Conscious Life Online Magazine May 2020 ed 66

*FREE ONLINE MAG *ISSUE 66 *MAY 2020

10 Free Online Yoga & Meditation Classes

The Importance of Maintaining Connection Right Now

Sugar & Inflammation

10 Ways Deep Breathing Can Relieve Stress

Detox Heavy Metals & End Chronic Fatigue

How Pets Deal With Lockdown

7 Ideas For Burst Training At Home

Photo by Bekka Mongeau from Pexels

Conscious Life Magazine

CONTENTS [

SELF DEVELOPMENT & PERSONAL GROWTH

13

THE I MPORTANCE OF MAINTAI NING CONNECTI ON RIGHT NOW

16

5 EASY WAYS TO EASE ANXI ETY

18

CLEARI NG YOUR CLUTTER

21

HOW TO HAVE EVERYTHI NG YOU WANT… MADE EASY

R

NATURAL HEALTH & WELLNESS

30

COLLECTI NG & SPREADI NG HAPPINESS

34

10 WAYS DEEP BREATHI NG CAN RELI EVE STRESS

38

HOW TO DETOX HEAVY METALS TO HELP END EXHAUSTI ON & CHRONI C FATI GUE

46

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR SKI N DURING COLD CONDITI ONS



CONSCIOUS HEALING

54

LI VING YOUR TRUTH

56

WHY THE CORONAVIRUS?

R

HEALTHY INTAKE

65

SUGAR & I NFLAMMATION: A SLI PPERY SLOPE

68

8 FOODS TO STOP STRESS & KEEP YOU RESI LIENT

71

CHI CK(PEA) PESTO-MAYO SARMI E

72

MUSHROOM CAULI “RISOTTO”

73

COCO YOGURT WI TH STRAWBERRI ES, NUT & SEED CRUMBLE, & BEETROOT REDUCTI ON

b CONSCIOUS BODY 76

WHY YOGA?

78

10 FREE YOGA & MEDI TATI ON CLASSES YOU CAN DO AT HOME

84

7 I DEAS FOR BURST TRAI NI NG AT HOME

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CONTENTS H

GREEN LIVING

88

THE SOI L SOLUTI ON

93

5 EASY UPCYCLI NG I DEAS FOR HOME AND GARDEN

_ ANIMAL WORLD 100 NEW DI SCOVERY: PENGUINS VOCALISE UNDER WATER WHEN THEY HUNT 104 LOCKDOWN – HOW DO OUR PETS DEAL WI TH THI S?

P WORKSHOPS, COURSES & RETREATS 108 UNI ON OF THE OPPOSI TES

P

GETAWAYS, SHOWS & EVENTS

110

AWESOME GETAWAYS TO EXPERI ENCE AFTER LOCKDOWN

_ REACH OUT 121 REACH OUT & HELP: DESERVI NG CHARI TI ES AND CAUSES

78

65

38

30

13

34

104

84

Cover Image By Leninscape on Pixabay

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Contributors Include

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

Articles from the late

LOUISE L. HAY

Author/Inspirational Speaker

Copy Editor Linda Navon SALES & MARKETING Sales & Marketing Manager Cj Matticks

MICHAEL HOWARD Mindshare

SIMON WING-LUN

DR CHRISTIANE NORTHRUP

DR JAMES MERCOLA

BRENT LINDEQUE

Founder: Unconditional Love Healing

Sales Linda Navon CREATIVE TEAM Designer & Creative Director Cj Matticks

The Good Things Guy

Content & Layout Assistant Linda Navon Digital Manager & Social Media Cj Matticks DISTRIBUTION & ACCOUNTS

HANNA KOK BrainGym

Lee Coulter lee@childoftheuniverse.co.za

WENDY YOUNG

Life Coach and Spiritual Counsellor

CONTACT NUMBERS TEL: 087 802 6102 011 026 2643 011 046 8737

FOLLOW US

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LINDA NAVON Deputy Editor

CJ MATTICKS Editor

Contributors Include

MARGI McALPINE

Angel Connection School

MICHELLE LESKE

Egypt Tour Goddess

TORSTEN A. LANGE

Author, founder & director Reiki Academy London

PENNI DU PLESSIS Divine Space

DR SHAVIT SACHS Naturopath

VERONICA HAUPT 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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DISCLAIMER The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the editor, advertisers or endorsers. While every effort has been made to ensure that the contents of this publication are both accurate and truthful, the publisher and editor accept no responsibility for inaccurate or misleading information that may be contained herein.

