My heart goes out to everyone confronted by major illness. Stress, anxiety and mental illness can follow a diagnosis. Sleep can be disturbed, emotions challenged. I experienced enough of pain myself; and then how best to heal, how to make sense of it all?
With this in mind, Ruth and I have contributed to a new, free App - Allevi8 - specifically designed to provide meditation-based answers to all these related issues. And in this challenging time of the pandemic, it seems many others may well benefit as well. Allevi8 is easy to locate and download in the Apple and Android App stores; and it is free.
So this week, all the details including news of regular guided meditation practice sessions on Zoom, but first
Thought for the day
What lies before us
With this in mind, Ruth and I have contributed to a new, free App - Allevi8 - specifically designed to provide meditation-based answers to all these related issues. And in this challenging time of the pandemic, it seems many others may well benefit as well. Allevi8 is easy to locate and download in the Apple and Android App stores; and it is free.
So this week, all the details including news of regular guided meditation practice sessions on Zoom, but first
Thought for the day
What lies before us
And what lies behind us
Are small matters
Compared to what lies within us.
And when we bring
What is within us
Out into the world
Miracles happen.
Henry David Thoreau
There are many meditation Apps around these days. Over the last 10 years I have partnered with my good friend Saurabh Mishra as we worked on various versions ourselves. Safe to say we have learnt heaps amidst a tough IT environment.
A specific App for people in need
What we realize is there are few if any specific Apps designed for people affected by major illness – to be clear, chronic, degenerative diseases like cancer, MS, diabetes, heart disease, Parkinson's, Alzheimer’s.
Having worked with people affected by these challenging conditions for decades and having seen over and over how much meditation-based practices can alleviate the symptoms that so frequently accompany these conditions, it seemed natural to bring together all we have learnt with Apps to make these specific techniques widely available.
We have been fortunate to gather a great team to make it all possible...
Allevi8 is offered freely
All of us involved with Allevi8 have felt the benefits of these techniques in our personal and professional lives.
Therefore, we are keen to make the practices freely available.
We figure that if like us, people value them (after using them and feeling the benefits) then they may well be inspired to donate a small amount, “Pay it Forward” as it were, keep the App going and help make it possible for the next person to use it freely.
Available in the voices of Ruth and myself
Ruth and I have recorded specific practices to provide deep relaxation, guided mindfulness, contemplation and meditation, as well as guided imagery.
Five challenging needs addressed
We have specifically addressed 5 main areas that our research highlighted are the areas of most concern amongst people affected by chronic degenerative disease. They are
1. Stress, anxiety and mental illness; including sleep disturbances.
2. Emotional distress – dealing with difficult emotions
3. Pain management – personal techniques you can use that work
4. Healing – how to use inner resources to foster healing on all levels
5. Meaning – how to make sense of all the changes and challenges major illness brings.
The contents
There is a main meditation practice that is relevant to all 5 domains, and then specific practices for each. While you may be drawn initially to Allevi8 for say pain management or healing, you will have access to all the practices.
Also, there is a self-referencing questionnaire that enables the App to assist you to self-monitor and evaluate your progress.
Those who are already familiar with the work of Ruth and myself will find some familiarity, but there are several practices that have not been readily available before.
You can choose to listen to Ruth’s voice or my own; or vary it around…
The App is designed to be used by those directly affected by major illness, their families and carers, as well as health professionals in this field.
A great deal of care has gone into ensuring the Allevi8 App is easy to use, easy to navigate and of course, that it works well. Happily, early users have provided very positive feedback.
Join us on-line to meditate together
Finally, as a bonus, we plan to commence a weekly virtual meditation group for Allevi8 users via Zoom.
Seems many of us have now experienced how meaningful and supportive it can be to link with like-minded people via some of these amazing new IT functions.
So when you register, you need to provide your email (which of course will be both respected and secured), and from this we will send a Zoom link for these sessions.
Ruth and I will be leading them and we plan some special guests as time flows along.
So please feel free to support this new initiative and try the App. Also, please do share it with friends and people you know who may be in need. It is free…
Available in all good App stores! Simply search for Allevi8.
May your practice flow
And bring substantial and sustainable benefits…
A specific App for people in need
What we realize is there are few if any specific Apps designed for people affected by major illness – to be clear, chronic, degenerative diseases like cancer, MS, diabetes, heart disease, Parkinson's, Alzheimer’s.
