Conscious Life Free Online Magazine - Dec 18 - Jan 19 - Ed 52

Conscious Life Magazine

CONTENTS 10

LETTING GO AND CREATING A GREAT 2019

51.

AWESOME R800 BAOCARE HAMPER GIVEAWAY

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SELF DEVELOPMENT & PERSONAL GROWTH

16

CREATING A NEW YEAR

18

THE ADVICE THAT TOTALLY CHANGED HOW I AM DECLUTTERING MY HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

22

UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

25

MEDITATION AND EXISTENTIAL DEPRESSION

29

5 WAYS LAUGHTER BENEFITS YOUR HEALTH

32

DOES SEX MAKE YOU NERVOUS? HERE’S HOW TO DEVELOP A HEALTHEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH SEX

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NATURAL HEALTH & WELLNESS

40

6 WAYS TO STAY METALLY FIT

42

CYTOKINES: THEIR KEY ROLE FOR YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM & INFLAMMATION

47.

THE BEAUTY OF BAOBAB &USES OF BAOBAB OIL

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CONSCIOUS HEALING

54

LIGHTNESS & LAUGHTER

57

WISE WORDS BY NEALE DONALD WALSCH

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HEALTHY INTAKE

68

BUDGET FRIENDLY FOOD FOR BRAIN POWER

71

HEMP SEED: THE MOST NUTRITIONALLY COMPLETE FOOD SOURCE

76

GET HEALTHY WITH DELICIOUS NUTRIBLASTS

b CONSCIOUS BODY 84

SACROILIITIS AND SI JOINT PAIN: CAUSES, NATURAL TREATMENTS + EXERCISE

89

THE SECRET TO BUILDING EXERCISE HABITS MOST PEOPLE FORGET

90

NO EQUIPMENT NEEDED: FULL BODY WORKOUT

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CONTENTS H

GREEN LIVING

96

SUSTAINABLE PROMISES YOU SHOULD MAKE TO THE PLANET THIS YEAR

101

GREEN CLEANING: PROTECT YOUR HEALTH AND CONSERVE YOUR ENVIRONMENT

104

HOW TO STAY COOL AND GREEN DURING A HEAT WAVE

_ ANIMAL WORLD 108

TOP 10 HAZARDS FOR PETS AT CHRISTMAS TIME

110

HOW STRONG IS YOUR PETS IMMUNE SYSTEM

P WORKSHOPS, COURSES & RETREATS 116

ACCESS YOUR LIFE – ACCESS CONSCIOUSNESS BARS COURSE

117

ANTANEEA TECHNIQUE COURSE

118

RETREATS AT DHARMAGIRI SACRED MOUNTAIN RETREAT

120 SET YOUR SOUL COMPASS FOR 2019 121

HEALING YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH MONEY

122

FIND YOUR ZEN WEEKEND RETREAT

124

SPIRITUAL TEACHER TRAINING COURSE AND BURSARY

P

GETAWAYS, SHOWS & EVENTS

131 SHOWS, GETAWAYS; AND MORE

_ REACH OUT

25

98

142 REACH OUT & HELP: DESERVING CHARITIES AND CAUSES

29

32

12 20 86

Contributing Team & Experts

ABOUT US www.childoftheuniverse.co.za PUBLISHER 2Luni Media EDITOR/OWNER Candida “Cj“ Matticks 087 802 6102 candida@childoftheuniverse.co.za

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Articles written by the late

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Contributing Team & Experts

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Founder: Unconditional Love Healing

Re-code Your Life

WHAT WE ARE ABOUT We believe in the ‘FIRST DO NO HARM’ principle and we select our content and advertisers accordingly. Our focus is on conscious lifestyle.

We cover topics around natural health & wellness: body, mind & spirit; conscious living for a cleaner planet, healthy recipes and fitness.

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Conscious Life Magazine

Hello beautiful souls!!

As 2018 winds to a close, I would like to invite you to look back on the year and instead of focusing on that which didn’t work for you or didn’t make you happy, focus rather on the lessons learnt, the blessings received, the experience gained, and of course focus on all that made you smile. Focus on that which you are grateful for.

In every situation, we can find something to be grateful for, even if it means having to “turn it on it’s head” so to speak, to get a different perspective.

I am sure that each one of us, when we look back, can see the times where things didn’t go as we would have liked them to. Perhaps there are even times when we have let ourselves down and just not been the best versions of ourselves. And it is ok. Take this time to learn the lesson that will allow things to work out better in future. Forgive yourself and those around you. Let go of regret, disappointment, self criticism, guilt, anger and flow your heart into the space that these emotions used to occupy.

Perhaps you can even use the learnings from 2018 to help you set your intentions for 2019.

Whether you are into setting resolutions or not, the end of a year signals the end of another cycle and allows each of us to start with a clean and fresh new year to re-create ourselves, and the space around us, anew if we choose.

This edition of Conscious Life, is full of awesome articles to help you create and live your best life. So sit back, get comfortable and enjoy.

And please, take care this festive season. We look forward to seeing you all in the new year.

If you are not already subscribed to receive Conscious Life Magazine free via email each month, please mail subscribe@childoftheuniverse.co.za

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Monthly Online Free Parenting Magazine filled with inspiring articles on the conscious parenting, conscious living, wellness, self improvement, fitness &more.

To Subscribe to the Child of the Universe Positive Parenting Online Magazine for Free, Click Here Your monthly free digital mag will be emailed to you* *by subscribing, you acknowledge that your email address and name will be added to the publishers of Conscious Life Magazine’s database. The publishers are, Vinloco Media & 2Luni Media. You will only receive your monthly magazine and, from time to time, mails related to Conscious Life Magazine and the Child of The Universe Parenting Magazines. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link in the mailer you receive.

The Sunflower Fund 2018-2019 Special Edition of Conscious Life Magazine

Filled with inspiring articles on the Montessori Method, bringing Montessori into the home; conscious parenting, conscious living, wellness, self improvement, fitness &more.

To Subscribe to the Child of the Universe Montessori Mag-nificence Parenting Online Magazine for Free, Click Here Your monthly free digital mag will be emailed to you* *by subscribing, you acknowledge that your email address and name will be added to the publishers of Conscious Life Magazine’s database. The publishers are, Vinloco Media & 2Luni Media. You will only receive your monthly magazine and, from time to time, mails related to Conscious Life Magazine and the Child of The Universe Parenting Magazines. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link in the mailer you receive.

The Sunflower Fund 2018-2019 Special Edition of Conscious Life Magazine

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By Hanna Kok

If you look back on 2018, how different was it from 2017? Was it just another same old, same old year? Or was it radically better? If we want to ensure that 2019 is not going to be a “more of the same year", then we need to start doing things differently. What is the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing and expecting different results.

Conscious Life Magazine

Many of us spend a lot of time and money on our external appearance. How about doing the same for our internal wellbeing?

There is so much information out on the web. You can find videos and programs on all subjects.

Use Google to find ideas to what you can do. Start watching inspirational videos.

If you struggle to take action, then it is important to listen to what you are saying to yourself about this situation.

What sabotaging beliefs do you have?

If you cannot motivate yourself, why not get some professional help. Get someone to assist you to make big jumps and create real and lasting changes. How about getting a coach, go to a Brain Gym practitioner, a Theta Healing practitioner or someone else of your choice.

If you want 2019 to be a different experience, you need to do things differently!

Start today!

Have fun and take some risks.

Hanna Kok - Inner-Wellbeing Strategist Author of “Happy Ever After, Make your relationships flourish� http://www.thelife-youwant.com

Conscious Life Magazine

The Advice That Totally Changed How I'm Decluttering My Home For The Holidays

By Erika Prafder, courtesy of mindbodygreen

'Tis the season—for family gatherings, gift-buying, and holiday decorating. Depending on your stress level, preparedness, and mindset, such things can be fun opportunities to get creative or dreaded chores. They all take thought, organization, and planning, which can get really overwhelming really quickly—especially if you are a clutter bug.

Do you, for example, have boxes upon boxes of Christmas ornaments dating back to childhood waiting somewhere in the attic to be found for trimming the tree? Or unopened holiday hostess gifts you received last year still waiting to be re-gifted, donated, or stored out of respect for the giver?

I certainly have dealt with excess clutter around the holidays, and I know how debilitating it can make this time of year feel. I've found that maintaining an attitude of gratitude helps. The heart of the holidays is about family, generosity, and love. If you return to these priorities as you work your way through your to-do list, you should breathe a bit easier and complete your tasks with more joy and ease.

This year, for some practical advice on how to help me do this, I turned to the queen of happiness herself, Gretchen Rubin, bestselling author and host of the Happier podcast.

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"Clearing clutter is a big challenge. One reason is that the process requires us to make taxing choices about what to keep, what to discard, and why," Rubin advises in her forthcoming book, Outer Order, Inner Calm: Declutter & Organize to Make Room for Happiness.

Rather than become short-tempered, flustered, and/or emotionally drained, realize that while challenging, "Once we've made the key choices about the fate of our possessions, we can begin to establish order.

Creating order gives a disproportionate boost of energy and cheer," Rubin writes. Here are some of Rubin's tips that I've found most helpful this holiday.

Slow down.

Give yourself enough time to prepare for upcoming festivities, so you don't feel pressure. Things take longer than you might anticipate, so put things like cleaning the guest room, stocking up on groceries, getting out your step ladder, and retrieving ornaments on your calendar.

Focus on tradition.

Don't let planning spiral out of control. Ask yourself what the essence of the holiday means to you. If having a particular culinary dish or watching Miracle on 34th Street is part of family tradition, as long as you execute such customs, don't worry about other, less important tasks. This New Year's Eve, for example, which is also my husband's birthday, rather than feel pressured to have a double-celebration party at home, I've made dining reservations at a favorite restaurant and invited immediate family to share ice cream birthday cake at our home afterward.

Don't compete.

Your home need not look like the cover of a magazine to look dressed for the holidays. Clear space for the tree, organize your ornaments, and perhaps choose a color theme. Making one area or element beautiful, such as the fireplace mantel or Christmas tree, can change the entire atmosphere. This year, I plan to bring the outdoors in with a touch of pine and decorated foliage, adding sparkle with holiday string lights and mercury candles. We live by the beach, so there will also be plenty of seashells, to personalize the theme.

Invoking amusement in holiday preparations is important too. While trimming the tree, for example, make hot cocoa and put on holiday tunes in the background. Perhaps everyone wears their ugly Christmas sweaters.

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Watch your wallet.

If you keep track of what you're spending, you're less likely to impulse buy during the holidays.

Paying with cash rather than credit card also helps, as it hurts to let cash go, says Rubin.

According to financial expert Brianna Firestone, you also need to identify your values around gifting, decide on an intention for your shopping, and set the right budget (and "kickback" budget) before you even head out to a store.

The extra efforts taken to create order within one's home shouldn't just cease after the holidays do. In 2019, I'm resolving to practice what I've preached here, because I know the benefits will extend beyond myself, reaching my entire family and circle of friends.

Erika Prafder is a veteran writer for the New York Post and the author of a book on entrepreneurship. A longtime yoga enthusiast and Hatha yoga teacher, she edits a news source for young yogis.

She recently co-founded drawingboardshop.com, an e-commerce and content site celebrating life's gifts and creative entrepreneurship. The working mother of three resides in a beach community in Long Island, New York.

Conscious Life Magazine

By Sergio Salotto

Much is written and spoken about on how and what we need to do in order to embrace and practice unconditional love of Self. It seems however that whilst this can be easily spoken about, putting it into practice becomes more difficult and challenging.

The reason for that could be because we may not have a true understanding of what is required and how to internalise it – what it really means to unconditionally accept ourselves.

In my view, it seems that much of what is said about the process of accepting ourselves unconditionally is based on the principles of (broadly speaking) positive thinking. Adopting the practice of telling ourselves that “I am ok” – convincing ourselves; creating a sense of “false reality” when in fact we still experience feelings of non-ok’ness. Other ways are: ❑ adopting a defensive attitude and belief whereby “if we feel hurt by someone, it is not about us but about them” – defending ourselves in relation to an event/emotion; ❑ believing that our experiences are part of the life lessons we are meant to have - a life journey of accepting that it is our ‘fate’, that we are meant to learn lessons of forgiveness / forgiving ... raises the question about what freedom of choice we can/are exercising for our life ❑ changing our thinking to be OK with “however we are” because we want to believe it is who we are, what we are destined to be in this life and the world.

But is that what unconditional acceptance and love of self is really all about?

To digress for a moment, a little over twenty years ago I had a life-changing experience from which I realised that we possibly have a misunderstanding of what it means and takes to internalise and practice unconditional acceptance of Self. And that what makes it difficult to internalise and practice is that we are not really addressing the underlying root cause for us not automatically or naturally accepting ourselves unconditionally. While positive thinking may assist us to some degree in getting us to change our mind-set, beliefs and what we think about ourselves, it does not guide us to identify and eliminate the underlying root source of our problem. This practice of self-acceptance requires us to continuously be aware of and manage our thinking, feelings and emotions on a daily basis, in every moment as they get triggered by the varying circumstances and situations we encounter. What this means is that it makes our well-being dependent on the circumstances, that it is, conditional. To truly accept ourselves unconditionally, our well-being cannot have or be dependent on any conditions or circumstances – that just makes us victims of our circumstances.

The practice of true love can therefore defined as:

The Unconditional Acceptance of What Is (no judgements, no expectations, no preconceptions, no discrimination of any kind, no provisos)

By this I don't mean accepting how you look, what you think and believe, how you behave etc. It also does not relate to cultural, religious or philosophical beliefs, personal points of view and attitudes, social status, career or professional achievements or anything else of such nature. Now ask yourself whether or not you truly accept yourself unconditionally according to this definition?

Unconditional acceptance of who or what we are comes from committing ourselves to living our life to fulfill that which is really important and meaningful for our life - our innermost, heartfelt life “dreams” - living our life purpose.