MEDIA & OTHER PARTNERS

Articles written by the late

HEATHER PICTON

SERGIO SALOTTO

Life Purpose Mentor

Founder ADHASA

DR AXE

Doctor Of Natural Medicine, Chiropractor, Clinical Nutritionist And Author

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Dearest Conscious Life Friends How are you doing? We hope you are doing well and that you are coping, and hopefully even thriving during this lockdown. That is our biggest wish for you at this time.

We have included some articles this month to help us all deal with anxiety and stress that may be coming up at this time. We have also included some articles about the importance and power of thinking positively as it works with the law of attraction to bring you that which you manifest with your thoughts, so it is important to be feeding positive thoughts of abundance into your subconscious and the universe. Remember that this too shall pass and that when you take a moment to clear your mind, hand your worries over to your higher source, it allows you the space to think creatively as to how best to manifest abundance for yourself in this time.

Remember to be gentle with yourself and find time for self care and self love.

We have also included a few pages of beautiful landscapes for some breathing space to help you escape for a moment into a beautiful forest, a long walk on a sunny beach, a climb into the mountains and more.

So, sit back, relax and take some time out for yourself to help you revitalize and create your best day.

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By Tess Patrick Courtesy of www.foodmatters.com

“In the rush to return to normal, use this time to consider which parts of normal are worth rushing back to…”

Many people around us have been using this time to consider the kind of world they hope to live in. The values they wish to see and the aspects they hope to leave behind. Life as we know it has been stripped back to basics, and we have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to only layer back on the parts of the world we collectively hope to see. But while all of this is going on, there is one part we don’t want to let go of - and it’s more important now than ever.

Maintaining a connection with each other is one of the most vital things we can be doing in these times to nurture our minds, bodies, and spirits. As we retreat indoors, spend less time at work or getting a morning coffee, and the doors close to our favorite hangouts, we lose the opportunity to connect with our world. For those living alone or without loved ones around, it can be an incredibly lonely time. For those with partners and families cooped up in a small space, it can be an incredibly arduous time. For most, this period of isolation can trigger our inner child’s fears of abandonment and self-worth.

It’s difficult to comprehend why our brain works in this way. We know that social distancing is crucial for keeping coronavirus at bay, but we’re still our here playing tricks on ourselves. Too long spent alone with our monkey mind can be a powerful thing - but we don’t have to retreat there in solitude.

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What we do need to do is find new ways of maintaining connection. Teach your grandparents how to use FaceTime and wave to your neighbors more. Smile at the strangers you pass in the shops. Let someone merge in front of you on the roads. Right now, it really is the little things that matter the most.

While one household may be filled with excitement and life, another may be empty or maybe filled with tension and violence.

We know that those most at risk with mental health issues are not reaching out like they once were. Experts have said that while them staying inside and not getting in touch may make it seem like they’re okay if they are suffering from depression and anxiety, it could mean quite the opposite. They may be feeling more alone and vulnerable than ever before.

If this is you, don’t be afraid to reach out. Great steps have been taken to ensure you get the professional help you need. Telehealth consults and zoom opportunities are available in place of face-to-face meetings, and around the world, funding is being prioritized for these supports.

If this is someone you know, remind them that you’re there for them - even if you can’t physically be. A good morning message or a phone call in the evening.

You could offer to deliver some groceries if they’re unable to get out, or depending on your local recommendations, invite them for a gentle walk in nature. You know your loved ones best, ask them what it is they need. And if professional support it is, don’t be afraid to help them get it.

Food Matters offer a team of readily available Health Practitioners, who are qualified and experienced in all different facets of health and wellness. Now is the time to reach out for the support and connection you need.

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Full Range

By James Colquhoun Courtesy of www.foodmatters.com

Anxiety, panic and overwhelm are emotions that have become all-toofamiliar within our modern society. The ever-increasing pressure of the world, with a growing mental health epidemic, now thrust into the midst of a viral outbreak will have large-scale consequences for public health long after the lockdowns finish. So, I can see why you might be feeling it a little more unsettled than usual. No matter what time of day the anxiety sets in, here are a toolbox of easy ways to ease the panic.

