From September 2010 we will be commencing the new formula Back-in-Week programs, both at Fernleigh in the Upper Hunter Valley of New South Wales and at Hotel Tresanton in Cornwall in the UK.
A Back-in-a-Week will certainly be an experience of a lifetime!
Sarah Key believes patients need information in overcoming back problems. She believes that people need help in getting a handle on the way spines work -- and how and why they go wrong -- if a problem is to be fixed.
For this reason, all Back-in-a-Week programs specialise in providing important information, as well as state of the art spinal treatment. The world over, there is a myriad different treatments available for back problems -- and as many different diagnoses and explanations for what may be wrong. Sarah believes that proper treatment must be founded on a scientific bedrock and that patients need to understand -- and furthermore are quite capable of understanding -- how science can be put to work to provide efficient and effective 'therapy'.
The new Back-in-a-Week programs begin by explaining the highly important basics of normal spinal function and health, first by discussing the anatomy, physiology and biomechanics -- and the way pathology creeps in to make a problem worse -- and then how you can help by doing your own exercises at home.
You will see that Sarah's explanation of how a back problem starts off 'simple' and gets 'complex' follows the five stages of breakdown she describes in her best-selling books, in particular 'The Back Sufferers' Bible'. During the Back-in-a-Week all this information is gone into in much greater detail, as it pertains to you, because Sarah believes that if you are fully engaged and really do understand what has happened, then she and you have a better chance of fixing it.
In addition to dealing with a very real spinal problem, Sarah believes there is a rising demand throughout the world for people to better understand the fundamentals of health generally. She believes that disease prevention should be the responsibility of every individual -- and that it is the job of medical people to explain, in simple terms, the best way to prevent illness and to achieve 'active health'. Sarah has decided to make her Back-in-a-Weeks emphasize more all-round health, while at the same time -- of course -- getting to grips with a specific back problem.
In response to the ever-narrowing focus of modern medicine in dealing with disease, rather than disease-prevention, Sarah has fashioned her new programs to be more focused on understanding the fundamental pillars on which good health is based. In her specific field, Sarah feels that rather than waiting until people become sick and desperately in pain, she is interested in nurturing individual responsibility in prevention, as well as proactive therapy to achieve and maintain pain-free spinal health.
As populations everywhere are aging and health systems becoming overburdened by the sick -- many of whom have preventable problems -- the need is becoming ever more apparent to take control over one's own health. Sarah believes that often the more quaint and seemingly old-fashioned notions on maintaining good health have been relegated to a backwater, as we have gone all-out into the modern era. She believes that in some senses, modern medicine has lost its regard for some of the basic cornerstones of healthy living: proper breathing, the effect of different postures, hydration, nutrition and elimination, the problems of sitting and the good and bad in exercise -- and how they influence the back and general well-being.
How Does the New ‘Back to Healthy’ Back-in-a-Week Work?
Sarah is in residence at Fernleigh and Hotel Tresanton for the duration of the Back-in-a-Weeks and will welcome guests to join her for as little or as long as they like during the five days. Some people may choose to come for one or two days only, while others will stay all week -- and have to be prized away at the end!
Each morning, Sarah will deliver talks about backs in particular and health in general, and after morning tea she will devote herself to individual treatment sessions, where she will mobilise your spine in her particularly unique way using her feet. Each afternoon guests will be encouraged to join the Spinal Decompression and Body Stretch Class, which is an important part of the way Sarah sees things.
During the day, patients will be free to lie down and relax, to read, paint or take photographs, or simply to sit on seats on the veranda or dotted around the garden and listen to the birds sing.
The Talks on Active Health during Back-in-a-Weeks are:
* 'The Basics of Spinal Function and Spinal Health'
* 'Pressure Change Therapy: The way to treat your own spine'
* 'Proper Breathing: From dissolving stress to resisting disease'
Interview on ABC Radio Overnights Program - [3rd March 2010] Click here to listen to the podcast
The next Australian 'Back to Healthy' BIAW programsfor 2010 are scheduled at 'The Fernleigh Academy', Scone, NSW for:
Monday 13th September to Friday 17th September- Spaces available
Monday 15th November to Friday 19th November- Spaces available
For further information and an application form please contact Australian programs administrator Sarah Boag on 02 9247 8627 or by email at admin@sarahkey.com
You will then be sent more comprehensive information about what the week entails.
