet again a huge success.
The event was hosted at the beautiful historic Baha’i Learning Centre in Adelaide. The building exuded an atmosphere of quiet and sentience – luckily, as the weekend coincided with the very busy festivities and a sporting car race event nearby!
Thirty-two attendees enjoyed a diverse array of presentations delivered by seven presenters coming from South Australia, Western Australia and New Zealand.
The first presentation was delivered by Lyn Doole who spoke on the topic of ‘The Physiology of Light’. Her presentation included a description of different types of light – ultra-violet, infra red, visible light spectrum, the importance of sunlight for our health, spectral analysis of emissions from artificial lighting versus sunlight, modes of delivery of light for physiological effects, biological mechanisms and pathways of light, light sensitive receptors, light in the brain, the forth phase of water and a review of past and current pioneers using light for health. All in all, a wonderfully informative presentation which set the stage for following speakers.
Our second presenter, who proved to be highly popular, was Dr. Mark Rogers, an Adelaide medical practitioner who has specialised in the treatment of chronic pain and soft tissue injury using light in the form of low level laser and photobiomodulation, which he has coined as ‘photonic therapies’. Dr. Rogers explained the importance of light in dilating blood vessels to clear congested lymphatics in pain and injured states. He spoke of his success and experiences in treating different pain conditions. He presented his theory that migraines and tinnitus originate from a prior neck injury which congests lymphatics in the brain. Finally, he shared examples using digital thermal imaging (infrared camera) of changes in inflammatory states using his light therapy.Mark had an overwhelming number of interested participants excited to discuss matters further with him after his presentation.
Next on our list was Simon Hansen, yet another Adelaide light therapist. Simon presented on the topic of Modulated Light Therapies, in particular the Sensophere and Sensora. He screened an informative talk given by inventor and physicist, Anadi Martel. Anadi explained different waveforms, their actions, warm and cool colours and more. Simon then concluded with a demonstration of the Sensophere.
This led us into a forty minute demonstration session where participants were able to experience the many devices being displayed. This included the Sensora, Photonwave, Bioptron, Red Light Therapy kits, coloured glasses, Molimed, and Tesla Blue Shields (EMF protective device). Many agreed that more time could be devoted to practical demonstrations and another demonstration session ensued the following day.
The final presenter for Day One was Paula Morgan from Western Australia who has used Esogetics Colour puncture for 20 years in her practice. She outlined several case histories, including a case of cerebral palsy, hand injury and post natal depression. She reviewed several simple techniques using colour on specific acupuncture points. In all, a simple and broad overview of Esogetics and its benefits and uses.
That Saturday evening was celebrated by approximately 30 participants enjoying a three course meal at the nearby Coopers Ale House. Lively and interesting discussions prevailed, where many social connections were created and deepened.
After the dinner, those who wished to, took a walk down North Terrace in the central business district of Adelaide to enjoy the light display upon some of Adelaide’s beautiful, historic buildings. The display was colourful and mesmerising. The streets were filled with people enjoying the light show and fairy-lit trees. An awesome sight to behold..!
The Sunday morning began with a truly inspiring and interest-grabbing presentation by Susan Poole, a Western Australian exercise physiologist and inventor of red light therapy kits. Susan spoke extensively on her experience using light successfully to treat horses and dogs. She explained the high importance of ATP to cells for healthy functioning. She gave many case histories (both animal and human) which were astoundingly successful. The presentation led the audience through her personal story of how and why she invented and developed the red light kits. Once again, Susan was inundated with interested participants wanting to discuss and try out her method after her talk.
We then dedicated a short session to explain to the audience the workings, history, purpose, benefits of joining ILA (International Light Association). Amanda Hoffmann did an excellent job of giving a demonstration of navigating through the ILA website. We then, as a group, brainstormed ideas to expand and develop our local ALA branch. We received wonderful responses including the wish for more education in light therapies. A short feedback questionnaire was then completedby participants to extract more valuable feedback.
Our following presentation proved to be another highly popular speaker. Patricia Benstein, from Western Australia, with two Ph.D’s, one in education and one in spiritual anthropology, gave a synopsis of how the ‘inner light’ of humans surfaced repeatedly in different religions. She explained that this human light is the light of our soul and hearts and is of utmost importance to remembers. A truly wonderful presentation!
Our final (and by no means least) presentation was led by Thelma van der Werff from New Zealand, who spoke on the psychology of colour and her unique system called the Colour Comfort Method.Thelma had issuedcolour questionnaires earlier in the weekend for the participants to fill out. She gave an analysis and described traits of many of the respondents based on their answers. In effect she gave ‘readings’ of colour choices, explaining the psychological attributes of people with specific colour choices. It was a wonderful and more personal topic to complete our weekend.
As a closing ceremony, we formed a circle with the meditative Sensophere located at the centre. We conducted a short visual imagery meditation led by Maniisha Bluntschli, using brain entrainment methods super-imposed with gentle music.
The atmosphere was high, light and loving by the end of this wonderful weekend. Many participants stated in their feedback forms that they highly valued the information presented, and that it was an even improved version of last year’s ALA event. But most of all, people valued the authentic , warm connections made with like-minded individuals.
A huge thank you to ALL involved in every possible way!
