The Review provides this community
calendar free of charge, space permitting.
Preference will be given to local, non-
profit clubs and organizations. Upcoming
event notices are printed in the edition
prior to the event; continuing announce-
ments run no longer than four weeks.
Please submit written information by 5
p.m. Thursday.

Jan. 24

SILVER THREADS
Membership question and answer ses-
sion with Ron Umbach, Sidney Silver
Threads Centre, Resthaven Drive, 12:30

pm.

J

OCEAN TALK

Free seminar series at the Institute of
Ocean Sciences, 2 p.m., in the auditorium,
West Saanich Road. CS. Wong, Centre of
Ocean Climatic Chemistry on interannual
net new production and seasonal carbon
model at ocean station P: an inefficient
biological pump.

LIBRARY FRIENDS

A general meeting for all friends of the
Sidney library starting at 7:30 pm in the
Nell Horth Room at the Sidney Library.

Jan. 30

FOREST LORE
Forestry expert Edo Nyland speaks on
secrets of the old growth forest starting at
7:30 pm in St. Paul’s United Church
lounge. All welcome.

STORYTIME

Registration open now. for preschool
storytime at the Sidney/North Saanich
library. Storytime begins Feb. 6 and 7 at
10:30 am. Registration may be done in
person or by calling 656-0944. Open to
children three to five years old. Sessions
continue unuil March 13 and 14.(4)

SPINNING TIME

Spinning evenings for have resumed in
North Saanich. Drop by any Wednesday
evening with wool, angora, mohair, alpaca,
dog hair...For info, 656-4201.(3)

NEWCOMERS COME

Attend the monthly luncheons of the
Peninsula Newcomers Club, meet new
friends and join in Many activities. Info,
655-5080.

A healthy Saanich 2000 workshop for
those in the Hastings, Prospect Lake, West
Saanich and Interurban areas, Jan. 24, 7:30
to 9:30 pm, Prospect Lake Community
Hall, 5358 Spartan Road. For pre-
registration, info, ride or babysitting sub-
sidy, call Gretchen Hartley at 383-6166.

BLOOMING RARE

Program on rare B.C. flowers by Dr.
Robert Ogilvie, Curator of Botany, Royal
B.C Museum, Jan. 24 at 7:30 pm in the
Newcombe Theatre, 675 Belleville St. 90
minutes. $2, friends $1, 12 and under, free:

VANA MEETS

Veterans against Nuclear Arms meet Jan.
25, 2 pm, at Chown Place, off Harriet, in
Victoria. There will be a business meeting
and two short videos on the aftermath of
nuclear war, Public welcome.

GUILD OF HEALTH
Meets for prayers and the laying-on of

_ hands, 1:30 pm, Jan. 25, in the chapel of St.

John’s Church, 1611 Quadra Street. Gen-
eral meeting follows at 2 pm in the lower
hall. Presentation on history of the guild.
Everyone welcome.
SYMPHONY
World renowned flute soloist Robert
Aitken will appear with the Victoria Sym-
phony Jan. 25 at 8 pm in the UVic Centre
Auditorium. Tickets $6.50 and $8 at the
Royal Theatre box office, 383-9711.
BURNS BALL
The St. Andrews and Caledonian Society
annual Bums dinner, concert and ball, Jan.
27 at Holyrood House, 2315 Blanshard St.
Doors open 5:30 pm, dinner served 6:30
pm. Tickets for dinner, concert and ball,
$25; for dinner and concen, $20. Phone
658-2866.
BURNS DAY
All interested people invited to attend a
Burns Memorial Service at the Bums
statue in Beacon Hill Park Jan. 28 at 1 pm.
Sponsored by the Victoria Joint Scottish
Council. Following the service, a Scottish
tea and concert will be held in St. Andrews
Presbyterian Kirk Hall on Broughton
Street. Info, 592-0052.
PARK WALK
CRD Parks presents Messages in Stone, a
program on native Indian petroglyphs,
Starting at 1 pm Jan. 28. Meet at the park-
kiosk at the Aylard Farm parking lot off
Becher Bay Road in East Sooke. Info,
474-PARK.

PATH HEART

Path of the Heart, a participatory medita-
tion workshop will be held Jan. 28 from 10
am to 2:30 pm in the Windsor Park
Pavilion. Vegetarian lunch available. Free
Tegistration, phone 592-6211 or 384-0125.
Sponsored by Victoria Sri Chinmoy Centre.