The next UK 'Back to Healthy' BIAW program scheduled at Hotel Tresanton at St Mawes in Cornwall, UK (see website www.tresanton.com) is:
Sunday 24th October to Friday 29th October, 2010
For the UK BIAWs please contact Federica Bertolini, Hotel Tresanton's manager, on 01326 270 055 or email manager@tresanton.com.
About 'Back-in-a-Week' at The Fernleigh Academy, Scone, New South Wales (Australia)[click here]
Here are some recent testimonials from Sarah's 'Back-in-a-Week'
February 2009 I had participated in one of the first "Back In a Week" courses in 2004 (?) and learnt so much on self management of my back and the reasons why I was in pain, and what exercises were needed to eliminate the pain. ? I regained my self confidence, as I was always scared if I was travelling overseas, in the country alone and my back went into spasm, and I was unable to move –what would I do??? I have proven to myself (and friends) that the exercises work and if I have an incident-instead of being bed ridden for a week or more –I am up moving within the hour-amazing.? When I found out that Sarah Key was doing a "Bare Bones" 2-day program, I signed up immediately. A few days in the country at the beautiful "Fernleigh", being reassessed by Sarah, instructed and reminded on the correct way of doing the exercises I previously learnt, but also learning new techniques that again have improved not only my mobility but my quality of life. Hail to Saint Sarah. Phillip G, Sydney Australia
[For your information, here is our in-house feedback form from the above patient]
What are your thoughts on the level of care you received? All levels fantastic. Sarah’s attention, the food, accommodation the setting. What did you learn in the Powerpoint presentations and is there anything else you feel should be covered in these lectures? It might have been better having the lecture print-outs while Sarah was discussing them, so we could make notes if necessary. How did you find Sarah Key’s treatment method? Well, she’s my Guru. Confident, reassuring and unique How did you find the exercise classes? It might have been better having Sarah Boag there too to have one demonstrating and another person checking to see we are doing the exercises correctly. I have been doing them for years, but early on, I was never quite sure. So, if you are a new patient??? What did you think about the structure and timetable for the week - not enough or too much content? Greatly paced. I was scared of being bored (being an inner city lad) so I took books, games, sudoko, crosswords, my iPod - and didn’t use any of them. Any further comments or suggestions? Now that it’s been about a month since returning home, I think a follow up email, or letter to check on progress would be greatly appreciated. Any questions patients need to ask, now that we’re away from the security of the classes, doing it home alone, you often think am I doing this the correct way etc. Maybe also to have spent the rest of the last day there to relax, sleep and eat – maybe do our exercises under the eye of Sarah Boag and then leave the following morning. No need for Sarah to stay. She has given more than enough. What are your thoughts on the location of ‘Back-in-a-Week’? To be out of the city, away from any distractions, breathing fresh air, mobile phones out of range in the beautiful country - that is ‘Fernleigh’. Just focusing on and learning about your body, to be with others who have similar problems is fantastic. Even the train trip up and back added to the adventure, which I highly recommend. What are your thoughts on the quality of accommodation? The décor is 5 star country farm. The furnishings! Better beds than most hotels, marble bathrooms. So much art it’s like a gallery. Reading rooms, open fires, verandahs to relax and eat on. A very comforting and nurturing ambiance. What are your thoughts on the quality and variety of food/meals? Sally & Kerry prepared all meals and it was fantastic. Fresh cakes baked daily, good variety and very modern Australian. Lots of salads and vegetables and did I mention the cakes??? (still trying to lose those extra kilos)
February 2009
"I did Sarah Key’s BIAW two years ago in Cornwall . Speaking out of my own experience, I would recommend this course to anyone with back problems.
