Healing by Design Lecture Series Explores the Use of Labyrinths in Health and Healing

CHASKA (August 10, 2007)—The University of Minnesota’s Center for Spirituality & Healing and the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum have joined forces to present the Healing by Design Lecture Series: Using Labyrinths in Health and Healing on Thursday, October 4, 2007. This year, the annual lecture explores the use of labyrinths in health care to promote relaxation, relieve stress, and advance healing.

“Found in cultures throughout the world, the labyrinth is a universal symbol of wholeness and unity,” said Lisa Gidlow Moriarty, vice president for the International Labyrinth Society. “The use of labyrinths in health care is an exciting application as it is believed to promote relaxation and relieve stress – an ultimate benefit to one’s health and wellness.” In addition to Gidlow Moriarty’s expertise, the all-day event (10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum will also feature Jeff Saward and Kimberly Lowelle Saward, Ph.D., of Essex, England, world-renowned experts on labyrinths. Jeff Saward is founder and director of Labyrinthos - the Labyrinth Resource Centre. He will highlight how different cultures have incorporated the use of labyrinths into their spiritual practice. Kimberly Lowelle Saward is president of the International Labyrinth Society and will share evidence-based research on labyrinths and their beneficial outcomes in health care facilities.

Designed for healthcare professionals, landscape architects, interior designers, social service professionals, garden designers, and others interested in complementary therapies, this year’s Healing by Design Lecture Series will focus on the rich history of labyrinths; share evidence-based research for labyrinth’s use in healthcare; and discuss their application as treatment modalities in affecting overall health and well-being. 

The lecture series is open to the public. The fee of $125 includes lunch and the opportunity to engage with speakers during the course of the day. (*CEU credits of .55 available at lecture for an additional fee.) To register for this lecture or to learn more about our programming, contact the Center for Spirituality & Healing at 612-626-2395 or visit us online at www.csh.umn.edu.

About the Center for Spirituality and Healing: Recognized nationally as a resource and leader in integrated health, the University of Minnesota's Center for Spirituality & Healing's goal is to transform health care by educating health professionals and students about complementary therapies and healing practices, conduct rigorous scientific research into complementary and non-pharmacological interventions, provide meaningful outreach programs, and work with partners to develop integrative clinical services. The inspiration behind the Center’s work is the knowledge that health and well-being are enhanced when the best of complementary and conventional care are integrated.

About the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum: The largest public garden in the Upper Midwest and a premier northern arboretum, the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is part of the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences at the University of Minnesota and is developed as a community and national resource for horticultural and environmental information, research, and public education. It is located nine miles west of I-494 on Highway 5 in Chaska. The Arboretum is disability-accessible; the main building is smoke-free.

The Healing by Design Lecture Series is made possible through the generous support of the Elizabeth Pate Foundation.

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