Such a commitment means living our life in true integrity and being authentic with and about who we are. Without accepting ourselves unconditionally at this level, we are not truly unconditionally accepting (loving) ourselves – and that will not allow is to equally unconditionally accept anyone or anything else.

It simply is not available to us because we are not experiencing its “power” and what it really means. To achieve this, we need to take responsibility to exercise our real freedom of choice for our life to be who and/or what we are regardless of all/any circumstances or fears of possible consequences. To unconditionally accept ourselves will also eliminate our emotional needs that trigger our fears of needing to compromise ourselves for fear of possible consequences.

Your life can be different.

For more information, Workshops and Consultations, contact Sergio on +27 (0) 82 412 3524 contact@sergiosalotto.co.za

Meditation and Existential Depression Ice cold isolation visits from time to time and steals away the warmth of connections.

By Michael Howard We may feel a sense of separateness or of not belonging. We may be wracked by a sense of loss with profound sadness in our hardest times.

This experience may be existential depression if it lasts or worsens over time.

Can meditation help with existential depression?

What is existential depression?

In a state of existential depression, dark fearful presences impinge upon our consciousness or sneak around our sub-conscious.

Darkness asks, “What meaning does life have?”

It taunts, “You are just an insignificant little organism, alone in an arbitrary world. Scary! Your life has no impact. There is no meaning. And then you die. That is all there is to it.”

The dark fear can be devastating. It leads to catatonia in the worst cases of existential depression.

Many people never experience this depressing scenario of isolation and resultant dark fear.

They never feel existential depression. Maybe it’s because they have a more durable constitution. Or maybe it’s because they manage to ignore the occasional emergence of the darkness from the recesses of their subconscious.

Or perhaps some people just don’t have that dark presence lurking within them. “They’re not cursed,” some might say.

They’re not blessed either.

Curse or blessing?

We can get philosophical relief from the fear of meaninglessness by imagining how the world could be. We can allow ourselves to imagine we are loved and connected. These imaginings are not childish fantasies. They ring true. They are just as ingrained in our subconscious as the darkness.

Jung called our universal experiences of dark and light the archetypes of the collective unconscious. The concept originated in ancient Greece. Mystics call them spiritual experiences.

Without darkness, we would not hear the trumpet beckoning from our sub-conscious towards the light. Without contrast there is no light. It takes darkness to appreciate light. It takes a journey through isolation to experience eternal love where isolation is gone and belonging rules. Our curse is our blessing.

Archetypes or spiritual experiences, or whatever we call the deepest realms of ourselves, convince us that space and time – and the ever-lurking threat of isolation that comes with space and time – are illusory.

The illusion that binds us It is imaginable that space and time are only temporal excitations of infinite and eternal energy.

Particles of matter in space and time emerge and either evolve or disappear. There are infinite and eternal universe-loads of matter emerging and either evolving or disappearing.

Matter that ‘survives’ and evolves over millennia in a particular space and time becomes conscious. This consciousness is self-conscious because it is of a discrete ensemble of matter in a particular space and time.

Billions of infants in our space and time become billions of self-conscious egos. These selfconscious egos, by virtue of their discreteness, are prone to a sense of isolation.

Ego emerges from the moment of conception. This ego grows in self-consciousness, it starts to feel the fear of being isolated – isolated from its mother and isolated from the home it left.

The degree of isolation depends on the matter the child inherited, and the early circumstances of that child’s life.

Fear emerges quite naturally from the sense of being isolated and being up against billions of other egos.

Natural imperfections like greed, anger, pride, lust and envy stem from fear. Imperfections of human society emerge from these states of human being. These imperfections infect every part of material life in space and time. They infect nature, politics, economics and religion. They lead to crime, war, famine and destruction of the natural world and every aspect of matter.

The reality that frees us But there are no particles, space or time in the infinite and eternal energy that underlies them.

There is no consciousness of self. No ego. There is only unity in diversity – a mysterious remnant in the subconscious of our origin and destiny. A reality that can only be quasi-known, never understood or explained like evolved sets of neurons wish.

This infinite and eternal is experienced as benevolent and nurturing to our deepest selves. So we call it love in our human attempts to know it. It manifests as various archetypes, mythological stories and spiritual deities throughout history and across cultures. But it is one underlying reality.

We can sense this so-called love as distant as it may seem at times. The imperfect world seems perfect because of it. The fear of isolation is relieved by it. Letting go and letting it closer is the most effective antidote to existential depression.

Meditation: from illusion to reality But how do we do this? The answer has become so trite in postmodern western society we can hardly believe it. But it is a true.

The answer is meditation.

It should be noted that meditation alone might not be enough. Sometimes a multi-pronged approach is required to overcome the pain of existential depression, including medication.

However, the goal of healing is to break through the illusion to reality. In the long-term, as a lifestyle practice, there is no better path to this breakthrough than meditation.

A daily practice of meditation brings this thing we call love closer because it switches off all the preoccupations of discrete self and so opens space for infinite and eternal energy to be experienced.

Meditation leads gently, over time, to the experience of belonging, to the experience of being loved by some benevolent other. It taps into the archetypal lover ingrained in our subconscious. Each day we find the darkness of isolation brightened slightly by this love. Each day the illusory pain is battled back by the reality of love. We find the imperfections of our egos balanced by the seven aspects of love.

Existential depression is real and painful. But it is the path to the most wonderful light. We should not deny it, ignore it or avoid it. Nor should we hold onto it. We should experience it as it is or as it isn’t. We must travel through our darkness and let it pass again and again with commitment and trust. It is a more arduous journey for some than for others.

Regardless though, a daily practice of meditation is the best therapy on this arduous journey.

Follow me on Twitter @MichaelHowardZA for regular updates and join the conversation on Facebook about my articles.

Michael Howard Author and Creator of the Seven Aspects of Spiritual Intelligence.

Ed’s Note: There is too much to describe Michael here so follow this link and READ MORE

5 Ways Laughter Benefits Your Health “Laughter is the best medicine” may sound a bit cliché, but there is quite a bit of truth underlying this old saying. In fact, research, including our own here at Murad, has unveiled that laughter actually is a powerful “prescription” that helps both mental and physical health.

Here are a few great reasons why you should allow yourself to indulge in a full-blown belly laugh: ❖ Laughter can be relaxing. After a hearty belly laugh, some people can be heard sighing as they come down from the convulsions of laughter. The relaxation that follows a good laugh can lower blood pressure and reduce stress.

❖ Laugher reduces stress hormones. That overload of mental tension really melts away from the forefront of your consciousness when you just laughed so hard you cried. Laughter can be a great mood regulator in a stressful situation. Make the most of opportunities to change a dark or fraught emotional tone with some laughter.

❖ Laughter increases blood flow. Increased blood flow is good for the heart, blood vessels and the cardiovascular system overall. Laughter is a mini workout and we should take advantage of that fun way to experience some light exercise. ❖ Laughter boosts endorphins. Laughing gets our endorphins flowing. These natural feelgood chemicals give our brains a boost and help to give us a more positive outlook on the day. ❖ Laughter as a coping skill. “Frantic.” “Out of control.” “Overwhelming.” These words are sometimes used to describe our feelings about trying to cope with life, work, kids, marriage and the myriad responsibilities on our plates. We cannot always predict the stresses of life but our reactions to them can dictate how much negative impact they can have on our day. Sometimes, the healthiest option in the face of stress overload is to stop and laugh.

In short, laughter can help you change your perspective — and change your life for the better.

Article by Howard Murad, M.D., FAAD, a world renowned skincare expert and founder of the Inclusive Health movement.

Peaceful healing therapy in a beautiful country setting - Chartwell North (north of Fourways). I am also available to travel to provide therapy sessions in the privacy of your own home.

To make and appointment for any of my treatments please contact Nikki on 082 860 4640 or nicolettehocking@gmail.com

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Conscious Life Magazine

Does Sex Make You Nervous?

Here’s How To Develop A Healthier Relationship With Sex Article by Amari D. Pollard Some of my memories have matured into a haze while others have been forcefully pushed into the deep recesses of my mind to collect dust. Then there are those that have remained in the forefront—the ones I often revisit with a sense of joy, curiosity, caution, or a combination of them all.

A memory I find myself returning to often as I trudge through my adult relationships is the first time I accidentally discovered a pleasure point. I can still feel the amalgamation of innocence and fear bubble in my stomach when I remember how starkly blue the sky looked that day and the sound of high-pitched giggles floating from the mouths of babes running around. I was testing my gymnastics skills during recess on the playground bars, adjusting my body so one leg was in front and the other behind the bar, when an unfamiliar jolt overtook my lower half. Taken aback by its suddenness and intensity, I quickly removed myself from the bar and ran to another activity. At the time, I shied away from further questioning what happened or later expressing my concern to my parents as a very confused 7-year-old. I just knew I shouldn't get back on the bars moving forward, and I didn't. It wasn't until entering adulthood, when I began to explore intimate relationships with other people, that I realized I was still running away from that feeling—from that pleasure.

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America's sexual culture is one of deep paranoia. Decades of glazing over sex education has left generations not only illequipped to safely navigate the real risks of having sex—but also without the necessary tools to develop healthy relationships with their bodies and with one another. Without meaningful conversations about what positive sexuality looks like, many of us have grown up associating sex with fear, shame, and confusion.

Growing up in a small town in upstate New York as a black girl was very suffocating, but one advantage I did enjoy was being in a good public school system with a high school health requirement that included a section on sexual education. I was fortunate—sex education is not promised to every U.S. student and isn't even mandated in New York state. According to the Guttmacher Institute, only 24 states and the District of Columbia mandate sex education; 18 states require that instruction on the importance of sexual activity only be discussed in reference to married sex, just 13 states require that we have conversations around sexual attraction, and only nine states require that discussion of sexual orientation be inclusive. So, not only is the United States failing to educate the youth nationally, but comprehensive sex education is absolutely not a guarantee.

"Unfortunately, there is quite a bit of money being funneled into sexual risk avoidance, also

known as abstinence-only education for young people—which the data has proved is not helpful," explains Brittany McBride, the senior program manager of sexuality education at Advocates for Youth. When sexual education is solely focused on abstinence, young people are oftentimes denied accurate health information, particularly when it comes to contraception, which can cause adolescents to use ineffective protection when they do later have sex. Some studies have found young people who've only had abstinence-only education or who take virginity "pledges" are actually more likely to have sex at a younger age and have higher rates of unintended pregnancies and STIs. But aside from all the physical health consequences of inadequate and narrow sexual education, there's also a deeper psychological impact: a lack of body literacy, little practice or tools for successful communication, harmful expectations of what relationships should look like, and little to no understanding of what pleasurable or even just consensual sexual experiences should feel like. This is particularly important when it comes to LGBT youth who are frequently excluded from sex education, even though they experience disproportionate rates of sexual assault and see their physical and mental health suffer when their identities are ignored.

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There's not much I remember from the sex talks we had in health class that semester, except for the immense disappointment I felt when I realized we wouldn't get to recreate the scene from Never Been Kissed where students learn to properly put condoms on bananas. However, much to my personal frustration, I do remember the sex education sound bites my parents sprinkled throughout my adolescence. As health practitioners, they stressed that my personal well-being could be threatened by practicing unsafe sex. Oral sex could lead to oral cancer, no condoms could lead to STDs that could also lead to cancer, insufficient protection could mean an unwanted pregnancy, and so on and so forth—and as a young black girl with potential, this was all doubly stressed. Society already oversexualizes the black female body from a young age with black girls as young as 5 being seen as more sexually mature than white girls within their age group, so I had to move through life with an extra layer of protection because I was born with enough "strikes.”

were Cosmopolitan magazine and Google— my first real teachers of positive sexual education.

In her work, sex educator Walker Thornton tells me she's come across women in their 50s and 60s who don't know how to orgasm as a result of not knowing their bodies. They don't touch themselves, they don't know their anatomy, and they suffer in silence instead of seeking answers from health care professionals out of embarrassment. Dr. Logan Levkoff, another expert on sexuality and relationships, agrees that language is extremely vital when educating people on sex, as well as understanding one's own anatomy. "It should be factual, anatomically correct, and nonjudgmental," she explains. "For example, the vagina is inside the body; the vulva is outside. It is always surprising to me how much inequity there is when we talk about gendered bodies.”

Communicating the positive effects of sex or delving into the degrees of sexual attraction weren't as much of a concern, so I came to the conclusion that personal pleasure was not worth risking my future. That aversion to sex innately included an aversion to my body— instead of comfortably growing into it and becoming more in sync with my physical self, I tried to create distance. I forwarded through sex scenes in movies as a way to forward through my discomfort with conjured desires.

Looking at myself naked felt too sexual, and the idea of intimacy was terrifying.

They point out a particularly huge problem for those of us with vaginas: Most people just don't know a lot about them. As a society, we don't talk about vaginas, we don't really look at them, and so unfortunately, a lot of people just aren't fully aware of their workings. This does an immense disservice to women: It's partially why, for example, the female orgasm is still so often described as "mysterious" or "elusive," which implies it therefore isn't worth trying to understand. Besides being simply false, these narratives set up expectations for women in advance: that pleasure is not for them and, even if sought, will be hard to come by.

But I had enough self-awareness to softly acknowledge the parts of me that wanted to feel comfortable, to lean into my sexuality and experience the sexual freedoms that men often benefited from. When that selfawareness became loud enough for me to listen to it, the first places I turned to

The more attention I paid to the language used when talking about sex, the more I wanted to understand it and why women were being denied the proper right to freely experience their sexuality. Another popular and frankly fallacious notion reinforced by the adults in my life growing up was that while it

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is unfair for men to be rewarded for sexual expression and women punished, women simply cannot act like men and still be considered ladies. Those words didn't always feel damaging at the time, but I sense their gravity today in conversations with friends when we discuss our apprehension to increasing "body counts" or when I fight the internal itch to scrub away my "impurities" after engaging in sexual activities.