I can honestly say that it is a much better idea to go to Sarah Key, to get her opinion and help BEFORE you let any surgeon touch you. Why do I say this? Because it is better to go to someone who knows all the latest research, who knows how to tell what is going on from the therapeutic feel of a back and who can read an MRI scan quite brilliantly. She will treat you like an intelligent human being, treat the problem successfully hands on, show you what is going on and point the way out of your problem. Yes it is expensive, but the cost of not doing it, is almost bound to be much bigger. It is just a scandal that there is not more help of this high caliber for back sufferers. I have had problems in my lower back on the right hand side in the sacroiliac area for many years, three years ago years I fell off an exercise ball that burst whilst carrying weights and since then the problems had progressively worsened. I had an MRI and the opinion was that my L5 right transverse process is longer than normal and articulates against the sacrum/sacroiliac joint. I had dried out discs. I was in such a bad way that I could hardly move and was unable to work. The pain was excruciating, a combination of severe aching and shooting nerve pains and it was frightening.
I read Sarah Key’s book ‘Back in Action’ which helped me understand what was going on much better than I did before. My wife suggested I go on ‘The Back in a Week’ course. This was the turning point in my recovery. Sarah Key was able to sort out the problem in a way that no physiotherapist had done before. Afterwards I kept up the exercises as she recommended (I still do) and things very slowly got better. As my confidence grew I gradually expanded my repertoire to more yoga exercises and gentle therapeutic exercises. Today I am back at work and can now walk 2 miles up and down hills and am constantly improving. The biggest problem I have now is actually left over from an unnecessary invasive procedure that a surgeon performed on me a while ago." Martin, Surrey UK
About Back-in-a-Week at ‘Hotel Tresanton’ at St Mawes Cornwall (UK)[click here]
Testimonials for UK 'Back-in-a-Week' at Hotel Tresanton, St Mawes, Cornwall
"I felt that I had to write and say how much my life has changed since coming on the BIAW course at Tresanton - for the better. Having suffered for 47 years; spent an absolute fortune on chiropractors, osteopaths and other modalities; no-one had ever got to the root cause of the problem. Sarah has a truly wonderful and magical gift. Anybody thinking of going on the course should not hesitate if they truly want to get well and be in control of their back and their life. ?The hotel was absolutely fabulous and the food was superb. I was truly pampered and cosseted. The scenery is spectacular very peaceful. My other fellow back sufferers were also a delight to be with. Thank you so much." Helen, March 2008
"I cannot thank you enough for the BIAW course, neither can I help using the hackneyed phrase “it’s changed my life”, because it has! It was an unique experience, thoughtfully and sensitively addressing battle-weary souls who’ve determinedly explored every avenue of the maze of therapies available for solving those four-letter words every Doctor dreads, “back pain!” I use the word maze as, after decades, none of us knew which way to turn next, until we heard of Sarah Key’s transforming, intensive therapy course at the very special Tresanton Hotel. To be welcomed into this tranquil haven with such tastefully decorated and spacious rooms overlooking the sea, cosseted by delightful staff for whom nothing was too much trouble and indulging in the highest quality, fresh food one could wish for, was the perfect back-up (sorry for pun) to Sarah’s unique treatment which began with an instant diagnosis of all that was wrong with our backs! This alone is something none of us had experienced after several decades each of searching for someone to do just that, so we could at last understand why we were in such a pickle – so good for one psychologically, (especially if you’ve ever been told that there’s nothing wrong physically and that you’re an exhausted and over-wrought new mother, well, approaching 30 years ago I was!) and, next on every back-sufferer’s wish-list, a positive response that Yes, we can all get better!!!!! Such a life-saver after also being told that nothing more can be done and we all have to “manage” the pain…………One doctor once asked, “Why don’t you just give up, live with it and stop wasting your energy on fighting a losing battle?!”
Sarah explained so clearly in power-point presentations what goes wrong with backs and why, with the appropriate antedotes, followed by her very special technique of diagnosing our problems with her hands, but treating our backs with her feet - much kinder than hands. Sarah is such an inspiration and her brilliantly thought-out exercises and oh, such talented feet at last mean a route to freedom! It was amazing to feel those firm, but gentle feet instinctively seeking out the trouble-spots and starting to free them from the tyranny of over-protective muscle spasm!! What a package!! We were all sent away with superbly effective exercises. So, the tables are turned and now we are in control of our backs and have the knowledge to decompress our spines, relieve pressure on overloaded facet joints and eventually regenerate our flattened, dried out discs. I fully intend to grow by at least an inch when that happens!!