FAMILY HEIRLOOMS

Tips on preserving family heirlooms,
presented by Royal B-C. Museum Conser-
vator Valerie Thorp, in a slide presentation,
Starting at 2 pm Jan. 28 in the Newcombe
Theatre, 675 Belleville St. Glass, ceramic,
metal, wood, bone, ivory and hom dis-
cussed. 90 minutes. Admission $2, friends
$1, 12 and under, free. Info, 387-5822.

DANCE FEVER
Victoria People meeting People club
holds a dance Jan. 28, 7:30 to 11 pm, at the
Crystal Gardens, 713 Douglas St., Victoria.
Dancing to Parisiennes. Tickets $6 per
person at the door. Info, 381-1941, 479-
4303 or 384-6196.

CHINA REFORM

China, the fate of the refonms, is the topic
of a lecture by Dr. Ralph Hueneman,
Director of the Centre for Asia-Pacific
Initiatives, Jan. 29 starting at 8:15 pm in
room 159, Begbie Blding, UVic. $2 at door,
free to students. Info, University Extension
Association, 592-2202.

WORLD CRUISE

Victonia’s Gene Williams will talk about
his round the world cruise at the New-
combe Theatre, 625 Beleville St., starting
at 7:30 pm Jan. 29. Topic will be the
Aulantic section of the joumey, Northem
Europe to the Caribbean, Panama and back
to Canada. Admission $5, seniors and
students $4. Proceeds to Big Brothers and
Big Sisters. Tickets at the door or call
383-1191.

SUSTAINED SEMINARS

Seminars on sustaining a food supply,
offered by the University of Victoria, from
8 to 10 pm in room 159, Begbie Building.
Jan. 29, Agricultural land and urban devel-
opment with Derick Mallard of the Vic-
toria Greenbelt Assoc. and NDP Agricul-
ture critic Bill Barley. Admission $2, stu-
dents-seniors $1. Info, 721-7355 or 721-
7354.

STORIES GALORE
Victoria Storytellers Guild presents a
collection of stories and welcomes others
with stories to tell at Swan Lake Nature
House, 3873 Swan Lake Road, Victoria,
Jan. 29 at 7 pm. Suggested donation, $1.
Info, 477-6999.

LUPUS SUPPORT
Group meets Jan. 31 at 7 pm in the
Saanich Plaza Medical Centre, 3544 Blan-
shard. Guest speaker, naturopathic physi-
cian Jane O*Halloran. Info, 598-2277.

PACIFIC RIM

Royal B.C. Museum Archaeologist Grant
Keddie presents a slide program on cultural
influences brought 10 the people of B.C. by
Buddhist monks from China, voyagers from
Polynesia and Japanese survivors from
shipwrecks. 90 minutes. Held Jan. 31, 7:30
pm, in the Newcombe Theatre, 675 Belev-
ille St., Victoria. Admission $2, friends $1,
12 and under, free. Info, 387-5822.

PLAY TAKES WING

A play about an escaped golden eagle,
Callanish, is presented by the Kaleidoscope
PlayHouse, 520 Herald St., in the new
playhouse until Feb. 10. Performances will
be held Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at
8 pm, Saturday matinees at 2 pm. Weekday
matinees are set aside for schools but
uckets for those and all other performances
can be arranged by calling 383-8124.

CARR HOUSE
Birthplace of Emily Carr now open to the
public at 207 Govemment Street, behind
the parliament buildings. Guided tours,
noon to 4 pm, walking tours on Sunday.
Admission by donation. Info, 387-4697.(3)

DANCE
Peninsula Community Association mid
winter buffet dinner and dance, Jan. 27,
Glen Meadows Golf Club. Tickets, 656-
0134.
CLUB UBU OPEN
Club UBU open 6 to 8:30 pm Mon. and
Weds. Teen drop-in centre on Oakville, call
Bill Scott, 656-0134 for more info.
PEP
Peninsula Employment Project invites
job seekers to register for employment.
Conveniently located at Bevan and 3rd St.,
clients and employers given prompt alten-
tion and assistance, pemse job board any-
time Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 12 noon, 1
to 4 p.m.
DRIVERS
Volunteer drivers needed. Please contact
the PCA, Marjorie, at 656-0134.

™eReview Wednesday, January 24, 1990

Teaching the mind
fo overcome matter

by Valorie Lennox
The Review

Most people use 15 per cent or less of their
mental and physical ability, says counselor Ari-
adne Sawyer.