1. Develop A Breathwork Practice

As my good friend Wim Hof says “the breath knows how to go deeper than the mind”. It’s an ancient yogic truth and one that is relevant in modern times now more than ever. Having a breathwork practice has been praised for widespread health benefits, and coping with moments of anxiety is a common one. In the midst of a panic attack, it is an aware breath that calms us. It is something and possibly the only, that with practice, we can have control over, and it will be there for us when we need it. Simply breathe in for a count of four, hold for a single count and exhale for a count of 8. Extending the exhalation and focusing on using abdominal breathing are verified ways to enact the parasympathetic nervous system and send a safe, calming signal to your brain.

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2. Start Your Day With A Meditation

Drop-in, center yourself, be present. Starting your day with a meditation invites the calm you wish to see for the next 24 hours. You know all about the benefits of meditation, but how do you put it into practice when you’re caught up in panic? Laurentine's simple guided meditation for happiness is a wonderful way to start your day. For the more advanced meditator, Ashleigh Sergeant offers a meditation to rewire your neural pathways. Koya Webb’s 10-minute meditation is perfect for in-the-moment relaxation, or for extra yummy practice, try Tom Cronin's Meditation for Sleep before bed.

3. Eat Well-Balanced Meals (With Adaptogens)

No doubt you’ve heard the saying, ‘you are what you eat’, and at Food Matters, we know this to be true. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America believes that one of the best coping strategies for anxiety is making sure your plate is full of all the good stuff. Skipping meals, especially breakfast, throws our body out of a natural rhythm, but making sure we’re getting a healthy dose of all of our macro and micronutrients means our bodies can function at their best - brains love healthy fats! There are also incredible adaptogens on the market, such as reishi and jing, that make a beautiful addition to soups or hot drinks for balancing the mind.

4. Take Time Out

When you feel the first signs of panic beginning to settle in, put everything to the side and take some time to yourself. Five minutes may be all that you need, but removing yourself from any situation that triggers feelings of anxiety will bring you back to the state of calm. It’s harder than normal right now, we know this. Try taking five minutes in the garden, or doing a quick yoga flow in the sunshine. Even put on your throwback playlist and have a little boogie. Spend the next few moments doing something that makes your heart sing.

5. Get A Decent Sleep

Do you know much about sleep hygiene? I don’t mean brushing your teeth and washing your face (although I would recommend both). But what I mean is setting your space up for the best night’s sleep you ever had. A doctor once told me our beds should be used for sleep and sex, nothing else. Leave your guilty pleasure TV shows for the sofa and limit the time spent on your smartphone. It is recommended that we get a good eight hours in, so make sure you catch that first train to bed when you get a wave of tiredness around 8.30pm. If you’re having trouble falling asleep, try a Yoga Nidra meditation to calm your monkey mind. A deep sleep, where our brain can work through its different waves, allows our mind to relax and reset for a calm day ahead.

About the author: James Colquhoun, filmmaker of Food Matters, Hungry For Change and TRANSCENDENCE - Live Life Beyond The Ordinary and founder of FMTV. Along with Laurentine ten Bosch, James founded Food Matters, giving people the tools (films, books, website, TV) to take charge of their own health. Food Matters is an internationally acclaimed widely popular documentary about the medical and healthcare industries. His latest documentary, Hungry For Change, reveals how the diet and processed food industries are the enemies of permanent weight loss, vibrant health, and natural living. From here, FMTV was born! A place where we can access vital information by watching all of your favorite inspiring documentaries, expert interviews & recipe videos in one place.

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By Louise Hay, sourced from www.healyourlife.com

How long has it been since you cleaned out your closet? Most of us stuff our closets with clothing and paraphernalia that existed in our lives at one point or another—and many of these items have been entirely forgotten. In our society, clothing is fashion; therefore, it has a temporary reign in our lives. We add one thing after another, and then complain that there’s no more room in our closets. We add, but we forget to subtract as we add.

Our closets can be considered symbols of our minds. A cluttered closet could mean a cluttered mind. This same theory can apply to our dresser drawers (or even our desk drawers)—most especially the top drawer, and often the bottom drawer as well.

I recently moved, and this was a wonderful time to clean out those closets. A good exercise is to clean out a closet and while doing so, say to yourself: I am cleaning out the closets of my mind. Take everything out of the

closet. Examine each item and ask, “Is this item still useful?” Or, “Have I used this item in the last six months or year?” “Do I have to keep this worn item because I’m afraid I won’t be able to replace it?”