Having worked with people affected by these challenging conditions for decades and having seen over and over how much meditation-based practices can alleviate the symptoms that so frequently accompany these conditions, it seemed natural to bring together all we have learnt with Apps to make these specific techniques widely available.We have been fortunate to gather a great team to make it all possible...
Allevi8 is offered freely
All of us involved with Allevi8 have felt the benefits of these techniques in our personal and professional lives.
Therefore, we are keen to make the practices freely available.
We figure that if like us, people value them (after using them and feeling the benefits) then they may well be inspired to donate a small amount, “Pay it Forward” as it were, keep the App going and help make it possible for the next person to use it freely.
Available in the voices of Ruth and myself
Ruth and I have recorded specific practices to provide deep relaxation, guided mindfulness, contemplation and meditation, as well as guided imagery.
Five challenging needs addressed
We have specifically addressed 5 main areas that our research highlighted are the areas of most concern amongst people affected by chronic degenerative disease. They are
1. Stress, anxiety and mental illness; including sleep disturbances.2. Emotional distress – dealing with difficult emotions
3. Pain management – personal techniques you can use that work
4. Healing – how to use inner resources to foster healing on all levels
5. Meaning – how to make sense of all the changes and challenges major illness brings.
The contents
There is a main meditation practice that is relevant to all 5 domains, and then specific practices for each. While you may be drawn initially to Allevi8 for say pain management or healing, you will have access to all the practices.
Also, there is a self-referencing questionnaire that enables the App to assist you to self-monitor and evaluate your progress.
Those who are already familiar with the work of Ruth and myself will find some familiarity, but there are several practices that have not been readily available before.You can choose to listen to Ruth’s voice or my own; or vary it around…
The App is designed to be used by those directly affected by major illness, their families and carers, as well as health professionals in this field.
A great deal of care has gone into ensuring the Allevi8 App is easy to use, easy to navigate and of course, that it works well. Happily, early users have provided very positive feedback.
Join us on-line to meditate together
Finally, as a bonus, we plan to commence a weekly virtual meditation group for Allevi8 users via Zoom.Seems many of us have now experienced how meaningful and supportive it can be to link with like-minded people via some of these amazing new IT functions.
So when you register, you need to provide your email (which of course will be both respected and secured), and from this we will send a Zoom link for these sessions.
Ruth and I will be leading them and we plan some special guests as time flows along.
So please feel free to support this new initiative and try the App. Also, please do share it with friends and people you know who may be in need. It is free…
Available in all good App stores! Simply search for Allevi8.
May your practice flow
And bring substantial and sustainable benefits…
Thank you so much Ian and Ruth. What a great privilege to have access to this for free
ReplyDeleteKaye Ellis
Pleasure Kaye - make the most of it :)
DeleteI have avidly read all your posts all these years. It is a wonderful work both you and your wife Ruth extend to all. thank you Pauline k
ReplyDeleteThanks Pauline, all the best as you use it :)
DeleteI have been thinking so much lately about accessing a meditation app that's suitable for me and wishing I could find one from Ian Gawler because I love his work and find it so very helpful. Then.....here it is! The Universe listens to me again! Thank you so much Ian and Ruth.
ReplyDeleteSynchronicity - or coincidence as some call it - is a wonderful thing. Amazing how often when we have a real need it appears. Guided me through my own illness all those years ago. Best wishes... :)
DeleteExtremely generous thankyou just downloaded looking forward to putting it to good use
ReplyDeleteAll the best with it :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Ian and Ruth. I really look forward to using this app. Hope this finds you both well. Kind regards, Jayne Morris
ReplyDeleteThanks Jane, nice to hear from you and yes, we are well. Hope the App brings back some familiar and happy echoes :)
Deletei am a cancer survivor and a fan of yours. your book has and its meditations have been my constant and introduced mediation to my willing mind. i have since done a few courses and bought some apps. my first question is always do you have anything like Ian Gawler? now you deliver. thank you
ReplyDeleteVery happy Allevi8 is helpful, and all the best for a long and happy life :)
DeleteThanks Ian & Ruth. It's made it across the Nullarbor.....only needed to self isolate for a week!!....and so far no 'sound problems'! (with the ones I've listened to)
ReplyDeleteI'm about to share it to Busselton and surrounds...THANK YOU for your generosity.
Love and 'virtual' hugs...Sue Evans
If you're interested in learning about Zen Buddhism and how to meditate, zazen is a great place to start. Its focus is on deep thought and contemplation, and it serves as the foundation of Zen meditation. modernzen.org
ReplyDelete