It's those quiet moments after letting myself feel a taste of sexual freedom that all the internalized fear sweats out of my pores. We collectively like to think that culture is slowly shifting toward a more positive posture toward sexuality, but the truth is, the old, harmful, and fearmongering messages still linger just within. Although it's not as bad as it was in my college years, when I frequently took pregnancy tests after practicing meticulously safe sex, that anxiety is still there, and I have to make a conscious effort to move through it without losing myself.

Today when I'm in a sexual encounter, I plant myself in those moments with that particular partner—literally leaning into the intimacy of it all—and try not to latch onto the negative thoughts that aren't grounded in reality.

For people who have developed a nervousness around sex, Thornton says the first step toward healing is more education.

Here are a few ways you might get started: •

•

Read current books on sexuality. (I recommend Girls & Sex: Navigating the Complicated New Landscape or Come as You Are: The Surprising New Science That Will Transform Your Sex Life.)

Find workshops, classes, and retreats on sexuality you can attend through local organizations, women's communities, or feminist sex toy shops.

For example, Cycles and Sex, Touchpoint, and Tabu are a few great modern resources that host educational and

•

•

informative events both online and in person.

Look for a medical practitioner who you feel comfortable talking to about a range of sexual matters. You might even consider finding a sexual health coach or body worker if you want a personal guide into deeper exploration of your sexuality.

Start having more open conversations with friends and family about sex. The more we talk to each other about our experiences, the more our collective knowledge increases.

In addition to our individual efforts to heal, there's a larger systemic change that also needs to take place. McBride clarifies that it's not so much that sex is taboo anymore—we see it everywhere these days, and clearly it sells. It's sex education that we're uncomfortable with. We don't talk about sex, and when we do, it's often in a whisper. "It's baffling to me because as a society we are not equipping our young people with the knowledge in order to figure out how to effectively navigate these relationships that may or may not include sexual intercourse," McBride says. "And then, at the same time, we're expecting them to know how to do all of this.”

These conversations need to be had at a younger age, and not just once during the dreaded "talk" but throughout adolescence. A study from the Journal of Adolescent Health proves that ongoing family dialogue around sex helps adolescents feel more comfortable asking their parents questions about sex and leads them to have safer sex as adults. Moreover, a 2018 study from the International Journal of Sexual Health found that women who talk more freely about sexual behavior with friends have more sexual self-esteem when it comes to performing in bed and are more confident about protecting their sexual health.

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Personally, I've seen both of these changes within myself the more I open up. And I've certainly found comfort in the practice of openly talking about sex with my friends, my sister, my therapist, and even expressing to my parents how their lessons, which came out of a need to protect rather than harm, have shaped the way I approach intimate relationships.

My earliest, most formative "talks" have already been had, and I can't change them. But I can change the nature of the conversations I'm having now and, more importantly, the way I talk to myself about my sexual choices, my body, and the pleasure I get from seeing what it's capable of. It's all part of my sexual healing.

Amari D. Pollard is the social media editor for The Week by day and a freelance writer by night. Her writing focuses on politics, culture, relationships, and health.

She has been published at Bustle, PopSugar, Reader's Digest, and more.

Article courtesy of mindbodygreen

At mindbodygreen we take a 360 degree approach to wellness that incorporates mental, physical, spiritual, emotional, and environmental well-being—because we believe these pillars of wellness are vital and interconnected. Hence mindbodygreen (one word, not three). We also believe that wellness is our shared journey, which is why we have a community of voices on mindbodygreen offering unique perspectives to help you cultivate a life of greater meaning, connection, fulfillment, and purpose.

Here on mbg, you’ll find amazing free content, video classes and trainings, and coverage from our awardwinning revitalize events.

And after almost 10 years as leaders in wellness, we think the time has come to expand the conversation, starting with our new mantra: You. We. All. To us, this means YOU need to take care of your mind, eat nourishing food, cultivate your spirit, and move your body. By caring for yourself, you can show up to create positive change in the world. But WE are all in this together, and being truly well involves your family, your neighbors, and your community. And what might be most critical for all of us, especially now, is to care for the planet we ALL inhabit, help others get access to wellness, connect to purpose, and recognize we are all spiritually connected.

So take inspiration from everything you read, listen, and watch on mbg. Start with yourself, then spread to your community, and expand to the world. There are no "right" ways to have a wellness journey; just dive in and start exploring. Ultimately, you know best what works for you and your community. We're here when you need us. You. We. All. Meet Jas

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With the start of a new year it is important to reflect back on the prior year, assess what went well, what didn’t and decide where you want to go next

By Diane It takes a lot of mental toughness, self-love, and discipline to create the life you want. Simply coasting along on cruise control reacting to life can lead to victim mentality and stagnation. Dr. Sanam Hafeez PsyD, a NYC based licensed clinical psychologist, teaching faculty member at the prestigious Columbia University Teacher’s College and the founder and Clinical Director of Comprehensive Consultation Psychological Services shares some key ways to get mentally fit for the new year so you can move forward successfully.

6 Ways to Get Mentally Fit for The New Year Clear clutter Look at your surroundings. If you have junk drawers galore, a messy car, countertops and cabinets that are full of stuff you don’t even use, it is time to clear the clutter. According to Dr. Hafeez, “cluttered spaces reflect a cluttered mind. If you want to wipe the slate clean to allow room for new people and circumstances that serve you, you must get your mind clear. Many of my patients who describe themselves as anxious, stressed or even depressed say better when they start clearing up their physical space.”

they feel

Exercise a little bit Dr. Hafeez who also helps people overcome body image issues encourages aiming for smaller attainable wins. “People set high fitness goals for the new year and then fall off after a month or less. This leaves their self esteem shot which is when self loathing and depression can sneak in.”

She advises setting a reachable daily goal of perhaps walking 10,000 steps per day. There are step-counting apps available to measure how much you walk and they add up quickly. “When you see accomplishment on a daily basis you stick with it, this sets your mind in a positive direction,” says Dr. Hafeez.

Eat mind-boosting foods Being mentally fit also has to do with how well our minds work. A loss of memory or the ability to concentrate or focus can easily shift with an improved diet. “Research finds that along with other benefits, foods rich in Omega-3, such as some fish and nuts, as well as those full of antioxidants can help protect the brain from memory decline.” So eating more fish such as salmon and add fruits such as blackberries and blueberries to your diet can help. The good news is that brain boosting foods include delicious options such as chocolate, guacamole (avocados) and sunflower seeds.

Color The adult coloring book bandwagon is a good one to jump on. According to Dr. Hafeez coloring requires total focus on the present. The repetitive motion of coloring provides relief from stress and anxiety by entering a meditative state. “Not everyone can sit still and breathe for 15 minutes per day, but they certainly can color. It’s absolutely a fun way to achieve mindfulness and shake off the day,” explains Dr. Hafeez.

Apologize and forgive A fast way to mental fitness is forgiveness! “Carrying around resentments and guilt wears us down and can lead to serious illness such as cancer or stroke. If you experienced a tough break up, divorce or perhaps the 2016 political climate led to arguments and lost friends, reach out apologize and seek forgiveness and move on. Remember, forgiveness doesn’t mean you condone a hurtful behavior. Forgiveness frees you and the other person making it easier to move forward.

Learn something new Challenge your brain by learning a new language, how to cook, paint, do Tai Chi. Pick something you think would be interesting or useful to learn and learn it. If you avoided cooking your whole life, learning the basics will serve your brain very well. According to Dr. Hafeez, “the more we can activate the cognitive functions of our brains the better our short and long-term memory and hand eye coordination will be.”

Dr. Sanam Hafeez PsyD is a NYC based licensed clinical psychologist, teaching faculty member at the prestigious Columbia University Teacher’s College and the founder and Clinical Director of Comprehensive Consultation Psychological Services, P.C. a neuropsychological, developmental and educational center in Manhattan and Queens. Connect with her via twitter @comprehendMind or www.comprehendthemind.com

Cytokines: Their Key Role for Your Immune System & Inflammation Levels

By Annie Price, CHHC, courtesy of Dr Axe Have you ever heard of cytokines? The term “cytokine” is actually derived from a combination of two Greek words: “cyto” meaning cell and “kinos” meaning movement. Cytokines play a major role in both health and disease, especially when it comes to inflammatory conditions, immunerelated concerns like infections, trauma to the body, reproduction and even cancer. (1) According to one scientific article, which highlights their role in women’s health including preterm labor and endometriosis, “Progress in understanding of cytokine biology has led to appreciation of the importance of cytokines in every field of medicine.” (2) So what are cytokines? They are a category of small proteins that enable communication between cells. There are several families of cytokines which are produced differently, behave differently and have different activities in the body.

On the plus side, cytokines can help us to fight

off infections and have a positive effect on our immune system and inflammation. However, when some cytokines don’t behave ideally or are overproduced, this can result in disease.

It can be difficult to explain cytokines without getting overly scientific, but by better understanding these powerful molecules, we may just be able to improve or even prevent some very common yet serious health concerns including arthritis, cancer and more.

What Are Cytokines?

A simple cytokines definition: A group of proteins made by the immune system that act as chemical messengers. Cytokines are

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proteins, peptides or glycoproteins secreted by lymphocytes and monocytes that regulate immune responses, haematopoiesis and lymphocyte development. (3)

Here are the main families of cytokines and their key characteristics or actions: (7, 8)

These small proteins act as messengers between cells, which is a really big deal since this includes carrying vital information that impacts and decides so many things in the body from embryonic development to modulating bone structure to maintaining homeostasis. (4) Cytokines are probably best known for their key role as mediators and regulators of inflammatory responses. They are actually able to stimulate the movement of cells towards sites of infection, trauma and inflammation.

• •

Cytokines are secreted by other cell types at high concentrations and can either affect the cell of origin (autocrine action), the cells closest to them (paracrine action) or distant cells (endocrine or systemic action). (5) In general, cytokines can act synergistically (working together) or antagonistically (acting in opposition). There are several different groups or families of cytokines, which are structurally similar but have a diverse range of functions.

There’s also erythropoietin, also called haematopoietin, which is a cytokine hormone that regulates red blood cell (erythrocyte) production.

Types of Cytokines We now know that there are several subcategories of cytokines that include both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Pro-inflammatory cytokines are mainly produced by activated macrophages and are involved in the up-regulation of inflammatory reactions.

Scientific evidence has linked these proinflammatory proteins to a variety of diseases as well as the process of pathological pain.

Meanwhile, anti-inflammatory cytokines are the molecules that help to regulate the immune system and control the proinflammatory cytokine response. (6)

•

• •

•

Chemokines: Direct cell migration, adhesion and activation Interferons: Antiviral proteins Interleukins: Variety of actions dependent upon the interleukin cell type Monokines: Powerful molecules made by monocytes and macrophages that help to direct and regulate immune responses Lymphokines: Protein mediators typically produced by lymphocytes (white blood cells) to direct the immune system response by signaling between its cells Tumor necrosis factor: Regulate inflammatory and immune responses

4 Benefits of Cytokines 1. Immune System Regulation Cytokines play a very significant role in our immune response. The two principal producers of cytokines are T-helper cells and macrophages. What are those? T helper cells assist other cells in the immune response by recognizing foreign antigens and secreting cytokines, which then activate T and B cells. Macrophages surround and kill microorganisms, ingest foreign material, remove dead cells and boost immune responses.

By influencing and interacting with immune system cells, cytokines are able to regulate the body’s response to disease and infection.

Cytokines affect both our innate and adaptive immune responses. (9) Having an optimal production and behavior of our cytokines is key to the health of our immune systems.

One scientific article published in 2014 looked at the effects of cytokines like interferons

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(INFs) and interleukins (ILs) on mycobacterial infections, specifically tuberculosis. The researchers conclude, “Overall the IFN family of cytokines appears to be critical to the outcome of mycobacterial infection” and play a major role in containment of bacterial growth. (10) 2. Helps Reduce Arthritis Pain Since cytokines regulate various inflammatory responses, it’s no wonder that research is showing what a major role these proteins play in arthritis, an inflammatory joint disease. As mentioned earlier, overproduction or inappropriate production of certain cytokines by the body can result in disease.

According to a scientific article published in 2014 entitled “The Role of Inflammatory and Anti-Inflammatory Cytokines in the Pathogenesis of Osteoarthritis,” interleukin 1beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha are believed to be the main inflammatory cytokines involved in osteoarthritis (OA) while interleukin-15 is linked to the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). (11) While it’s clear that pro-inflammatory cytokines are at increased levels in arthritis patients, their anti-inflammatory versions have also been found in the synovium and in the synovial fluids of patients with RA. To date, research studies using animal models have demonstrated the ability of antiinflammatory cytokines to reduce pain resulting from arthritis. However, they did not inhibit joint damage. Clinical trials with human subjects are ongoing and hopefully will result in some helpful findings for arthritis suffers soon. (12) 3. Decrease Inflammation and Pain I’m sure it won’t come as a surprise that antiinflammatory cytokines are known for their ability to lower inflammation in the body, which is huge since we know that inflammation is at the root of most diseases. (13) According to a scientific article

titled, “Cytokines, Inflammation and Pain,” which was published in the journal International Anesthesiology Clinics, of all the anti-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin 10 (IL-10) has some of the strongest anti-inflammatory properties and is able to repress the expression of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α).

IL-10 is also able to down-regulate proinflammatory cytokine receptors, so it’s able to decrease the production as well as the function of the pro-inflammatory cytokine molecules at multiple levels. According to this article, “Acute administration of IL-10 protein has been well-documented to suppress the development of spinally-mediated pain facilitation in diverse animal models such as peripheral neuritis, spinal cord excitotoxic injury, and peripheral nerve injury.”

In addition, recent clinical studies demonstrate that low blood levels of IL-10 and interleukin 4 (also an anti-inflammatory cytokine) may be big factors when it comes to chronic pain because it’s been found that patients struggling with chronic widespread pain have low concentrations of these two cytokines. (14) 4. Helps Fight Cancer Certain cytokines are now used in cancer immunotherapy, including the treatment of leukemia, lymphoma, melanoma, bladder cancer and kidney cancer.