In order to make room for the new (whether it’s new clothes or new thoughts and ideas), we must release the old and the outworn.

This is true for physical items as well as mental ideas.

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I go through my closets every six months or so, and anything I know I won’t use again either gets sold or is sent to the thrift shops, or I give them away. It’s no longer useful to me and is taking up precious room. The sweater I was in love with three years ago is now a color I don’t care for. Do I want to keep it around on the chance that I may need it one day? Not at all! I’m well aware that I’ll always be able to buy a new sweater when I need to.

I grew up during the depression of the 1930s in extreme poverty. So it took me many years to realize and accept that I was the only person responsible in my world for my lack of prosperity.

Watch how you’re feeling while you’re cleaning out those closets this week. Are you doing it with joy and anticipation of the space you’re allowing in your life, or are you stuck in the mental system of “not having” and scoffing in disbelief that the abundance of the Universe is available to everyone, including you?

Affirm: The Ocean of Life is lavish with abundance. Whenever I need anything, I know that it will be provided.

Photo by Kara Eads on Unsplash

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By Hanna Kok of The Life You Want

Why is it hard to get what you want?

We use our mind to go after our goals and desires, to get what we want. The “problem” is that we have three minds and we don’t know how to use them optimally.

The minds we have are: 1.

2.

3.

The conscious The subconscious The super-conscious

The Conscious Mind

We activate this mind when we give our full attention to something. We use the conscious mind to pursue our dreams, goals and desires. Most people only use this mind 5% of the time, or less.

Then who is in charge the rest of the time?

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The Subconscious Mind

The subconscious runs our life 95% of the time. It is like the operating system on our phone or computer. It runs in the background and takes full control as soon as we are not actively/consciously using other programs. It processes life, based on our subconscious programming. The problem is that most of the subconscious is shaped between conception and age seven. It is passed on from generation to generation, making many of the programs outdated, fear filled and limiting.

This means that often, we are like a fear filled 7year old, dealing with adult challenges. This easily makes us feel threatened. When we feel unsafe, the frontal lobes, where our wisdom and problem-solving capabilities lie, switches off up to 85%. It becomes even harder to put things into perspective. Do you now understand why so many of us are struggling and feel overwhelmed during these challenging times?

The Super-Conscious Mind

This is our spiritual mind, our connection with the Divine. It is the most powerful mind of all three. It has the power to reprogram our subconscious, but there are some conditions to accessing it.

1. Our super-conscious mind only takes over, if we invite it in to take charge of our life “Not my will, but Thy will�

2. The more we are in a space of love-peace and joy, the easier it is to connect with it.

3. It speaks the language of silence. This means that we need to become quiet to hear the Divine inspiration. And then we have the choice to act on this inspiration.

4. We need to develop faith, because often we have to wait for the divine timing, before we can take action

Getting what we want

If we want to get what we want, it is essential that we focus much more than 5% of our minds on our dreams, goals and desires.

Three ways to have what you want. Go to the Wealth Mindset Page[/button]

1.

2.

Practice mindfulness so that we can increase our 5% of conscious activities. This takes practice.

Reprogram our subconscious mind with our Apphirmations. We can do this while we sleep, or we are doing other things. We just run them softly in the background. They remove many of the outdated, limiting programs and replace them with new beliefs that are much more supportive of our dreams, goals and desires.

Our clients have experienced major shifts in their overall well-being, including a significant improvement in their health, wealth, quality of relationships, scholar abilities and more

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3.

Use the Super Conscious to inspire us and to reprogram the subconscious. When the super conscious takes over, our Divinely Inspired visions and actions pull us forth with enthusiasm and energy, not giving the subconscious much chance to run the show.

With our Apphirmations, we activate the Super Conscious to create the changes in the lives of our users. This is why we have seen such amazing results!

Where to from here

If we want to create a successful life during and after lockdown, it is vital that we don’t use our outdated, lie telling, fear filled subconscious mind to run the show. Now we really need subconscious filled with new and supportive programs, so that it will stop sabotaging and propel us towards our dreams, goals and desires.

We have a few very cost-effective solutions for you 1.