She says new techniques using recent research
on the connection between brain and body
unleash more capacity, leading to near miracles.

“People can use a lot more of their abilities —
a lot more of their brain and a lot more of their
movement.”

Sawyer’s own experience backs her belief in
personal determination. An aspiring ballet dancer,
practising four to six hours daily, she contracted
polio when she was 14.

She recovered but was told she would never
walk again and would suffer pain throughout her
life. Years of effort and determination have been
rewarded: this year Sawyer’s balance is good

enough to allow her to wear high heels for the first

ume.

Pain control techniques conquered the pain four
years ago and sports neuropsychology and visuali-
zation corrected a size difference between her
right and left leg.

The techniques help people gain a sense of
control over their lives. Sawyer finds many of her
clients feel powerless.

“Tt seems that the thing that bothers people
most is the feeling of being powerless. All ages
feel powerless and helpless, they have this void.”

Barry Wells certainly felt helpless after a stroke
10 years ago. A draftsman and piano teacher, he
was unable to work.

“Tt ruined everything,” Wells said. The stroke
on the left side of his brain weakened his right
side. He had to learn how to read over again and
his once-dominant right hand was useless.

“T tended to do everything with my left hand.”
He had played piano since he was three years old,
and taught at the Regina Conservatory and at the
Conservatory of Music in Victoria.

After the stroke, he didn’t touch a piano. He
avoided people, finding it difficult to speak
coherently. “I was a pretty sad case.”

Then he met Sawyer. And she wouldn’t let him
give up.

“T was missing in so many departments that I
think’she tried to fill them up as fast as she
could.”

Now the 59-year-old Wells works as a volunteer
with Sawyer, talks easily to people and is writing
a book about his recovery. His most recent
accomplishment is learning how, once again, to
play piano with both hands.

It took two weeks.

The first step was movement. Wells tapped his
stiff nght hand repeatedly and then massaged his
hand.

“The hand was as stiff as a board. It really felt
like one lump.”

The tapping acts as a signal to the nerves of the
hand, awakening dormant cells, Sawyer said. She
used the same therapy with a cerebral palsy
patient, who reported feeling her feet for the first
time in 63 years.

Massage gives feeling to the hands, loosening
muscles.

The third step was visualization. Wells imag-
ined his right hand smoothly playing the piano,
trying to capture the feeling of movement.

Visualization creates a pattern in the brain,
Sawyer said. “Wells did two mental rehearsals to
one physical playing of the piano.”

Expectations can influence physical perform-
ance, Sawyer said. A person who fears pain and
anticipates failure will tense muscles, leading to
an increased chance of failure.

If the same person is relaxed and convinced the
movement will be performed smoothly and easily,
success is more likely.

I feel like an archaeologist
with a pick and shovel’

“Tt really works,’ Wells confirmed.

In two weeks, he was able to play piano with
both hands. Surprisingly his left-hand started to
relinquish dominance once he began using his
right hand.

~My left hand quit because my right hand was
learning to do what it used to do,” Wells said.

“We had the war of the hands on our hands,”
Sawyer said.

The musical knowledge and ability Wells had
stored in his mind and not used for years is
retuming.

Sawyer said unearthing the sometimes hidden
ability of someone like Wells is exciting.

“1 feel like an archaeologist with a pick and
shovel.”’

Take Charge project starts

This week Ariadne Sawyer starts a three-
month project, Take Charge of Your Life, to
teach her techniques to others in Sidney and on
Saltspring Island.

She will devote one day a week in Sidney and
one day a week on Saltspring to the project,
handling 16 clients.

“I want to see what people can do with the
techniques,” she said. Participants pay for the
program by donation during the pilot project. If
it’s successful, she’ll continue it on a donation
basis. -

Participants so far range in age from 12 to 90
and seek coping techniques for eye problems,
physical limitations, stress, depression, arthritis,
asthma and allergies. :

“To me the most interesting group are people
who are pretty good but who want to be better,”
Sawyer said. Each participant must have his or
her doctor’s approval to join the program.

Sawyer received calls from across Canada,
and even a referral from France, for the pilot
project. For those seeking more information but
not able to take part in a program, she offers a
book list.

“This doesn’t promise any cures,” she said.
“It’s a chance to participate and take charge of
your own life, and really have a good time.

“This is a fun adventure,” she said.

Sawyer can be reached by calling her Sidney
answering service at 656-3144.

—£

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