Our bodies naturally produce cytokines, but when used for natural cancer treatment, these proteins are created in a laboratory and then injected in larger doses than the body would typically make on its own.

According to the National Cancer Institute, interleukin-2 was the first cytokine found to have a therapeutic benefit on cancer. In 1976, Robert Gallo, M.D. and Francis Ruscetti, Ph.D.

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demonstrated hat this cytokine could “dramatically stimulate the growth of T and natural killer (NK) cells, which are integral to the human immune response.”

Almost 10 years later, another team of researchers led by Steven Rosenberg, MD, PhD, are said to have suc cessfully cured several patients with advanced metastatic renal cell cancer (a type of kidney cancer) and melanoma by giving them interleukin-2.

Interleukin-2 became the first cancer immunotherapy approved by the FDA in the U.S. To this day, it is still employed in the treatment of metastatic melanoma and renal cancer. (15) Side effects of interleukin-2 can include chills, fever, fatigue, weight gain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and low blood pressure. Rare but serious side effects include abnormal heartbeat, chest pain and other heart problems. Other interleukins are continuing to be being studied as possible cancer treatments. (16)

How to Ensure a Healthy Balance of Cytokines Cytokines are an important topic of scientific study that continues, but so far, it appears that a healthy diet rich in beneficial nutrients, exercise and stress reduction can all help to encourage a healthy balance of cytokines in the body.

10 levels while downregulating proinflammatory cytokines in experimental models of induced inflammatory bowel disease. (18) There are also foods you’ll want to avoid, especially refined sugar. As the Arthritis Foundation points out, research has shown that processed sugars trigger the release of inflammatory cytokines. (19) A study published in the Journal of Physiology looked at the effects of prolonged strenuous exercise on pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. The researchers found that while exercise increased some proinflammatory cytokines, plasma levels of antiinflammatory interleukin-10 showed a 27-fold increase immediately post exercise and cytokine inhibitors were also released. So overall, the study suggests that exercise can increase anti-inflammatory cytokines, which help to decrease the inflammatory response that can result from prolonged strenuous activity. (20) Research has shown that at first, stress can cause the downregulation of inflammatory cytokines and the upregulation of antiinflammatory cytokines. However, lasting chronic stress further increases proinflammatory cytokines, which then leads to inflammatory responses and can ultimately cause various diseases. (21) So this is yet another reason to practice natural stress relievers on a daily basis.

It’s theorized that cytokines are generally affected by nutritional status. Chronic nutritional deficiencies have a negative impact on our immune response, which includes reductions in the production and activity of cytokines. (17) So following a healing foods diet with lots of antiinflammatory foods is a key way to boost the cytokine status of our bodies.

In vitro research has also shown that cinnamon extract increases interleukin-

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THE BEAUTY OF BAOBAB & USES FOR BAOBAB OIL Article from Baocare

The Baobab is one of Africa’s most recognisable natural icons and a tree of fascinating contrasts. It can thrive in harsh desert-like conditions for well over a thousand years, yet its delicate extravagant flowers blossom dramatically for just 24 hours and then wilt. It can take a baobab tree up to 200 years before it produces its first hard green-brown velvety pod-shaped fruit, yet it’s the rich harvest from this fruit that makes the baobab a tree of such enduring value.

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When broken open, the fruit pods reveal small hard brown seeds embedded in clumps of a creamy coloured dry fibrous powder. The seeds are separated from the powder (which is highly prized for its nutritional value) to be cold-pressed into a rich golden-amber oil.

Only 5% of each seed yields oil, making baobab oil a rare and valuable substance.

RESCUE REMEDY FOR YOUR SKIN What’s so remarkable about this botanical powerhouse? Baobab oil provides a wealth of nourishing nutrients for skin, nails and hair including Vitamin E and A and high levels of essential fatty acids (especially omega 6 linoleic acid - and omega 9 - oleic acid ) all of which boost elasticity, encourages cell regeneration, improve radiance and reduce the appearance of fine lines and pigmentation.

Baobab oil is superb for treating very dry skin and also alleviates itchiness and dryness associated with many dry skin conditions such as eczema, sunburn, dry psoriasis and skin cancer spots. It’s helpful for treating acne and reducing the appearance of stretch marks. It’s safe for use during pregnancy and on babies.

You could say that baobab oil is a first aid kit for your skin because of its wonderful skinhealing properties. However, baobab oil also happens to be an exceptional beauty treatment at the same time.

BAOBAB FOR BEAUTY Although the many treasures of the baobab tree have been known for generations, the discovery of the beauty benefits of Baobab oil is a relatively modern one which has created an international market in which baobab oil is a significant ingredient in a number of major cosmetic brands.

Most creams and lotions on the market today are water-based which means they also require synthetic preservatives, stabilizers, performance enhancers and fragrances to maintain stability and make them pleasant to use.

The wonderful thing about using botanical oils is that they rarely need any of these additives. Baobab oil in particular, is a very stable oil and doesn’t require preservatives as it has a naturally very long shelf life of two years or more.

A recent clinical study (Komane et al 2016) has shown baobab oil to be non-irritating, hydrating, moisturising and moistureretentive which according to the report makes it ‘highly regarded by researchers in the field of ethnobotany and ethnopharmacology particularly for its cosmetic benefit.’ So it’s not surprising that it’s highly sought after globally as a cosmetic ingredient.

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without clogging pores or leaving a greasy residue.

THE FATS OF LIFE We’ve heard about consuming good fats and eliminating bad fats from our diets, and the same applies to the oils we put on our skin.

MAINSTREAM COSMETICS VS NATURAL BEAUTY A common ingredient in many cosmetics is petroleum-based mineral oil. Mineral oil is occlusive which means it forms a thin barrier on top of the skin, in this way quite effectively preventing moisture from leaving the skin.

However that’s all it does, form a thin film on top of the skin and because some occlusive agents like petrolatum can leave a heavy feel on the skin, they need to be combined with other ingredients to improve their cosmetic appeal. Baobab oil is already naturally light and non-occlusive, making it easily absorbed into the skin where it can deliver its benefits best.

We think of our skin as a barrier and until the beginning of the 20th century, it was thought that the skin was completely impermeable to substances being absorbed into the body. Of course we now know that our skin absorbs different substances in varying degrees and at different rates.

How well a product penetrates the skin depends, amongst other factors on the molecular size of the substance. The majority of cosmetic formulas often require specially developed “penetration enhancers” to deliver specific ingredients. “Baobab oil has very small molecules and therefore absorbs very quickly and easily into the skin,” says Nena Pruzljanin, a technology development and innovation expert in cosmetics. As a result, baobab oil leaves your skin with a smooth satiny finish

We need the correct balance of essential fatty acids (EFA’s) in our skin care products and Baobab oil contains very high quantities: 31% of Omega 6 (linoleic acid) and 37% of Omega 9 (Oleic acid). EFA’s are necessary to maintain elasticity, skin smoothness, reduction in wrinkle depth and UV irritated redness. The essential fatty acid Omega 6 is also sometimes known as Vitamin F and is best known for its ability to heal, hydrate and plump skin helping the skin retain its own moisture. Omega 9 facilitates the penetration of other active ingredients in skin care such as antioxidants because of its ability to penetrate the skin barrier. Baobab oil has one of the highest levels of Omega 9 of all cosmetically used botanical oils.

Baobab also contains 0.8% of Omega 3 and small amounts of palmitoleic acid, which is the much lesser known Omega 7, rarely found in the plant kingdom (the only known other sources are macadamia nuts and sea buckthorn berries). Omega 7 is particularly valued for restoring damaged skin.

A TONIC FOR HAIR Baobab oil is also well known as an active ingredient in a variety of hair treatments as it’s an excellent solution for dry, brittle, frizzy and dull hair. It acts as a superior and deeply nourishing emollient that hydrates and rehabilitates dry and damaged strands.

The omega fatty acids improve elasticity and restore strength and shine. Baobab oil can also relieve an itchy scalp: botanical oils gets absorbed easily into the scalp soothing irritation and dryness.

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HOW TO USE BAOBAB OIL

RESPECT THE TREE

Because it is a fixed oil (as opposed to the volatile essential fragrance oils) baobab oil can be used directly on the skin without dilution. Only a few drops are needed and the oil is quickly and easily absorbed. The result is plump, radiant and dewy looking skin.

Baobab is easily one of nature’s hardest working botanical oils. With its numerous skin-healing and cosmetic properties, it’s a multi-tasking virtuoso in a category all of its own. Apart from anything else, it’s a pleasurable experience to use this light yet luscious golden oil with its faintly nutty fragrance and smooth silky texture.

Baobab oil can also be used as a body oil by adding a few drops to your bath, or smoothing it into your skin straight after a shower before drying off. You can rub the oil into your nails to help with brittle nails and to soften cuticles.

Add a few drops to your usual hair conditioner to give a boost to its effectiveness. Alternatively, distribute a spritz of baobab oil onto towel-dry hair, comb it through and style as normal. Your hair will feel soft, silky-smooth and hydrated without being heavy or feeling weighed down.

If by now you’re inspired to try out baobab oil, be sure to seek out oil that has been fairly traded, is certified organic, wild-harvested and made from fallen fruit only; this ensures the trees are not damaged during the harvesting process.

The generous bounty of the baobab tree truly deserves our honour and respect.

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GIVEAWAY TIME FOR SUBSCRIBERS Win One Of 5 Beautiful Hampers Of The Full Baocare Range, Valued At R830 Each.

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By Pennis Du Plessis, of www.divinespace.co.za

What if we could start the year focusing on ways to invite more lightness into your lives? The first step to this is to truly know that we have all set up the game-boards that we have chosen to play in and with during our lives, and each one is unique. Every person we encounter is part of the game we have chosen and will either support us positively or push our buttons in order to help us heal something that is unfinished.

When I really understood this (many years ago), it helped me to forgive and let go of the people who had hurt me in my life. Taking personal responsibility for everything that happened in my life was such a revelation and helped me to let go of blame, shame and victimhood. I became aware of the patterns and how these were re-played in cycles – not by the same people, but by attracting situations that brought up the same emotions, which meant that they still needed to be healed.

The Antaneea technique massage therapy that I developed and have been teaching since 1997 is a fantastic way of looking at the cycles. The therapist is trained to identify emotional trauma that is unresolved and locked in the cells. Each one would be linked to a different age, and it is up the Conscious Life Magazine

client to remember what happened at that particular age. In this way they are willing to open the soul’s filing cabinet, to uncover the buried and hidden unresolved traumas. It is done in a very gentle way where they know they are supported in every step, and then through the placement of many of my magic oils on the body, together with sound vibrations and clearing statements, we are able to start the process of dissolving the issues.

The reason why I am mentioning this now, is that this would be a perfect time to book an Antaneea massage. It rejuvenates you on all levels and what a perfect gift to give yourself to start the year on the right note – click HERE to find a therapist near you. If you are interested in training as a therapist in this modality – I will be running this training over the first 2 weekends of March (please check out the course diary on my website) Remember though, that the key to holding the new way of being is still in the hands of the client. Many people expect the therapist to do all the work for them, and if they go home and recant all their wrongness, pain and past stories – then they are inviting the struggle back in again. Whatever we focus on, and give attention to – grows and expands. We are all conscious creators – whether you believe this or not. So look at all your past experiences as amazing opportunities to heal – and remember them with gratitude. As you give thanks, you are able to manifest anything you require.

Remember to laugh at least 3 times a day – even when your heart is heavy. We have chosen to come here to play and to have fun. Laughter can transmute negativity, so find something to make you laugh – even if you are laughing at yourself. And most importantly if you laugh in the sacred space you have created, it returns back to you many times over. Finding joy in life is a truly rejuvenating process, and is the key to success. When focusing on this, you will notice that your life becomes lighter and easier.

Look out for the cosmic winks from spirit, There are so many signs and messages that come to us all the time – if we could only notice them. I love the book called ‘Signposts” by Denise Lin. She explains the meanings of so many of the signs that happen all the time, through things you notice, dream or have happen to you or around you. This is the way spirit speaks to you.

And lastly for today – spend time focusing on the light. Search for it in everything that you do. Every decision that you make – feel the energy of it. Does it feel light or heavy. Light is right and is something to follow, where a heavy feeling is in indication that taking that path will not support you. It does not matter where you are, or where you are going if you are moving towards the light. It is not about the destination, only about the journey, so enjoy every step, every moment and every interaction, and you cannot go wrong.

Until next month, colourful blessings always Penni

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WISE WORDS BY NEALE DONALD WALSCH You need not be concerned about money. Be concerned, instead, about joy. How much joy are you experiencing in this moment? How much joy are you bringing to this moment? The joy you experience will be the joy you bring. If you are waiting for joy to be brought to you, you do not understand what you are doing here. And if you think that joy has anything to do with money, you really do not understand what you are doing here.

There is a person waiting right now, right this very minute, for you to uplift them. Do that...and you will be rich.

The universe is conspiring in your favor. It is placing before you in every moment all of the right and perfect people, circumstances, and situations with which to answer life's only question: Who am I. Have you decided yet?

Your job, your invitation from the Universe, is to give people back to themselves. It is really a very easy thing to do -- yet it can affect a person mightily. All you have to do is look for the best in that person, and then show it to them, right then and there. Describe it.

Admire it. Thank them for it.

Do this for three people every day and watch how your whole life can change.

At last you will realize what you are doing here. All the rest will be just stuff and nonsense.

On the day you leave your body -- what I like to call your Continuation Day -- you will be greeted by everyone you have ever loved in any way for any reason...and, standing in front of the group, every person who has been so very dear to you. It will be a grand and glorious reunion, with joy and laughter and pure wonderment filling every heart and soul!