Our Wealth Mindset online course, is a combination of self-study (watching our videos) and time with me. You can start this course right now. During the Covid-19 pandemic, we have a special where a second person can join for an extra 10%. When you click on Go to the Wealth Mindset course now, you can watch a few of our Wealth Mindset Videos for free on our Wealth Mindset course page

This course includes Apphirmations.

2.

the Wealth

Mindset

Our Wealth Mindset Apphirmations are very affordable, and are great for reprogramming the limited thinking, outdated parts of the subconscious mind

It is time to take action!

1.

2.

3.

When you click on order the Wealth Mindset course now, Buy our Wealth Mindset Apphirmations now, so that you can change your mindset while you sleep. This is how getting what you want is made easy.

Watch the free videos on the Wealth Mindset Course page (at the bottom of the page)

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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.

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Article by António Bastos We live in an uncertain world and we are continuously being bombarded by dreadful stories from the news media, advertising media, social media and from individuals that we talk to.

These, often inaccurate, stories appeal to our predisposition for negativity and pessimism and contribute to a state of anxiety.

I know about living with negativity and pessimism, I am Portuguese.

We, the Portuguese, generally go through the day imagining that something is wrong or that something is going to go wrong. And even when something that we thought would go wrong, goes right, we still wonder: “What if it had gone wrong?”. And we re-live the same anxiety as if there is still the possibility of the event going wrong. What a waste of life!

I know that this is a strange concept for most of you to understand, but trust me, these thoughts were very much real for many years of my early life. This attitude caused me a lot of sadness.

Many years later I started working with frequencies and read about thoughts and feelings. I realised that although my thoughts were real they were not true.

I read how we, all of us not just the Portuguese, have developed a psychological

immune system to give justification to our perceived realities. A set of biases that keep us certain of our beliefs. These preconceptions have been grouped into what is now referred to as our cognitive biases. Two of these biases are our negativity bias and our pessimist bias.

I could not instantly change millions of years of my evolutionary process but I could certainly change my inherited software package. I decided that an easy way to do this would be to collect happiness.

Happiness is defined as a “state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy”. Collecting happiness is not about accumulating stuff but about a change in my attitude to situations that I find myself exposed to. Performing a check from the neck up. It is about choosing what I allow into my head and what I pay Conscious Life Magazine

attention to. What I pay attention to, becomes part of my life, what I do not pay attention to, as far as I am concerned, does not exist.

Let me give you an analogy. There is a radio station in the Eastern Cape, called Algoa FM. Algoa FM resonates at 95 MHz in Port Elizabeth. When I do not pay attention to 95 MHz, as far as my own reality is concerned, Algoa FM does not exist. But the moment that I resonate to 95 MHz, Algoa FM becomes part of my life. And so, it is with every situation that I am exposed to. Choosing whether to pay attention or not, to probabilistic threats is the first of my three steps to collect happiness. Whenever I am exposed to a story that makes me feel uncomfortable, I put it to a selection process. Let me share it with you.

Step 1 I ask myself two questions: “Is this [situation] going to have a direct impact on my life?” and “Is there anything that I can do or choose to do to change it?”. If the answer to either of the questions is no, I choose not to pay attention to it. Having the situation become part of my reality will only serve to feed my negativity and pessimism. Whether I pay attention to it or not, the situation is not going to change. Most of these probabilistic threats are reported in the news and therefore I have made a conscious decision not to expose myself to visuals from an industry whose credo for content selection seems to be: “if it bleeds it leads”.

Step 2 I deliberately identify, acknowledge and document what I treasure in my life, right now. I have compiled a list of everything in my life that gives rise to feelings of thankfulness and appreciation. I call this my gratitude list.

I close my eyes and ask myself the following question: “Please tell me, what do you love?”.

Whatever comes into my mind, I add to my gratitude list. Then each morning, before I do

anything else, I read through my gratitude list and feel my appreciation of each of the listings. By reminding myself of what I am grateful for, I immediately shift into a happy and optimistic state of mind which stays with me for the rest of the day. Instead of looking for what is wrong or what is going to go wrong, I find myself looking for more stuff to be grateful for and to add to my list.

Some of the items in my gratitude list are very basic, such as: “Being grateful for having a roof over my head and a bed to sleep in each night” and “Being grateful for Seafood Pizza from YiaYais restaurant”. I am also grateful for “The health, safety and security of all my family members and animals” and “I am grateful for being safe and secure wherever I am and whatever I am doing”.