Conference VenuePre-conference: Soma Sound BathParade of Light – Adelaide Festival
This year we have speakers from across Australia and New Zealand. We have included a range of topics related to light and health to inform and illuminate! 🙂
Here is the list of speakers …
Patricia Benstein Ph.D.
Dr Patricia Benstein is currently an Honorary Research Fellow in the School of Humanities at The University of Western Australia. Patricia studied English, French, and German literature at Melbourne University and then obtained a Diploma of Education to become a teacher of languages and a NAATI accredited interpreter and translator. She also studied French and Russian at the Sorbonne University.
She obtained her first PhD in Education from the University of Sydney. After many years of lecturing at universities in Australia and Germany, she was awarded a second PhD in spiritual anthropology from the University of Aix-en-Provence, France. Her research areas include the multidimensional nature of human beings and optimal educational conditions for the expression of human potential.
Patricia has followed a Sufi spiritual master for 30 years and has written her second Ph.D. on mystical traditions. She is an expert on the teachings of Ibn Arabi and other Sufi mystics. She has lectured at various international universities and has just published her first Ph.D. thesis on ‘The integration of the self and awareness in teaching and learning”. She is preparing her second Ph.D. thesis on Ibn Arabi for publication.
Presentation Topic: ‘Light in the Esoteric Traditions’
Lyn Doole
In 2005 Lyn Doole retired as a full professor in the Faculty of Nursing, Miyagi University, Japan, and returned to Australia where she runs a Samassati Light Therapy practice, organises courses in the discipline, and teaches part-time at the University of Adelaide, mentoring international students.
Presentation Topic: ‘The Physiology of Light’
Simon Hansen
Simon Hansen is a teacher, but had to give up teaching some years ago because of Multiple Sclerosis. A part of his recovery from MS was receiving colour light therapy. This was so
successful that he was able to return to teaching and is now trained in the Samassati approach to colour light therapy.
Simon has a practice in McLaren Vale, SA with special interest in the use of light in education and health and a focus on chronic disease management including MS.Presentation Topic: ‘The Therapeutic Effects & Applications of the Sensora – Modulated Light Therapy’.Simon will discuss the unique Sensophere and Sensora system which uses techniques of modulated light (colour) to affect psychological wellbeing, learning abilities and to balance the autonomic nervous system function. He will present case histories and include a demonstration.
Paula Morgan
Paula Morgan is passionate about maintaining health and wellbeing using complementary therapies. The official use of light and colour to complement her homoeopathic practice started in 1998 and she has been incorporating Esogetic Therapy in her life and work since then. Using Homoeopathic Medicine and Australian Bushflower essences combined with Esogetic Therapy while using Kirlian Photography as a diagnostic tool has proven a successful combination for many cases in clinic.
Presentation Topic: ‘Esogetic Colour Puncture for the use of Everyday Common Health Ailments’
During the presentation Paula will discuss how she incorporates light and Esogetic Therapy into her practice. She will demonstrate the technique and share some case studies. Her hope is to inspire more people to work with this modality -usiing light to promote health and wellbeing in our community.
Susan Poole BPE MEd
Susan Pool is a trained Exercise Physiologist. She has two degrees from the University of WA– Bachelor of Human Movement and Exercise Science, and a Masters Degree in Education. Sue worked in the area of human rehabilitation for a number of years in the 1980s and 90s before leaving the industry to work with horses. Sue continuously delves into the alternative sciences in a personal quest to discover the “bigger picture”and continues to explore non mainstream modalities.
Presentation Topic: ‘The Grass Roots Story of an Australian-made Red / Infrared Therapy Pad.’
This is a story of how an invention was birthed out of a need to heal a stubborn equine injury. It tells of a personal quest in creating a cost effective, user friendly light therapy system for all animal owners. The talk will discuss the applications for animals (and humans) with numerous case histories. This presentation will also disclose some of the intriguing trials and tribulations of producing these products in Australia– a journey of inner faith and overcoming each hurdle as it arises!
Dr. Mark Rogers
Dr. Mark Rogers has been a general practitioner for thirty years and developed his expertise in soft tissue injuries, chronic pain, and laser over the last twenty. A former migraine and back patient himself, he saw the need for a book specifically for patients on how to heal their pain. Subsequently he co-wrote the book ‘The Art & Science of Healing with Light : The 7 Principles of Healing Chronic Pain’.
He has presented papers on his methods all over the world and lectures to post graduate Masters students. Mark lives in Adelaide and has been nominated three times for Australian of the Year.
Presentation Topic: ‘Photo-Biomodulation and its Application in Treating Chronic Inflammatory and Pain Disorders’.
Mark will discuss photobiomodulation – different types of light therapy coming under this banner, its mechanism (how it works) and most importantly, some of his most successful cases for migraines, chronic pain conditions and tinnitus.
Thelma van der Werff Thelma van der Werff is originally from the Netherlands and now lives in New Zealand. She is a colour therapist, author and developer of the Colour Comfort Method. The method uses colour psychology to interpret the language of colour to gain insight into yourself and others, and to identify & re-programme subconscious behaviour. Thelma’s goal is to make the language of colour available to everyone. She is also a member of the ILA Board.
Presentation Topic: ‘Experiencing the Psychology of Colour’
Thelma will share with us a presentation where we will come to know and feel the psychology of colour, experientially.