We are not simply biological creatures, the result of a happenstance of chemical processes, walking the earth just trying to get through it all with a minimum of harm to ourselves and others. We are Creations of the Deity, Products of the Divine, Individuations of God.

If you truly desire to experience the world of your highest imagining, then you must love unconditionally, share freely, communicate openly, and create cooperatively. You must decide that you are truly are all One, that what is good for another is good for you.

The Universe invites you now to be someone who is making a life, rather than a living. Move toward your passion. Express through your daily work and your daily activities what it is that lights up your soul. Do not believe those who say that you cannot do this.

Do it anyway.

You may be facing a challenge right now, or perhaps an important question you've been pondering, but you're not facing this alone. You can ask God for help. You, too, can have a conversation with God. I promise. So just take a breath right now and ask God to tell you exactly what you need to hear. Then...listen. Carefully.

You are eternally abundant. I know, I know...it sometimes doesn't seem that way, but the truth is, you always have everything you need, right here, right now. Do you know how I know? You're still here. If you hadn't always been given everything you ever needed, you wouldn't be here. Now all that is necessary is for you to understand this deeply. Then, stop worrying. You'll be okay.

There is nothing that is permanent. There is nothing that stays. Everything goes.

Which is an interesting fact about life.

Everything goes. And when you under stand this, everything goes. There are no restrictions anymore. You can do anything you wish, say anything you wish, think anything you wish, because you're not trying to hold onto anything anymore

We are given the gift of God's joy and God's peace in our heart, and offered an invitation to share it with everyone whose life we touch. I have come to see that all of life's circumstances, conditions, events, and experiences have been sent to me as opportunities to do that.

In every moment of every day, through a thousand individual manifestations of Itself, is Divinity revealing Itself. Yet we do not see. Or we see, but do not believe. We do not believe the evidence of our own eyes.

We do not hear the truth in the sounds of silence.

Listen to your Self today. You have been telling yourself something very important for days now. Today, listen more closely. And heed.

Trust the still, small voice within.

Your soul is gently leading you to your next step.

You are beautiful. Yes, you. Look at yourself in the mirror. If God has ever created anything in the universe more beautiful than you, it is a secret. Because nowhere can it be found. You are a being of beauty. Share the beauty of you today, and you will experience it!

Neale Donald Walsch is a modern day spiritual messenger whose words continue to touch the world in profound ways. Neale spent the majority of his life thriving professionally, yet searching for spiritual meaning before experiencing his now famous conversation with God. The Conversations with God series of books that emerged from those encounters has been translated into 37 languages, touching millions and inspiring important changes in their day-to-day lives.

Ask about our courses for Teenagers

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By Lisa Raleigh While our diets have clear effects on our physical health – like our susceptibility to obesity, heart disease, diabetes and some cancers – they play a crucial role in brain health as well. The foods we consume influence our moods, our cravings and our cognitive abilities – even our memory.

The effects of food on brain health are most significant when observing their absence: a poor diet can increase our risk of mental disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. For example, sugar can increase stress hormones, and can be particularly detrimental to teenagers in the triggering of anxiety and depression during crucial brain development.

Other studies have shown that people in their 60s who are overweight or obese have significantly smaller hippocampi than those of healthy weights.

Whilst the hippocampus typically shrinks with age, the effects are aggravated with obesity, and greater degrees of shrinking are associated with dementia and memory problems.

For those of us with regular budgets trying to keep on top of what our bodies need – the typical superfoods recommended for brain health can seem out of reach.

Blueberries, wild salmon and avocados simply aren’t realistic as daily food sources, so here are some more affordable options that are just as effective at delivering a brain boost!

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Tomatoes

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While there are a variety of powerful antioxidants to assist in brain and body health, tomatoes make an affordable and effective staple. They include lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that helps protect against free radical damage to cells – particularly that which occurs in the development of dementia and Alzheimer’s. Unlike many antioxidants, cooked tomatoes also offer even more absorption.

Sage This tasty herb contains compounds that prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter involved in learning and memory. Season your fish and poultry dishes with sage and reap the brainenhancing benefits.

Broccoli This cruciferous veggie is a good source of vitamin K, recognized for its power to improve cognitive function and brainpower. It is also high in compounds called glucosinolates, which help slow the breakdown of acetylcholine. As mentioned before, we need this neurotransmitter to enhance cognitive performance and keep our brains and our memories sharp.

Eggs

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Don’t toss those yolks! They are rich in choline – a B vitamin-like nutrient that is used to make acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter thought to be important for maintaining memory and communication among brain cells. Eggs also contain vitamin B12, which is known to reduce a harmful compound called homocysteine associated with increased risk of stroke, cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease.

Brown rice

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Our brains – and the rest of our bodies, for that matter – cannot run without energy. This energy takes the form of glucose, and opting for lower GI, wholegrain versions will keep the supply to the brain steady and consistent. Opt for the brown or wholegrain versions of carbohydrates – brown rice, for example, still contains its nutrient-rich bran and germ for a more sustainable release of energy.

Oily fish

Nuts .

While walnuts are the brain health crowd-pleaser, you are still going to reap the cognitive-enhancing benefits of nuts in regulars like almonds, cashews and even peanuts. Their power comes from their vitamin E content, which is especially beneficial in the elderly.

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Fish is the classic brain food: it is rich in oil and fortified with omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential in brain function and development. In particular, the omega-3s found in fish offer both EFA and DHA, which together can lower our risk of stroke and dementia while helping enhance memory and manage our moods. Salmon, trout, mackerel and herring are great oily fish options, but sardines are by far the most affordable.

Lisa Raleigh TV Personality, Author, Lifestyle and Wellness Expert www.lisaraleigh.co.za lisa@lisaraleigh.co.za www.facebook.com/LisaRaleighSA - Facebook @LisaRaleighSA – Twitter LisaRaleighTV – Youtube

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Hemp Seed: The Most Nutritionally Complete Food Source

By Anna Hunt

Hemp, or cannabis sativa, has been called the world’s most versatile and useful plant for many reasons, one of which is because it benefits the human body. Hemp seeds are becoming a welcome addition to the diet of many health-conscious individuals, who have let go of the delusion that anything related marijuana or cannabis is bad, a common misconception imposed on the public over the last 80 years of federal cannabis prohibition.

The simple fact is that hemp seed is one of the most nutritionally complete foods available. Take a look: Hemp seed food products, depending on how they are processed, offer some or all of the following: the ideal ratio of Omega-3/Omega-6 fatty acids, all 10 essential amino acids, digestible protein, calcium, potassium, phosphorous, riboflavin, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin B12, folic acid, vitamin D, magnesium, iron, and zinc.

Hemp Food Products 1. Hemp Seeds: Hemp seeds are often sold shelled, so you can eat them right out of the package. They offer easily digestible protein and all the essential Omega-3 and 6 fatty acids needed by the human body. Hemp seeds are also rich in antioxidants, fiber, various minerals, and many vitamins including a hefty dose of vitamin E. They have been used to reduce dry skin and hair, help with muscle regeneration, reduce inflammation, ward off heart disease, and improve immune system function.

These nutritious and healing seeds are starting to be a favorite among vegans and health fanatics, and are often added to smoothies, cereals, oatmeal, and on top of salads.

2. Hemp Milk: Hemp seeds can be blended with water to make a healthy milk substitute, a nice option for people with nut and soy allergies, although the flavor of hemp milk is less sweet than raw almond milk or cow’s milk. It can be used in baking or to make some homemade hot chocolate. You can buy hemp milk in a box, which may have added sweeteners (for example, the recommended product below is sweetened with brown rice syrup), but it is really easy to make.

Take half a cup of shelled hemp seeds and 2 cups of water, blend for about 3-5 minutes and then strain through a nut-milk bag or cheesecloth. It’s that easy!

3. Hemp Seed Oil: Unlike the medicinal cannabis oil high in intoxicating delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, hemp seed oil is cold-pressed from hemp seeds and can be used in many recipes such as sauces, dips, spreads, marinades, and salad dressings. It is typically nutty in flavor and has a light green color. It does not give you buzz, aside from infusing your body with rich omega-3 fatty acids and the more rare ‘super’ polyunsaturated fatty acids, notably gammalinolenic acid (GLA) and stearidonic acid (SDA).

4. Hemp Protein Powder: Hemp protein powder is typically made by cold-milling hemp seeds. This results in a product that has less fat than hemp seeds, thus the final product has mostly the natural protein found in the seeds. Lean sources of protein are beneficial for digestion, they boost metabolism, and they promote a healthy, lean body mass. Three tablespoons of hemp protein powder contains roughly 90 calories, with only 3 grams of fat but 15 grams of protein. Some hemp protein powders are also supplemented with fiber for people looking to increase their overall fiber consumption.

Remember: Hemp food products are different from what you will find in medical cannabis baked goods. So putting hemp seeds on your sweet potato casserole won’t get you high. Now, you can purchase an alcoholic Hemp Ale, compliments of the Humboldt Brewing Co, although it’s not likely to pack the same nutritional value as the hemp seed products above.

5. Hemp CBD Oil: Cannabidiol (CBD) is a natural component of the hemp plant which has been shown to be beneficial for healthy living. These products contain no THC.

Hemp Beauty And Personal Care Products Both women and men can benefit from ditching traditional body products which can be laden with various potentially dangerous chemicals. Here is a list of a few body care applications for hemp-based products: 6. Hemp Seed Oil: Hemp seed oil can be used topically in many different ways: as a skin moisturizer, anti-wrinkle treatment, massage oil, etc. It can be used to treat eczema, acne, psoriasis, and skin inflammation. The ideal balance of Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids in hemp seed oil stimulate the skin and improve the overall function of cells, muscles, tissues, and organs. And don’t forget the skin is our largest organ!

Hemp seed oil can be used directly on the skin or you can use it as a carrier oil mixed with a few drops of essential oils that also benefit the skin, such as geranium or frankincense essential oils.

This makes for a great skin moisturizer that is paraben free, gluten free, and 100% began. You can also purchase pre-made body moisturizers enriched with hemp seed oil.

7. Hemp Soaps and Shampoos: As more people in the world learn about the benefits that hemp seed oil has on the skin and body, more producers are using hemp seed oil as an ingredient in their personal care products. In addition to replenishing the skin, hemp seed oil also stimulates hair growth, fortifies hair against damage, and moisturizes the scalp.

At the Hemporium, we are dedicated to providing eco-friendly solutions to the global need for sustainable materials. Through our online hemp shop, we offer high quality, innovative products to raise awareness of the incredible versatility of industrial hemp.

Info sources: www.wakingtimescom And www.hemporium.co.za

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More Recipes at https://www.nutriliving.com/recipes

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Sacroiliitis and SI Joint Pain: Causes, Natural Treatments + Exercises Article by Chelsea Axe, DC, CSCS, courtesy of Dr Axe As we excitedly watched the 2018 Olympic games and were amazed by the progression of many of the winter sports like snowboarding, skiing, hockey and many others, I continue to be amazed at the ability of the human body to adapt and recover. The impact that these athletes can withstand and their body’s ability to absorb impact is mind-blowing.

As they are pushing their sports and bodies to the next level, I think of the physics of it all and how amazing the human body really is. Let’s go back to our grade school song “the hip bones connected to the leg bone” and take a look at our natural shock absorbers: the SI joint, alongside the tricky issue of sacroiliitis.

The SI Joint: Connection Between the Sacrum and the Iliac The sacroiliac joint, also known as the SI joint, connects the pelvis with the lower spine. It carries the weight of the upper body and bridges it to the lower body. The sacrum or lower section of your spine is made of five non-moveable vertebrae alongside the two large hip bones called the ilium or iliac crests. (1) The SI joint is an essential shock absorber during weight-bearing activities and also relieves some strain on the lower lumbar. According to a sports medicine study by Jack Harvey and Suzanne Tanner, “Lumbar spine pain accounts for 5 to 8% of athletic injuries. Although back pain is not the most common injury, it is one of the most challenging for sports physicians to clearly diagnose. Athletes who participate in sports involving repeated and forceful hyper-extension of the spine may suffer from lumbar facet syndrome, spondylolysis, or spondylolisthesis.” (2)

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The sacroiliac joint is surrounded by strong ligaments and muscles such as the erector spinae, psoas, quadratus lumborum, piriformis, abdominal obliques, gluteal muscles and hamstrings, all of which strengthen the SI joint. These surround and encapsulate the sacroiliac joint and all can be affected in sacroiliitis.

What Is Sacroiliitis?

Medically speaking, the suffix “itis” refers to inflammation, while sacroiliitis refers to inflammation of the sacroiliac joint. Sacroiliitis is pain that could be dull or sharp and starts in your hip joint but can move to your buttocks, thighs, groin or upper back.

The pain may worsen when sitting for prolonged times and stiffness can be felt in the hips and lower spine. Sacroiliitis is a term that is sometimes used interchangeably with the term sacroiliac joint dysfunction. This can also lead to lower back pain and/or leg pain and can be caused by lumbar disc herniation or sciatica pain.

Why does sacroiliitis happen?

Pain usually starts when your sacroiliac joint is inflamed or irritated. This inflammation is then classified as either acute or chronic. Acute inflammation is typically intense, short-lived and can be caused by an injury that heals in times as the pain gradually subsides. This can last anywhere from 10 days to six months. Chronic inflammatory pain is ongoing and may be mild or intense.

Sources of sacroiliac joint dysfunction usually include hypermobility/instability or opposite hypomobility/fixation. This pain can spread throughout your lower back, hips and legs. This pain becomes chronic after a patient experiences a prolonged level of pain that surpasses the acute phase.

There are several diagnostic tools that can be used such as x-rays, CT scans or MRI’s that can

show the narrowing of the joint space or erosion of the bone area.

What causes sacroiliac joint pain?