Step 3 Recognise the truth of each moment without resistance or judgement, in other words, my relationship with my reality right now, just as it is! Tara Brach calls it genuine acceptance.

Let me give you her example. I am out walking in the park and it starts to pour down with rain. I have brought neither a raincoat nor an umbrella. My mind either accepts that “it is raining and I am getting soaked” or, what is the alternative? I can get down on myself for forgetting the umbrella and raincoat but that would be what the Buddhists refer to as the second arrow. The first arrow, in this example, is the discomfort of getting wet.

The second arrow invokes the suffering, the self-punishment for not having brought an umbrella. Pain is inevitable but the suffering is optional. I practise not resisting presence and being with what is! I am learning to accept something, in this moment, without evaluating it as good, bad or worthwhile, and still draw all sorts of boundaries. Next time, I will carry an umbrella. I have found genuine acceptance to have what I would describe as a liberating quality. I also share my collection with others.

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Sharing happiness is as easy as collecting it and again it is a three-attitude process.

One The first of these is described as the most pleasing five letter word, S M I L E. Apart from making me more attractive, smiling starts more smiles, makes me and others feel good and makes my interaction with others easier and more enjoyable. Like all other mental attitudes, smiling changes the chemistry in my body. When I smile my body releases endorphins, our body’s natural pain killers.

These endorphins reduce the cortisol hormone in the body which in turn reduces stress and boosts my body’s self-healing energy. All these benefits just from a smile, really good value.

Two Another glitch in my software package has been my need to demonstrate that I am right.

Even when it is true, asserting my ideas is not conducive to spreading happiness. I am working on a permanent software upgrade but for now, Wayne Dyer thought me a valuable patch to use: “When given the choice between being right or kind, choose kind”.

This new software release is to be kind like Madiba. Nelson Mandela was the very definition of kindness, friendly, warmhearted, humane, forgiving and considerate without any agenda or judgement.

Three The third step to spreading happiness: I take my two dogs to Settlers park each day for a walk-in mindfulness. Walking in mindfulness is when I purposely bring myself to the only reality in my life, the present moment. I leave behind all electronic gadgets and I come home to my body. I forget thoughts from my past and block illusions of what may or may not happen to me in the future. I take in all sensations of walking and breathing. I pay attention to my body, to the nature surrounding me, to the many sounds and to the gaps between the sounds.

Shiela and Annie, who always live in the now, are always happy to be out walking and sniffing in the daily news. We pick up the pace for twenty minutes or so. This deepens our breathing which increases the oxygen content in the blood and assists in the release of those endorphins that make us feel so good. Forty minutes or so later, we are back at the start of the trail and at the end of another great day.

I find that collecting happiness is a very economical and hugely rewarding hobby and that by doing it, day by day in every way, I am getting happier and happier. Those feelings of anxiety and worry are now just another memory and no longer real.

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By James Colquhoun Courtesy of www.foodmatters.com

How we show up in a state of the crisis determines how we show up in life. Do you catch yourself giving into panic and talking about doom and gloom to your family members? Or are you the one to reassure everyone? The guiding light the positive voice... the strong one. It’s more than okay to feel fear and anxiety. Allow yourself to acknowledge this feeling. Accept it, and breathe through it. In times where we have no control over the world around us, it’s best to just breathe. Although this sounds really simple, as we’re breathing all the time, there is a whole movement to explore… it’s called breathwork.

There is a difference between taking a breath and mindfully breathing. In fact, one recent neuroscience study found connections between breathing and state of mind. We know the mind is one of the control centers of the body, so if a mindful flow of oxygen can influence this, the benefits of breathwork are limitless.

1. Reduces Stress

We are a stressed-out global population, that’s undeniable. We all know the feeling of having to take a couple of deep breaths during a tense argument, and focussing on breathwork can have a similar effect in the long-term. When you breathe deeply and mindfully, a message is sent to your brain to calm down and relax. When we’re stressed, our brain releases cortisol, but by allowing more oxygen to enter our body it frees up pathways to remove the stress-hormone from our system.