It was a few days of bliss, I recommend it to everyone! I made super friends, we had so many laughs!!! You will feel you have been released from a lonely prison!! By that I mean that one day, when with friends, family, colleagues, etc. I will no longer feel alone, struggling to smile and no longer experiencing that ghastly feeling of drawing attention to myself by wriggling, or wanting to get up in the middle of meetings feeling unbearably uncomfortable and just wanting to crawl away somewhere and be on my own. Clearly after so many years of my back being compressed with the inevitable, compensatory problems, I cannot expect an instant cure, but now I am “back on track” armed with the exercises and techniques to combat those difficult times and each exercise session will bring me one step closer to banishing that negative, all-consuming pain. My aim of learning to ski, playing tennis again and going sailing will become a reality instead of a delightful pipe-dream! I cannot put a price on such freedom and giving me my life back and neither can my family and friends! Huge thanks Sarah!!" AN, March 2008
"I felt I was given a realistic route map to take away with me showing me how to keep on getting better. Sarah showed me how patience and following a few simple regimes could be the ingredients to put me on the path to a less problematic and much more resilient back without having to resort to back surgery. But there was also more to the week. Throughout, Sarah's personal qualities as much as her professional skills made it such a memorable time. The genuine warmth with which she greeted us on the first evening set the tone of her interaction with us for the rest of the week. You got the sense that she really cared about our stories and the long struggle each of us had had with our back. She gave 'her all' for the week, fully engaged in the task of helping each person there. And though navel gazing is not part of the course, Sarah gave us all the freedom to release some of the emotional distress that somehow gets trapped within when coping long term with chronic pain. I, in particular, was grateful for the mutual validation that came with the group’s interaction; also the extra dimension of putting a name to the great drain on our energies that goes with a bad back. Sarah called it the 'bond of the inexplicable' between fellow sufferers. Somehow it meant that I went away from the week not only feeling more comfortable in my back, with new knowledge of what I must do practically in the future to continue improving, but also less lonely in my now hopeful journey towards a stronger and better back and a cheerier outlook on life." Linda A (London), March 2007
Australian 'Back-in-a-Week' at 'Fernleigh' Scone NSW, (April 2007)
“As a former physio I was at the end of my ‘tether’ with my pain and had run the gauntlet of possible treatments. With Sarah I have developed a better understanding of back function and in particular- my back dysfunction. Although I still have pain, I now have methods for dealing with it but also some hope for a better and painfree life at some time in the future.” Leonie, Sydney, April 2007
"Doing the Sarah Key Back-in-a-Week course is one of the most important things I have ever done for myself in my sixty years of life. It was a wonderfully enlightening experience, in an environment where warmth, care, beauty, luxury, nature, professionalism and personal interest, were present in every minute of the experience.
The lovely surroundings and the stunning accommodation, set the scene for the receipt of extraordinary levels of professional care, treatment, and education. There was a quite surprising level of effort contributed by all members of the Sarah Key team. There were no 'off-duty' vibes, or avoidance strategies, just welcoming smiles, and lots of thoughtfully focused indulgence, carefully aimed at getting better outcomes for all the participants.
I was not a person who left the course feeling cured, in fact I left in as much pain as I arrived. However I left with a belief that at last I had found somebody who knew what they were doing, at last I knew what I had to do, and at last there was some hope of avoiding the wheelchair. I felt enlightened, understood, and empowered, and enriched with important knowledge.
Some eight weeks later, I can confidently say that I have improved enormously with my pain level so diminished it is almost of no consequence. I know there will always be hard work ahead for me, but never before have I felt so motivated to keep up the exercise regime prescribed, because never before have I believed so totally in the advice I have been given. And I think I can safely say, 'I have tried everything'; all brands of medical experts, mainstream and alternate, supplements, drugs and diets, but not surgery.
Sarah’s books are great to have beside the bed and I find myself dipping into them regularly, to absorb another dose of wisdom. Name withheld(Canberra), May 2007