1. Impact sports, weightlifting or falling down 2. Repeated impact from activities like jogging or repetitive impact sports 3. Pregnancy (when the body releases hormones that cause your joints to loosen up and move more, causing hypermobility) 4. Illnesses like infection, arthritis and gout could cause inflammation Conventional Treatment of Sacroiliitis 1. Physical therapy: PT improves strength and makes the joint more flexible to decrease the inflammation in the SI joint. This could also help correct any overcompensation habits created due to the pain. In conjunction, a therapist may use ultrasound, heat/cold treatments, massage and stretching.

2. Injection: Shots of cortisone can be used to cut the inflammation to the joint. Some physicians will use a numbing solution such as lidocane or bupivacaine to relieve some of the pain.

3. Rest: Utilizing a short period of rest along with heat and/or ice.

4. Nerve treatment: Using a needle to permanently damage the nerves that send the pain signal to the SI joint and then to your brain.

5. Surgical fusion of the SI joint: This is a very invasive procedure in which the sacroiliac joint gets surgically fused together. Both the nerve treatment and surgical intervention are considered last resort treatments.

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5 Natural Treatments for Sacroiliitis and SI Joint Pain 1. Chiropractic Treatment Techniques that move muscles and joints for alignment and pain reduction. This manual manipulation consists of physical chiropractic adjustments applied to the hips and lower back to help reduce join fixation and muscle tension with a goal of restoring range of motion.

2. Acupuncture Natural treatments that uses traditional Chinese medicine in which inserts needles into meridian points on the body to decrease pain and inflammation.

3. Prolotherapy A solution of natural ingredients such as saline to ease joint pain. Prolotherapy uses your body’s own platelets (PRP, or plateletrich plasma) and growth factors to heal damaged tissues naturally.

4. Essential Oils These are naturally occurring, volatile aromatic compounds that are found in the seeds, bark, stems, roots, flowers and other parts of the plant.

Clove Oil: This oil has analgesic, antiinflammatory, anesthetic, antiviral and antibacterial properties and is considered a �hot� oil so when using topically, be sure to use a carrier oil.

Turmeric Oil: this ancient herb has healing properties and contains an active ingredient called curcumin. One study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry evaluated the anti-arthritic effects of turmeric essential oil and found that crude turmeric essential oil given orally at a dose that would correspond to 5,000 milligrams per day in humans had a modest antiinflammatory effect on the joints of animal subjects. (3)

5. Exercises and Stretches Exercises: To better support and strengthen the sacroiliac joint and pelvis/lower back area, an athlete can focus on gaining core strength both anteriorly and posteriorly. Here are some strengthening exercises: 1.

Glute Bridge Variation: Lie flat on your back with your hands to your sides. Next, lift your pelvis upward, squeezing all the muscles of the spine, the glutes and posterior legs. From here, lift and squeeze one knee at a time, focusing on stabilizing your hips as you continue to march and switch each leg. Repeat this exercise for 3 sets of 15 reps.

2.

Plank Front Row Variation (with exercise bands): Attach the exercise band to the wall or a chair with your head facing the wall. Engage your core abdominal muscles and lift the abdomen off of the floor into plank position. Grab the exercise band and pull the elbow towards the knee, then tap back into plank position. (Do 15 reps on each side.)

3.

Bird Dog: This will work your lower back and core abdominal muscles in addition to helping stabilize the muscles of the spine. Start first on all fours. Keep the spine and neck in the neutral position and slowly extend opposite arm and opposite leg. It’s important to keep your shoulders and hips straight without arching your back. Hold for 5 seconds and repeat opposite arm opposite leg.

Stretches: These stretches help reduce muscle tension and spasms in the lower lumbar, which could be leading to the acute or chronic hip/lower back pain.

1.

Knee to Chest: Lie on the floor with one leg extended and the other knee pulled into the chest. Hold this position for 10 seconds and then switch to the other leg.

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2.

3.

Pigeon (Folded Forward Variation): Start on all fours with your hands shoulder-distance apart. Bring your left knee forward and place it on the floor just behind your left wrist, with the side of your lower leg on a diagonal and your left heel pointing toward your right hip.

Meanwhile, your right quadriceps should squarely face the floor so that your leg is in a “neutral” position. As you breathe out, you can allow the chest to fall forward towards the mat, holding and breathing through the stretch.

Lying Glute Stretch: Lie on the floor or mat and bend knees with both feet placed on the floor. Cross lower leg over thigh of other leg and pull in with both hands. Pull leg toward the torso and hold the stretch for about 10 seconds. Release and repeat with the other side.

Final Thoughts The sacroiliac joint walks a fine line when it comes to stretching and overstretching of the SI joint. By focusing on creating stability and strengthening of the muscles surrounding the SI joint, you will be able to sustain a pain-free sacroiliac joint.

Just like we have to check the shocks in our vehicles each year, we must also take time to check the shock absorbers of the body to ensure everything is in check and working properly. Waiting until the “pain” light goes on sometimes lengthens the recovery time or creates compensatory injuries that only add to the body being out of balance.

Take time before and after workouts to stretch and lengthen the muscles of your lower extremities. We only get ONE body and it’s time to start caring for it!

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The Secret To Building Exercise Habits Most People Forget There is one thing that you need to develop an exercise habit that sticks that many people inexplicably discount.

Exercise is a difficult habit to pick up.

It is not enough just to set aside a particular period in the day and rely on willpower to follow through.

Part of the reason is that people don’t necessarily start exercising because they enjoy it.

Instead, they start exercising to lose weight or look better.

When the changes are minimal, or not what they had hoped for, then it is easy to give up.

Internal rewards key to exercise habit New research finds that one key to getting the exercise habit is tapping in to intrinsic rewards.

Intrinsic rewards are things like the pleasure we get from the activity itself.

This could be through socialising with others, the endorphin rush, or something else.

When intrinsic, internal rewards are linked up with a particular, regular slot in the day for exercising, then the habit can flourish in the long term.

Finding the missing key, then, is all about identifying those highly personal intrinsic rewards.

What is it about the exercise that makes you feel good?

If the answer is nothing, then it is time to think about different types of exercise that do make you feel good.

For example, gyms are not for everyone, some people prefer to play sports in teams, others prefer exercising alone.

Some people like rigid goals and structure, others prefer a more free-form approach.

Find your pleasure and the habit is much more likely to stick.

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Sustainable Promises You Should Make To The Planet This Year

by Emma Loewe

A lot of us make promises to ourselves in the New Year. We promise that we'll put that gym membership to better use and carve out the time to meditate. We promise to put more effort into our personal relationships. We promise to get that promotion at work. And while it's important to look within to pinpoint which promises suit our particular needs, it's also crucial to take a look outside every so often.

The world reached some pretty bleak climate milestones in 2016: The Arctic was hotter than ever, atmospheric CO2 levels soared, and coral bleaching bombarded some of our most iconic reefs. Needless to say, the earth is calling out for our attention, so let's carve some room on our annual to-do lists to make way for sustainable resolutions.

Here are a few planetary promises from people who dedicate their lives to environmental protection. Give one or two a try this year, and relish in the knowledge that you're being a little kinder to yourself and the world around you.

Don't be trashy.

In 2019, let's all make a promise to not trash the world. The average American creates a whopping 4.5 pounds of trash per day. That's about half of a compact car each year! The good news is that it's pretty simple to drastically cut back on our trash. Compost all of your food scraps and yard waste, say no to any single-use items, buy unpackaged food, and ditch the bottled water and soda!

—Rob Greenfield, environmental activist

Take a trip in nature.

In 2019, resolve to visit a National Park and do it often. Federal park lands are under threat from Trump's promises to "unleash" coal, oil, and gas production, so it's important to demonstrate how much you treasure and benefit from wild lands. And benefit you do—walking in nature has been shown to lower stress and improve your mood. Take a weekend walk through your local park, reserve some of your vacation days for a visit to a National Park in another state, and even sign up to volunteer at a park for a day of working up a sweat in service of nature and your fellow nature lovers. It's one resolution that is easy to enjoy!

—Alden Wicker, eco-conscious blogger behind EcoCult

Cut out fast fashion.

In 2019, consider cutting out fast fashion—a highly unethical business. It's the second most polluting industry in the world and a perpetual violator of the health and safety of its workers.

Shop local, look for eco-friendly fabrics, thrift, or find a go-to second-hand clothing site.

—Chandra Fox, eco-conscious blogger behind These Native Goods

Swap meat out with plant-based alternatives.

This new year, consider becoming a "reducetarian," i.e., a person who eats less meat. No matter your motivation or the degree to which you cut back on meat, the planet, your body, and farm animals will thank you. I like to keep my plant-based meals simple with easy swaps (think a veggie burrito instead of a pork burrito or pad thai tofu instead of pad thai chicken). And remember to be kind to yourself along the way—strive for progress, not perfection, because when it comes to meat consumption, it's not all-or-nothing. Small steps really do add up to big effects.

—Brian Kateman, Editor of The Reducetarian Solution

Consume consciously.

The year 2019 is going to be one of conscious consumerism, I can feel it! There are so many amazing ethical brands out there that are producing thoughtful goods, we really no longer need to settle for anything less. Make it a point to only make a purchase if it fits at least one of the following categories:

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• • • • • •

Organic/sustainable materials Plant-based/cruelty-free Fair trade/ethical production Recycled or repurposed Gives back to a beneficial charity Biodegradable or easily recyclable

This goes for all items: fashion, beauty, home, you name it! Where to start? Clean up your email box and Instagram feeds—they have such an immense influence on our buying habits.

Unsubscribe from any companies that don't meet your new buying standards, and take a surf through hashtags like #ethicalfashion, #slowfashion, #greenbeauty, or #ecoliving to discover some new favorites!

—Ashley Morgan, eco-conscious blogger behind Ashley Morganic

Go organic.

As if the American supermarket wasn't hard enough to navigate, the advent of genetically modified foods has made choosing what to eat that much stranger and more ominous. For 2019, do yourself (and the planet) a favor by buying—whenever possible—food that is grown locally and organically. GMOs are found almost exclusively in processed fast food and junk food, so choosing to avoid these things will pay dividends for your health and for the environment as well. Buying food from local farmers virtually guarantees the food will be fresher and more nutritious than buying processed meals.

—McKay Jenkins, environmental writer and author of Food Fight

Work toward a zero-waste home.

In 2019, don't be afraid to aim for a zero-waste home—one that doesn't produce any trash.

Instead of turning to recycling as a way to reduce your garbage (my TEDx talk tells you why recycling is not the answer to our society's waste problem), prevent it from coming into your home in the first place. Simply learn to say no! Think before accepting something that is handed out to you. Turn down flyers, freebies, party favors, business cards, single-use plastics (such as plastic bags), and junk mail. Accepting these things creates a demand to make more and is a waste of resources. Plus, once they are brought into our homes, they just add clutter.

—Bea Johnson, eco-conscious blogger behind Zero-Waste Home

Eat plants!

Reducing your consumption of animal products is among the single largest ways that an individual can reduce your environmental footprint. I am proud to eat a delicious, nutritious vegan diet—and sacrifice nothing in flavor, variety, health or gourmet dishes. Don’t believe me?

Just check my Instagram for the best in plant-based living!

—Erin Schrode, green activist

Revamp your closet.

A lot changed last year, and things may feel out of your control, so commit to one small daily change in 2019—the clothes you wear. Here's your how-to: For one month, don't buy any new clothes. See how it feels, experiment with new looks, and notice what is really missing. Then consciously add to your wardrobe step-by-step by shopping from a secondhand or vintage shop.

If you can't find anything there, research sustainable brands that share your eco-values. If buying something new, buy quality. That initial sticker shock goes down every time you rewear a quality item!

—Natalie Grillon, co-founder of Project JUST

Come together.

For 2019, what I hope for us is that we wake up to what is important and what truly brings us joy and that we cut through our distractions and work to bring safety and happiness to all. The vast majority of us want what is best for one another—we just have to cut off the distractions, break out of the Matrix, and be true to ourselves. We have so much wisdom and love within us.

All we have to do is tolerate the uncertainty of aligning ourselves with our true selves. What an amazing opportunity and exciting aspiration!

—Colin Beavan, environmental activist and "No Impact Man"

Green Cleaning

Protect Your Health and Conserve Your Environment Posted by Green Light

The term “Green cleaning” refers to methods of cleaning using natural products or products that are made from environmentally friendly ingredients, designed to preserve human health and environmental quality.

Green cleaning can also allude to the way in which products are manufactured, packaged and distributed. If the manufacturing process is environmentally-friendly and the products are biodegradable, then the label “eco-friendly” or “green” may apply. (Wikipedia) People are gravitating towards green cleaning techniques and products as they become more aware of the adverse effects of using chemically reactive and toxic ingredients versus the benefits of environmentally-friendly products. Traditional detergents can emit volatile organic compounds causing respiratory, dermatological and other negative health and environmental impacts.

Harmful Ingredients in Household Cleaning Products.

Modern consumers do need to keep their wits about them as there are clever marketers who are overgenerous or misleading about the environmental friendliness of their product or service; this is called “green washing”. Here is an interesting and informative article on Green Washing and how to evaluate cleaning products.

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IF YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY, THIS IS WHY YOU SHOULD SWITCH TO GREEN CLEANING! Protect your health The majority of ordinary household detergents contain dangerous chemicals, carcinogens, neurotoxins, mutagens, teratogens, or endocrine disrupters – keeping that out of your home and work place is enough of a reason…

Protect the environment Most ideal green cleaning products are made from natural ingredients in a sustainable way; they are safe, non-toxic and biodegradable which is why they don’t have an adverse effect on the environment.

Easy and cost effective Many eco-friendly products area multi-purpose or all-purpose, so when you switch you only buy one product instead of 5 different chemical detergents for different cleaning needs. If you sit down and do the math you will see financial saving space saving and the reduction of waste.

Make your home safer Chemicals (like ammonia and chlorine) can be hazardous when mixed together. Small children and pets especially are more susceptible to higher exposure levels because of their size. It is safer to simply not have this danger lurking around your house.

GETTING STARTED So, where to from here?