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2. Calms Nervous System

Conscious breathing activates our parasympathetic nervous system, although you may know it as the rest-and-digest system. It takes our body out of flight or fight mode and gives your cells a chance to rejuvenate and heal. Breathwork brings us into a relaxed state and the benefits from cell rejuvenation continue to flow. Studies have shown that pranayama breathing, in particular, uses a mechanism that interacts with our nervous system to have such a profound effect.

3. Improves Respiratory System & Posture

Like when you go to a pilates class and work muscles that you don’t often get into, deep, conscious breathwork can have the same effect on our respiratory system. Breathing deeper and adopting techniques we wouldn’t normally use in daily life helps release any tension stored in the diaphragm and primary breathing muscles, which can relieve many long-term respiratory issues such as asthma and breathlessness. Breathing deeper, wider, and consciously also opens up the chest and releases tension from muscles, leaving us with a relaxed posture.

4. Increases Energy Levels

Breathwork allows for air to enter all parts of your body; those white light meditations aren’t just a visualization, you’re actually receiving healing goodness throughout every inch of you. Deep, mindful breathing allows oxygen to enter your bloodstream, depositing the vital component for energy throughout your body.

5. Aids In Proper Digestion

With our modern diets and growing lists of allergies, too often we’re left feeling like our digestive system isn’t running quite as it should be. Developing a solid breathwork practice can help with that. A conscious, mindful breath elevates blood flow in the digestive tract, meaning the intestines have all they need to do their thing, which not only improves food digestion but also can assist in alleviating IBS and constipation.

6. Better, Deeper Sleep

We’re all after a good night’s sleep, none of us really enjoy waking up feeling sluggish and it’s important to get those eight hours in for our overall help. But with conscious breathing comes heavy sleeping. One 2019 meta-analysis explored breathing and meditation for sleep disturbances, finding it improved conditions. Not only useful for clearing the mind of those who suffer from anxieties and insomnia, but we also know that breathwork sends the sympathetic nervous system to sleep, allowing our body to shut down in peace.

7. Enhanced Immunity

Oxygen is essential to carry nutrients around our bodies and when fully oxygenated, it transports digested foods around our bodies with ease. This is especially true for the vitamins and minerals that protect us from harm or disease. We are more robust, giving us the energy to bounce back. Breathwork also supports our lymphatic system, which is vital for cleansing the body of bacteria, viruses, and other potential health issues.

8. Can Provide Ease in Pain Management

We know that breathwork directs healing energy throughout the body, so we really shouldn’t be surprised that this tool can be used for pain management. Deep breathing relaxes your muscles,

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by sending oxygen and healing nutrients like magnesium to the source of your woes. While it’s not always the case, in instances like back pain or migraines, breathwork is a tool you can take anywhere to help. Holotropic breathwork, for example, had been the subject of studies to prove efficacy in pain management.

9. May Lead to Trauma Release

Breathwork, in all its wonders, may lead to trauma release. This can be alarming if it wasn’t your intention for the practice, but releasing past trauma allows us to heal our mind and any physiological symptoms that have manifested as a result of the trauma. This same holotropic breathwork used for pain management can aid in a dramatic release. If you know that there may be something triggering you, or there is a trauma or limiting belief holding you back, breathwork is able to be practiced with an experienced guide.

10. Harmony in Mind, Body, & Spirit

Being present with your breath allows for reflection and acceptance of the now. Without distraction, we are free to drop into our deepest self and invite harmony between our multifaceted being. Breathwork allows for clarity and offers a grounded connection with the universe.

And the health benefits that arise from this harmony are limitless.

In Episode 2 of TRANSCENDENCE. titled ‘Overcoming Fear and Stress’, Wim shares how cold water brought him to not only find himself but to find the immense strength within his breath. You’ll also hear from experts including Chris Wark, Ocean Ramsey, Bruce Lipton, and more. And don’t forget, this is only one of five powerful episodes - there is so much more inspiration to come.

You can join us for the Free Worldwide Screening of TRANSCENDENCE here.

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Looking for Eco-Friendly Wipes?

Check out the Cherubs Eco Cotton Range

PRODUCT REVIEW We spoke about the Cherubs Eco Cotton Range last month and why we love it. In a nutshell, it is as gentle to the earth as it is to your skin.

Made from 100% pure cotton, the Cherubs Eco Cotton range is soft, absorbent and gentle enough for everyday use. And, it is not tested on animals.

