I live most of the year in São Paulo, Brazil, where my activities are mainly promoting Natural Vision Improvement, in the most different locations: outdoors, institutes, clubs, private halls and gardens, all over town. Special seminars and workshops in the States of São Paulo and Minas Gerais. Regularly I am in Portugal, organizing vision workshops, group classes and attending private students and clients, in Lisbon, Oporto, Aveiro and Funchal ( Madeira Island).

Brazil- São Paulo: +55.11.50518152 and +55.11.95282421
lakelandsylvia1030@yahoo.com.br or lakelandsylvia@hotmail.com

Portugal: in Lisbon, c/o Rita Jardim: +351.21.3885899, +351.91993731
ritacpjardim@gmail.com

From Darkness to Full Vision

I would like to invite you into my world of feelings, joy and fear, anxieties and expectations, moments of fulfilment and let us create a bond of understanding and awareness, hoping that my experiences can help you to overcome your vision problems.

Perfection, my first life cycle

As a citizen of the world, the oldest daughter of Polish parents, I was born in Simla/India and from there onwards I lived in many exciting cities: London , São Paulo , where I graduated in Biology, Genova and Monte Carlo , where I completed my post-graduation in Biology. Back again in São Paulo , after a post-graduation and master degree in Business Administration, I became a very successful business executive, extending my activities from Brazil to New York and finally to Portugal , where I settled down in 1986. Thirty years of intensive activities, always imposing on myself very hard and strenuous targets, in search of perfection. Myopic since I was six years old, glasses and contact lenses were my shields for ages, while I took it for granted that they would always serve me well: I depended on them for the quality of my work. Perfection, at any cost!

Suddenly all went wrong and I took my eyes to the doctor

In 1993, while in Lisbon , under great stress, working 18 hours a day, I realised that I had no more strength and will to work so hard, I couldn't see well, my eyes did not respond anymore and I needed even more energy to keep up with my performance standards. So I took my body to the doctor: a very painful and ugly ophthalmic herpes zoster VZV lesions on the left side of my face made me stop for the first time in my life. Doctors took over, dangerous keratitis and uveitis could show up - but didn't - and after six months treatment at home, I overcame the terrible pains and depression and I was back to normal activities. I was very angry; I had no time to be sick!

Endless visits to doctors and finally full darkness

Far from being aware of the signs and warnings the Universe was sending me, I was back to the crazy business world when I noticed strange flashes and started to see irregular lines with my left eye. Some weeks later, doctors once again: atrophy of the vitreous humour, a lesion in the fovea of the left eye and the detachment of my retina happened in both eyes: a big dark stain in the centre of my left eye and smaller dark spots in my right eye. “You lost your left eye, there is nothing we can do, just live with your right eye”; “we don't know why all this happened to you, sorry, come again in six months for control” where the main comments from doctors I visited along the next months! One doctor said: “ we can perform a surgery, the hole in the retina will become smaller, maybe it will close altogether, you must do it immediately!” I went through the surgery and not only my vision did not improve but two monsters took over my eyes: cataracts that from day one cut my vision completely.

Five years passed by, my vision reduced very fast: I sold my companies, my dearest ones passed away, and I kept getting the same message: “ there is nothing we can do for your eyes: operating your cataracts will mean total blindness. You are already blind but can see some shades, so keep it this way, change business activities, settle down in your new dark world”! This was the final sentence from all eye specialists I visited in important eye centres as Coimbra , Lisbon , Barcelona , London , New York , Florida and São Paulo . Finally, I stopped working and driving, needed help to move around and I started to loose hope of seeing well again in this life.

Questions and more questions

At first I did not even consider the possibility of blindness: I was not going to let it happen, I had to keep my eyes operational while new technologies would appear and reverse my condition. I believed it was possible and this made me fight my way through, during some years: I kept working, every day less, with more difficulties and less space for manoeuvre. Finally, after looking around me for some new miracle, I understood that there was something wrong going on: why did I stop seeing? What was holding me from seeing, what was I afraid of seeing? What was I afraid of in my life? I realised that I had to find the answers within me. Transforming problems into opportunities became the four words that can explain how a new cycle of my life began!

The Tao of Vision

When I started questioning myself, slowly but surely, new paths spread in front of me: I allowed myself to meet and listen to fantastic human beings, who, coming from different areas and cultures, crossed my way with new patterns, new for me! It was very hard for me but when I started to be aware of the synchronicities, by giving up the false control and so many fears I had during my life and by understanding that we first must “empty the cup” my search began. Many important sources of inspiration, including brief psychotherapy helped me question my truths and those old patterns I worshiped for so long: I discovered news ways of looking and seeing, studying and understanding myself and all around me.

The old age wisdom of the I Ching and the vast body of Chinese medicine, Nei Jing , showed me the ways to become a anma , the oriental blind masseurs/masseuses who can see better because they practise health and well-being with their hands. While struggling with my lack of vision, I worked very hard in a health clinic and centre of studies, for many hours a day, learning and practising the oriental massage techniques used by the anma , while taking care of my own body and soul, with Tai Chi, Chi Kung and Kikoo. Being a healer involves both sides of human consciousness: the intuitive as well as the rational and I decided to become a healer. I started to see also with my hands!

I discovered the International University of Peace-UNIPAZ, where I learned and since then practise the art of living in peace. Remarkable masters, great experiences, workshops, conferences, debates, too many tears for my struggles in moving around, conflicts to clear up, the best of my feelings coming out to allow me become more aware and conscious of myself and the world in which I live. I discovered holistic vision and started to see also with my heart and soul!

In 2000 an amazing series of synchronicities brought us together: Meir Schneider and I met in London and he not only said but proved it well: “ there is a lot self-healing can do for your vision!” It was the beginning of the recovery of my eyes and a good friendship! Two years more working on myself and my eyes and April 2003, once again, I could see one clear full moon and all the colours of spring! The School for Self-Healing, in S.Francisco, California was my next step with its very special and intensive courses and I becoming a Self-Healing Practitioner & Educator as well as already a recognised Self-Healing Teacher of Vision Improvement Training.

Member of the ABSH - Brazilian Self-Healing Association (Brazil), the American Association of Vision Practitioners (USA) and AIEV - Associazione Italiana per L' Educazione Visiva (Italy), participant of the 17th International Conference for Holistic Vision (Paris), participant and speaker at the 18th Conference, in Zurich and the official organizer and speaker at the 19th International Conference, a great success, in Madeira Island. Together with Dr. Laércio Motoryn, Brazilian Ophthalmologist, as guest speakers and participants at the 20th International Conference, in Italy, 2005, presented the natural therapies and medical aspects of Low Vision. The 21st International Conference in 2007 was in Germany and Sylvia Lakeland presented with great interest and success, the results of her work during 2003-2007, with a new approach of how to take care of low vision person’s eyesight. The next conference will happen in Lieges, Belgium in 2009.

Practitioner and teacher of Chinese Traditional Therapeutic Exercises such as Lian Gong, Xian Gong, Taiji Qi Gong, Ba Dua Jin, Yi Ji Jing, Liu Qi Fa, Wu Qin Xi and Zhi Neng Qi Gong.

Further contacts

Brasil- São Paulo: +55.11.50518152 and +55.11.95282421
Portugal: Lisbon : c/o Rita Jardim: +351.21.3885899,  +351. 919 937311