There are many great biodegradable and safe green cleaning products available on the market if you start looking. Find a manufacturer from your community or support a local retailer that stocks eco-friendly cleaners. Look for a powerful multi-purpose and biodegradable cleaning product that is manufactured as close to home as possible.

Should you want to make your own at home, research vinegar, bicarbonate of soda and lemon in your cleaning regime; you will be surprised by the results.

How To Stay Cool & Green During a Heat wave

Posted by Green Light

STAY OUT OF THE SUN AND LIMIT OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES Avoid outdoor activity, especially between 10:00 and 15:00. If you must be outside during the heat of the day remember to take frequent breaks in a shaded area, preferably under a tree.

DRINK LOTS OF WATER Drinking water will keep you hydrated and help regulate body temperature. Adding some mint, apple or lemon will make it even more refreshing! Invest in a reusable glass water bottle to keep hydrated, in this way you are taking care of the environment by reducing demand for single-use plastic water bottles and reducing plastic waste.

AVOID CAFFEINE AND ALCOHOL Ingesting any beverages with caffeine and/or alcohol leads to dehydration; this includes energy and sports drinks!

ACTIVATE YOUR INTERNAL COOLING SYSTEM Enjoy a hot cup of caffeine-free tea, this will activate the nerve receptors in your tongue which send a heat signal to your brain, which activates the internal cooling system i.e. sweating. Eating spicy food will also induce perspiration which cools the body as it evaporates.

WINDOWS, DOORS AND CURTAINS Keep cool air inside during unbearable hot days by closing all the windows and curtains to prevent hot air from entering the area. Open up all the curtains, windows and doors after sunset, for as long as possible, so that fresh and cool air can flow back inside.

CLOTHING Wear light coloured (reflect heat instead of absorbing it), loose fitting, natural fabrics like organic cotton and hemp – avoid synthetics, silk and wool. If possible, remove neckties, wear open shoes and for those with long hair, rock a ponytail!

COOL BY THE POOL If you don`t have any means to cool off in a dam, ocean or swimming pool, run a bit of cold water in the bath so you can quickly jump in for a few minutes to cool off. Leave the water in so you can return multiple times without having to run a new bath each time you need to take a dip. If you only have shower facilities, remember to keep it short!

SPRITZ, FAN OR DAB Use a spray bottle with water as a spritz and a hand fan to bring instant relief. The body radiates heat from the face, ears, hands and feet – soaking your feet in cold water will significantly bring your temperature down. You can also use a wet facecloth to dab your neck, forehead, wrists and feet.

HIT THE FLOOR Warm air rises therefore it will be cooler the lower you go. Basements and ground floors with a cool tiled or cement floor will make for a perfect siesta – if you have pets they will love it too.

COOKING AND DIET Avoid using the stove or oven as it will add more heat to the situation. Stay away from large, protein-rich meals and rather opt for a fresh salad with some fruit and ice cream for desert.

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Christmas is a wonderful time for us humans, but sometimes we are so caught up in the festivities we forget about the dangers to our pets. There are lots of hazards that can cause major issues for our pets. Pets such as cats and dogs are normally in the house and even involved in some of the festivities, so they are more at risk.

It’s important to be aware of the things that can harm your pets and keep them well away from them. Don’t leave things lying around and take extra precautions to keep things out of reach.

Here are ten hazards for pets at Christmas time.

•Chocolate Chocolate is extremely poisonous to dogs. The higher the percentage the worse it is, dark chocolate causes the most problems. We all eat a lot of chocolate and often receive it as gifts at Christmas time. Keep chocolate away from dogs and pets throughout the festive season.

•Tinsel Tinsel is very dangerous for pets for a number of reasons. Firstly, they can get tangled up in it and even strangle themselves. Secondly, they may be tempted to eat it. Swallowing tinsel can cause major digestive issues and it can even get stuck in their stomach. If they try and eat it they may choke on it. Take care when using tinsel on your tree and around your home in December.

•Fairy lights Fairy lights present the same dangers as tinsel but there is also a chance of your pet getting electrocuted. Don’t let them anywhere near fairy lights and they may be tempted to chew on them. The glass in the lights can also cut your pet and cause serious issues if they swallow it.

Keep all pets away from fairy lights.

•Overeating This may not seem like a serious problem but it is a big concern for pets. It’s so easy to overfeed pets over the festive season thinking we are spoiling them and making them happy. Don’t change their diet, stick to what you normally feed them. A lot of the foods we eat over Christmas are full of fat and your pet will pile on the pounds in no time. Obesity is a big concern for pets as it causes debilitating health and joint problems.

•Alcohol Alcohol is very toxic to dogs. It can cause nausea, vomiting, loss of coordination, disorientation, cardiac arrest, seizures and sometimes even death. Keep an eye on your pets when you are drinking alcohol to make sure they don’t try and steal any. Also be aware of foods that contain alcohol such as alcoholic chocolates.

•Christmas tree decorations All those fascinating decorations you put on your tree can be very intriguing to pets. They are in fun shapes and sizes and look like the perfect toys to play with, they are not. Christmas tree decorations are not made for pets and contain harmful things that your pet could swallow.

Make sure your decorations are high enough and kept out of reach.

•Cooked meat bones Take care when throwing away cooked meat. Your pet could try and get into the bins and eat the bones. Cooked bones can be very dangerous to pets as they can splinter and get stuck in their stomach. Dispose of all meat safely where your pet can’t get to it. You may want to invest in a special rubbish bin that your pet can’t get into.

•Raisins and grapes Both grapes and raisins are toxic to dogs. Raisins are also in lots of different foods that we eat such as mince pies and Christmas pudding, so avoid giving your dog anything that might contain raisins. Raisins can cause kidney failure in some dogs.

•Christmas tree Believe it or not, your Christmas tree is also a hazard to your pets. Make sure it is placed in a safe place in the home and is securely properly. The last thing you want is for your Christmas tree to fall on top of your pet, some of the larger trees can be extremely heavy. If you have a natural tree you also need to be careful with the needles as they can get stuck in your pets feet and fur. If swallowed they can cause severe stomach issues. The water used to keep a Christmas tree nourished can also cause issues if your pet tried to drink it.

•Mistletoe and holly Mistletoe and holly are also poisonous for pets. Holly can cause severe gastrointestinal upset and mistletoe can cause mild gastrointestinal irritation. Other plants that are dangerous include lilies and daffodils.

The immune system of cats, dogs and horses is the ‘security’ system of their bodies. It is constantly monitoring the body and recognizes foreign substances (e.g. bacteria, viruses etc).

Anything that does not belong to the body will be picked-up by the immune system’s ‘radar’, and the immune system will then go into defence mode to eliminate these foreign substances from the body.

The first line of defense of the immune system, is the skin, stomach acid, special chemicals in the saliva, mucous in the respiratory system, as well as certain cells in the body that will basically eat anything foreign that is in sight. Together they form the first line of defense, and have been designed to more or less keep everything out. Similar to high walls, electric fences, alarm systems and burglar bars, in our homes!

“Should the first line of defence not succeed…”

Should the first line of defence not succeed in eliminating the foreign intruder, then the second line of defence will be activated. This is a far more specific and targeted to fight off the specific foreign invader. In this phase various parts of the immune system communicate with each other, and develop and retain a memory of the invaders that they encounter. This helps the immune system to respond faster and greater, should a second similar invasion occur, and prevent the disease.

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There are two main ways in which mammals can acquire immunity. Firstly they acquire some immunity passively through antibodies received via the placenta when still in utero, as well as through antibodies received from the colostrum present in their mother’s milk. This provides only temporary protection, as these antibodies break down through natural aging or get depleted by fighting-off disease causing organisms.

Secondly the animal can build-up its own antibodies naturally through exposure to disease causing foreign invaders (or through vaccination). It is this adaptive portion of the immune system that remembers previous encounters, and will therefore mount a faster and a more aggressive defense should subsequent exposure occur.

“There are two main ways in which mammals can acquire immunity”

“…new-borns who do did not receive adequate amounts of colostrum are also immunodeficient.”

Genetic defects, as well as some viral infections (feline immunodeficient virus and canine parvovirus) can cause immunodeficiency. Similarly new-borns who did not receive adequate amounts of colostrum are also immunodeficient. They are in great danger of contracting a number of infectious diseases.

We can boost our pet’s immune system naturally by ensuring that they get adequate nutrition through a natural and healthy diet, as poor nutrition can also result in the suppression of the immune system. Just as we as human beings get ‘run-down’ and need from time to time an immune booster, our pets also benefit tremendously from some natural remedies to combat a depleted or weakened immune system.

“We can boost our pet’s immune system naturally…”

If your pet is suffering from repeated bouts of infection, or chronic allergic reactions, it will be advisable to give them something additional to boost their immune system. Long-term use of certain medication can also affect your pet’s immune system.

It goes without say that one should consult your vet to see what is amiss. Eco-Immune (from Eco-Vet) is one of those pet first aid remedies (along with Heal) that should always be on hand.

Neonatal diseases, Feline Aids, Parvovirus, African Horse Sickness, Strangles, West Nile Virus are but a few diseases where Eco-Immune has been recommended in conjunction with some of the other Eco-Vet natural remedies, to reduce the severity of the disease.

Take care of your pet’s immune system so it can function optimally to ward off disease, and keep him in tip-top condition.

We love animals, NATURALLY Erika Bornman CEO-Eco-Vet www.ecovet.co.za

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For those who would like to spend some time deepening their meditation practice, immersing themselves in dhamma (dharma), exploring a particular aspect of their life situation, coming to terms with a bereavement, or with a loss or change in a relationship, assessing their work situation, considering options for the future or reflecting on their past, we offer supported selfretreats.

These self-retreats include meditation, and may include a choice of other relevant processes depending on the person and situation concerned, such as periods of silence, periodic checkins or discussions, counseling sessions, journaling, dream exploration, creative expression, body work, reading, and walks in the mountains. The idea is to provide space and support for people who would like to shape their own self-retreat in consultation with us. A self-retreat could range in length from about 5 days to a month.

Click here, for information on retreat fees and costs. If you are interested in exploring this option, please write to me, Chandasara, at self.retreat.dharmagiri@gmail.com

Chandasara spent her early adult life in political exile in Europe and America where she was recruited into Okhela, an Oliver Tambo initiative to facilitate and expand white involvement in the ANC. Following this, she worked as a political analyst with the Centre for Policy Studies in Johannesburg for 14 years. During this period she was also involved in an esoteric spiritual school.

Wishing to deepen her meditation experience, she undertook a 6-week self-retreat guided by Kittisaro and Thanissara at the BRC in 1998.

Having discovered the revelatory power of sustained and focused meditation, she decided to enter monastic life.

She resided at Amaravati and Chithurst Buddhist monasteries from 2002 to 2010. She put down the robes in 2011. Since then she has resided at Emoyeni Retreat Centre in the Magaliesberg during which time she completed an Honours degree in Psychology. She moved to Dharmagiri in May 2015 where she offers supported self-retreats for individuals wishing to explore and engage more deeply with particular aspects of their life experience. Chandasara leads Underberg Meditation Group, and teaches mindfulness at Riverview Manor rehab centre and clinic.

Conscious Life Magazine

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Welcome To The Angel Connection School of Africa The Angel Connection School of Africa, established as a non-profit organisation, for the highest good of all, will incorporate all forms of Spirituality continuing with the basic teachings of Angels, Ascension, Atlantis etc. which we all know to be Universal.

The teachings of various modalities will however, be enhanced by adding the specific requirements of our culture and ethnicity, whilst retaining flexibility.

The mission statement of the school is:“To Light up Africa so that Africa can Light up the World”

A Letter From The School Principal – Margi McAlpine

Angel Connection Day

Meditations

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SPIRITUAL TEACHER TRAINING COURSE AND BURSARY SOUTH AFRICA 2019 Are you ready to change your life forever and in the process assist others by enlightening and empowering them?

Do you feel that this is your Divine Life Path, helping to spread the light to others and accelerating your own personal growth?

If this is the case then this life changing Teacher Training course is for you!

This course is for those that are passionate, motivated and committed to working with the Angels and Ascension and wanting to pass their knowledge and passion onto others so that they too are empowered and enlightened. You do not have to be very experienced in your Spiritual abilities, but must be working from the heart with enthusiasm and integrity. Academic qualifications are not important. Your own personal self-development and the desire and passion to pass this onto others, is what counts. It also emphasises your own self-development which is so very important and I will share my extensive knowledge and experience with you enabling you to become the Amazing Being that you truly are!

I am delighted to announce that the next Teacher Training course will be held from 5th to 12th March 2019 at The Angel Warehouse, Spirit of Amberfield, Rheenendal (near Knysna).

I have changed things somewhat this year to make it easier and cheaper for participants to attend.

The Initiation and Angel Connection Module will be held at the Angel Warehouse in Rheenendal Knysna. The Ascension Connection Module will be done via six two hour sessions online using Zoom. These will be held in March and April 2019.

Participants will need to arrive on the afternoon of the 4th March. Dinner will be provided for that evening. The course will finish at 11am on the 12th March.

I take pride in inviting you into our sacred and very special space where you will be nurtured and supported whilst you grow and learn.

This beautiful country venue offers a special and safe place to focus your attention and listen to the longing of your own soul allowing you to grow and do your own self-development. This experience is unique and a special gift that you give yourself whilst you are preparing to go out and spread the light.

Participants will have to complete the Initiation Module and Angel Connection Module in order to do the Ascension Connection Module.

This course will: •

Allow you to go within for personal development and advancement on your spiritual journey in a safe environment with expert support and assistance.

•

Give you the confidence, expertise and skills to organize and facilitate a group or workshop in a professional manner.

•

Teach you to facilitate visualisations for groups and individuals as well as meditations and exercises to use in your workshops.

•

Allow you to bring in the Angels and Ascended Masters to enhance your connection to the Spirit World and be able to teach others to do the same.

