The Centre for mind, body & spirit
Wellness Centre & Retreats
The Centre for mind, body & spirit is located in Gordon, Victoria, approximately an hour from Melbourne, and only a further 20 mintues drive to Daylesford or Ballarat.
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Set on 10 acres of bushland, The Centre offers the opportunity to relax in a tranquil environment. We have regular visits from native fauna such as kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas and koalas, and an abundance of birds, including cockatoos, wedge-tailed eagles and kookaburras.
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Take some time out for a few days on one of our Rest and Restore Yoga Retreats, held just around the corner at 'The Farmhouse', or bring along a group of friends for your own customized retreat, whether it be a pampering girls weekend away, or a chance to reset your health goals.
Alternatively, schedule your own private Wellness Retreat for 1-2 people (min. 2 night stay), held at The Centre, or a Day Retreat for your group. You can also book in to our Wellness Centre where you can choose from a variety of Natural Therapies such as Naturopathy, Massage or Reiki.
Sylvia Manovski
Naturopath, Herbalist, Yoga instructor, Massage therapist, Reiki master
Natural health has always been an interest of mine – even as a child, I read books on home remedies, breathing techniques, fitness and nutrition, mainly to try and help with the large number of health issues I had, and also because reading helped fill the large amount of time I had off school due to them. Up until I was about 11 years old, I suffered from allergies (foods, grass, pets, dust, penicillin), eczema, asthma and yearly bouts of pneumonia and pleurisy. I remember the row of (brightly coloured) medicines on the kitchen bench that I would dread taking. Starting swimming was a huge benefit, and my respiratory problems resolved. Competitive sport at national level in my early 20’s continued my interest in health, especially in nutrition.
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At high school my favourite subjects were biology and art. After a last minute change from enrolling in Architecture, I began studying science (Biotechnology) at RMIT. This lead to a Master’s degree and teaching undergraduate students Microbiology, Immunology and Biological Process Engineering. After working as a research scientist (microbiologist / geneticist), I realised that I enjoyed interacting with people much more than working in a laboratory……so moved into the Pharmaceutical industry, with roles in sales, marketing and quality control.
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Years later, on a holiday visiting family in Europe, I was able to go out picking wild herbs in the countryside to make herbal teas and my interest in natural medicine was re-ignited. I returned home and began studying Naturopathy, Herbal medicine and Massage. And I loved it! I opened my business ‘Natural Family Care’ initially from home, then a year later from ‘The Centre for mind, body & spirit’. Working from The Centre introduced me to therapies such as Reiki, Yoga and Meditation, which over the years I have studied and now use to provide a complete approach to wellness; physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually, incorporating natural methods with a background of scientific knowledge, and belief in working alongside mainstream medicine if needed to provide the best quality healthcare available. While many may think it a huge leap from science to naturopathy, I utilise my research skills with every patient, investigating their symptoms and body processes, looking for the underlying causes of their health issues, and keep up-to-date with the latest scientific research and clinical studies on natural medicines.
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After approximately 20 years in the health industry, I feel extremely lucky to be able to share my passion for natural health with others, and be able to provide a relaxing, peaceful atmosphere for healing at The Centre, now based in Gordon Victoria. While my journey may seem varied, it has allowed me to gather a diverse group of skills which I utilise every day, not only in my work, but in all aspects of my life.
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Wishing you health and happiness,
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Sylvia