•

Powerful energies such as the Mahatma Energy, The Antakarana, The Lightbody, The Monad plus many more will be taught to speed up the Ascension process of yourself and others.

•

Provide you with powerful techniques to develop your channelling abilities transmute energies and enhance your healing abilities.

MARGI OF ANGEL CONNECTION will present the course under the auspices of THE ANGEL CONNECTION SCHOOL OF AFRICA. Course content will be strictly in accordance with that prescribed by the ACSOA. Places are limited.

DATE: 5th to 12th March 2019 and then 6 x 2 hour sessions via Zoom FACILITATOR: Margi McAlpine BOOKINGS AND INFORMATION: Margi on 082-563-7422 or margi@angelconnection.co.za Visit : www.angelconnection.co.za

The Angel Connection School of Africa is delighted to announce that there will be a bursary available for those who would like to do the course but are unable to afford it. Please contact Margi for more information and application forms. Terms and conditions apply.

The Buddhist Retreat Centre, where people of all religions, and none, come to experience peace and tranquility.

How to Retreat The Buddhist Retreat Centre offers various types of retreats, ranging from those investigating Buddhist thought and philosophy, through to practice retreats where the emphasis is on meditation; as well as retreats featuring bird watching, cookery, drumming, pottery and photography. At first glance the latter might appear to be unrelated to Buddhism but even these retreats will contain some element of meditation, of mindful awareness, refracting the chosen subject matter through a Buddhist lens.

People from all walks of life come to these retreats with a variety of motivations and expectations. Perhaps they want to deepen their meditation practice, to take some time out from a hectic working life; to reflect on a tense domestic situation; to consider the trajectory of their lives; to make a decision about a way forward. Maybe they just want to learn how to take a good photograph. Each person will have a different reason for going on a retreat. Different paths will have led them to this place.

We all need to make an appointment with ourselves from time to time. To re-connect with who we are; to maintain balance; to recharge exhausted batteries. To make time to go on a retreat is a necessary and healthy step for anyone.

General Information The Centre has been established on an exquisite 125-hectare country estate near the village of Ixopo, KwaZuluNatal 90 kilometers south of Pietermaritzburg, one and a half hours’ drive from Durban.

Set in hilly grasslands amongst dams, indigenous bush and forests, it overlooks one of the great valleys in the Umkomaas river system. CNN featured the BRC as one of the ten finest retreat centres in the world. It was awarded Natural Heritage status by President Nelson Mandela in recognition of its success in establishing indigenous vegetation on the property and providing habitats for wildlife to return, including the endangered Blue Swallow. It is a birder’s paradise with more 160 species recorded.

Walks lead to many interesting sites and viewpoints on the property, including evidence that Bushman lived there and Voortrekkers and Settlers passed through. In 2000, the BRC facilitated the founding of Woza Moya, the community-based NGO, located in Ufafa valley. It continues to support the organisation in a variety of ways.

MAR-APR 2017

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Accommodation Fifty retreatants can be accommodated in single and twin-bedded rooms, en-suite cottages and thatched chalets overlooking the secluded valleys on the property – a short distance away from the dining room, office, library, studio and meditation hall.

The Centre is justly famous for its fine lacto-ovo vegetarian cuisine which is featured in its own bestselling recipe books, Quiet Food, The Cake the Buddha Ate and Plentiful: The Big Book Of Buddha Food. The BRC menu includes organically grown vegetables and farm-baked bread.

Observances The Retreat Centre offers a tranquil environment for the study and practice of philosophy, psychology, meditation and the arts associated with Buddhist culture. The Centre therefore encourages adherence to traditional Buddhist moral principles during retreats, such as respect for all forms of life and abstinence from alcoholic drinks and hallucinogenic drugs. Noble Silence is maintained from the last meditation at night until the first session after breakfast in the morning.

During some retreats, Noble Silence is maintained throughout. Pets are not allowed at the Centre. Only some retreats are suitable for children: please check with the Administrator.

Forthcoming Retreats: For full details of each retreat please go to the website page: http://www.brcixopo.co.za/retreats/detailed-list-ofretreats.html

Email: brcixopo@futurenet.co.za Tel: +27(0)39 834 1863 or 0878091687 Mobile: 082 579 3037 www.brcixopo.co.za

MAR-APR 2017

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Reconnect with Spirit

Rediscover your Life Force Restore Balance

PSYCHIC MEDIUM As a Psychic Medium, I am able to connect with spirit guides, where I receive messages about a clients past, present and future. These messages may be beneficial to help bring clarity

on their lives and where be leading.

Many of the messages have received for my have been healing on levels.

it may that I clients many

REIKI A quantity that is almost impossible to define! Energy can never be created or destroyed, only converted from one form to another. Among the familiar forms are heat energy, energy of motion, electrical energy, and sound energy.

Reiki is a form of energy healing. This form of healing helps to maintain balance within, mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually.

Reiki is a form or spiritual or energy healing. It helps open up and remove blockages

within the system. Each system within our bodies is intimately connected to the seven major charkas.

Reiki will help remove these blockages and restore balance.

Contact Damian Wood Email: damian@woodswellness.co.za Mobile: 082 863 8842 www.woodswellness.co.za Conscious Life Magazine

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FIND & BOOK ECO-FRIENDLY ACCOMMODATION IN SOUTH AFRICA lovetostay.co.za is your green heart guide to eco-friendly accommodation throughout beautiful South Africa. We partner with all kinds of accommodation establishments that operate in an eco-friendly, sustainable and responsible way. So whether you opt for a luxury boutique hotel or rustic tree house, you can feel good knowing your holiday supports a place that serves the environment and community in a positive way. To help you make these good choices, we are committed to growing a wonderful selection of urban and country, luxury and rustic green accommodation options where you will love to stay!

Search for your next green getaway on www.lovetostay.co.za by location or type; the Check Availability & Book Online green button will enable you to check real-time availability, make a booking & secure online payment through the Nightsbridge booking system at no extra charge.

WHAT IS ECO-FRIENDLY ACCOMMODATION? Eco-friendly accommodation is defined as a lodging establishment with structural features that minimize the impact and footprint on the environment; as well as well as those that follow green living, sustainability and eco-friendly practices.

WHAT ARE GREEN HEARTS? Look out for the Green Hearts Seal of each establishment. We are proud to showcase all of our members and love to highlight their specific efforts to protect and conserve the environment. Seals display between 1-5 Green Hearts as awarded to them for their positive Green Acts. Here`s more info!

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The Beautiful Hopi Indian Labyrinth at Thirsty Falls Guest Farm

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The Antbear Drakensberg Lodge is a thatched, whitewashed lodge built high on a natural platform overlooking the Bushman's River and Giants Castle.

Antbear Drakensberg Lodge offers various Drakensberg accommodation options in en suite double rooms, luxury suites, family units and also boasts a luxury cave too.

Antbear Drakensberg Lodge is one of those smaller intimate kind places which has been lovingly put together. The natural setting of the accommodation is stunning and we have managed to encase all this beauty with an atmosphere of comfort and ease.

The cottages are smartly appointed and individually designed and the fact that we are a small place makes for an intimate and personal accommodation experience. Each of the accommodation units are different and are decorated with uniquely eccentric and artistic wooden furniture.

It is a bit off the beaten track and is more of an insider tip than just another bed and breakfast. We cater for small intimate groups and never have more than 45 guests at a time. It's a laid back, lovingly cared for kind of place where you feel a sense of happiness and peace. Honeymoon stays turn into anniversary commemorations just as guests become friends. Even foreign tourists return for a second and third taste.

Attractions Drakensburg Hiking Trails Bushman Rock Art Giant’s Castle Kamberg Weenen Game Reserve Royal Natal National Park Drakensburg Boys Choir

Horse Trails Injasuti Nature Reserve Monks Cowl Natal Midlands Tugela Falls Sani Pass Fly Fishing

Retreats The Antbear Drakensberg Lodge is the ideal retreat venue where we can provide all the services and accommodation for your retreat. Situated 4 hours from Johannesburg and 2 hours from Durban with easy access from the N3 Antbear Lodge is easy to get to but has the feeling of being far from the madding crowd. This wonderful place for group retreats offers spectacular views, vast spaces, wild winds, rain, sunshine, clouds and rainbows and in all of this – silence and peace.

Retreat groups can book the whole lodge for their exclusive use.

The Lodge can accommodate 44 persons in 15 separate accommodation units Antbear Drakensberg Lodge has a spacious dining room with a wood-burning fireplace, a comfortable lounge with a fireplace and spectacular views, a breakaway meeting room, a large veranda and a large meeting room for retreat, team building or training activities. We provide excellent meals and will fit our menu to your expectations.

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Because food is an important part of your stay Meals are part of the real surprises that the Antbear Lodge has to offer where home grown cooking is part of the deal. We like to use our own home grown organic vegetables and if we haven’t got, then we lean heavily on those local providers with similar attitudes to our own. Conny and Andrew both like cooking and are up to changing just about anything to suit tastes or philosophies. Our cooking experience is in part a journal, a record of events and memories expressed in recipes. In the course of our travels we have filed away many recipes and with them images of people and places and their lives. How food tastes has much to do with the associations we make and if you would like to hear the tales of our meals we would love to tell them.

Sustainable & responsible tourism is our social responsibility and what we do to give something back to our community and environment We believe in sustainable tourism and social responsibility. We live is a spectacularly beautiful place called the Drakensberg and our standard of living here is exceptional.

But around us lie contrasts of poverty and lack of development. If we are to keep our way of life then it surely follows that we must do everything in our power to contribute to the upliftment and prosperity of this rural area. We believe that the future of South Africa is linked to the prosperity of the people, and that upliftment is linked to education. And as such we have chosen to support our local primary school called Vulakani Primary School.

Pet friendly accommodation Drakensberg One of the few pet-friendly places in the Drakensberg. Beautiful, vast views of the Drakensberg with plenty of ground for my dogs to roam. Walk for hours.

Your dogs will be happy with lots of dams to swim in and horses to discover. One of the accommodation units at Antbear Lodge is fenced in so its really easy to leave your dog behind if you would like to explore some of the sights where pets are not that welcome. If country life is for you and you would love to take your pet with you then Antbear Lodge is a great accommodation choice. Your hosts will advise you on all the activities available. Antbear Lodge prides itself on being both family-friendly and petfriendly.

CONTACT Mobile 076 441 2362 Email: reservations@antbear.co.za Web: www.antbear.co.za

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EVERY HOME NEEDS A LOVING PET! THERE ARE SO MANY BEAUTIFUL ANIMALS WAITING TO BE ADOPTED – PLEASE REACH OUT! WE ALSO ENCOCURAGE YOU TO REACH INTO YOUR HEARTS FOR THOSE WHO ARE LESS FORTUNATE AND REALLY NEED OUR HELP.

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At Operation Smile we believe every child suffering from cleft lip or cleft palate deserves exceptional surgical care.

For too many families around the world, safe surgery is not an option.

At Operation Smile we believe every child deserves exceptional surgical care. We believe all children deserve to be treated as if they were our own.

EVERY 3 MINUTES, a child is born with a cleft lip or cleft palate and may suffer from torments, malnourishment and difficulty with speech.

We dream of a world where no child suffers from lack of access to safe surgery. Learn why we do what we do in the video below.

That’s what drives each and every one of us: our global network of medical professionals, who donate hundreds of thousands of hours toward the care of children around the world each year, and our supporters who are moved every day to make a difference in the lives of children they’ve never met.

How you can help Operation Smile South Africa Building 17, 103/104, Waverley Office Park 5 Wyecroft Rd, Observatory 7925 (+27) 021 447 3608 infosa@operationsmile.org NPO number 083-117 NPO

A child’s cleft lip or cleft palate can be repaired for as little as R5500 and in as few as 45 minutes, but your gift is more than a surgery. All of our supporters give renewed hope to children and families around the world.

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Help us bring hope to girls without and choices to those with none.

Founded in 2000 by Khanyisile Motsa, and run under her diligent care ever, Home of Hope for Girls is an autonomous, self-started initiative to provide real care for exploited, trafficked and abused children in the city of Johannesburg.

It is more than just a residential shelter; it is a loving home where dignity is restored, the past is healed and the girls are given the tools to take control of their futures. Home of Hope also reaches out to the community offering the most vulnerable members support, practical help and a lifeline.

The Background to Home of Hope An estimated 10,000 children are prostitutes in Johannesburg and this figure is increasing.

When Khanyisile Motsa relocated to Hillbrow she was shocked to observe girls as young as nine working as prostitutes and selling drugs on the streets at night. The truth about these forgotten children is: • • • •

• •

Child Prostitute. Photo by Tseliso Monaheng

Criminals pay agents to recruit children They usually target often orphans or/and those from very disadvantaged rural communities Victims are trafficked or seduced to leave with lies about a life in the city Their IDs are frequently taken from them to make escape and identification difficult Their IDs are often sold on the black market ‘Owned’ by their exploiters they are prostituted, abused, made to sell drugs

Email: info@hopehome.org.za Mam Khanyi: 073 250 2086 Telephone: 011 614 0861 Conscious Life Magazine

Call 012 430 7775 Lines open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday

Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In South Africa and around the world, we work every day to give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. When crisis strikes, and children are most vulnerable, we are always among the first to respond and the last to leave. We ensure children’s unique needs are met and their voices are heard. We deliver lasting results for millions of children, including those hardest to reach. We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future we share.

We need your help to ensure that no child is left behind.

In a tough funding environment, we have ensured we have multiple avenues of funding and are proud to have 11,000 generous individual donors contributing monthly. We will continue to be innovative in securing funding to enable us to reach more children and will work on increasing unrestricted and consistent funding streams.

You can help us make a difference. Even just by becoming aware of our work by reading our annual report.

To download and read the full annual report, click here.

Help us do whatever it takes to save the children.

Thank You Gugulethu Ndebele CEO

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With much appreciation to our advertisers, contributors, endorsers and of course, our readers Namaste

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