If you are looking for awesome, flushable, eco-friendly on the go wipes, try the Cherubs Flushable, Eco-Friendly Wipes available in store in the baby section. Primarily made for toddlers to help with toilet training, we think they also make a great option to carry with you and help keep your hands clean throughout the day.

They are alcohol, chlorine and paraben free, pH balanced, available in fragrance free & lightly fragranced variants.

Look for them in store in the baby section.

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Message from Chetna…

We are living in an interesting time period at the moment, pushing us in different directions, triggering us in different ways however also making us appreciate things we previously took for granted.

There are these moments when we can appreciate and be grateful however we can easily be reeled back into experiencing the negative effects in some way – feelings of isolation, unemployment/loss of income, hunger, lack of freedom of movement, lack of human touch, restricted from seeing/visiting loved ones and so much more.

This may lead into being resistant to how things are unfolding – however this resistance will only cause more struggle and suffering.

“What you resist shall persist”

Yes, the situation and circumstances are out of our control, so to remain in your power, look at what is in your control. How can you best utilise what is in your control to support you and help you manage your circumstances better? In this way you reduce the resistance and flow with the experience with more ease.

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This may result in reduced stress and fear allowing you to be more mindful and present. You may even have a change in perspective that could bring about lighter and rewarding qualities in you such as patience, tolerance, humility, compassion, kindness, strength, courage and the list can go on…

Remember you are a powerful limitless being with infinite potential regardless of your circumstances. Listen to the voice of Hope. Connect to your inner strength and believe in yourself!

Additional reflection to help you dig deeper, grow and gain the most out of our current circumstances, answer the following honestly (no excuses and no being in victim mode): • With all that is going on, how can I simply my life?

• What boundaries do I need to put into place?

• What is truly important to me?

• What is triggering me? What feelings are surfacing from these triggers?

• Identify how far back do each of these feelings go (i.e. when did I first experience this feeling)?

• What is the worst thing about feeling this feeling? Or what is my belief about this feeling?

• How do I gain from feeling this way or how does this feeling serve me (logically it may not however sub-consciously it does)?

Life is forever changing, it’s up to us to find the deeper meaning in it all. No matter what life bestows upon us – we can choose to love, to be resilient and to grow. Embrace this journey, keep your heart open to learn from all experiences and flow with the changes.

“What you focus on you shall attract” – not merely by thinking it but feeling it at your core!

Reset…Your life is precious so take good care of yourself – all aspects of yourself! Celebrates every breath!

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Stay healthy, happy and safe!

“You are a Divine being with infinite potential living in the Now… Love! Trust! Be!” Divine Blessings

Chetna Madoo Conciousness Coach Mind | Body | Spirit

Online Healing Sessions Need some support? My intention is to serve and support in the highest and best way possible.

Book an Online session

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Why The Coronavirus

By Margi of Angel Connection

The whole world is reeling from the effects of the Coronavirus and trying to understand what the long-term consequences of this are going to be.

The most important thing is for us not to go into panic because the more negativity we bring into the situation, the more we are feeding this and so the fear grows and grows.

We have spoken about us moving into the New Golden Age and I have spoken in length about the year 2020 being the Golden Gate into the New Golden Age. 2020 is going to be a year of change but the actual travelling through the Golden Gate is very turbulent and by that I mean it is turbulent because we have no control over anything but that once we have gone through the gate it is going to be positive and amazing!!

This is our time as Light Workers to live in Faith, Hope and Trust. We all need to hold the light remembering that the dark can never survive in the light but the moment we go into panic and fear we feed it and it grows and grows!

The Coronavirus is giving us a chance to evolve and adapt to the new energies of the New Golden Age. The changes had to come about to enable us to move forward and to lift our vibrations to the next dimension.

However, with the world as it has been there was no chance of this coming about without something drastic forcing everyone to adapt, slow down and take a breath!

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This is the challenge that we have been sent and as Light Workers we need to rise to this challenge!

It is a time to take a step back and reevaluate your life and the choices that you are making in peace and isolation but still having the gift of being able to communicate because of online media and all the amazing technology that we are able to utilize.

Lack of respect for others and often for ourselves has become the norm and this is a time now to understand ourselves and others with respect and love.

We have become a species of self -obsessed, self-absorbed and totally eccentric humans whose main focus is self-indulgence and materialistic entitlement with no thought of how that behavior is affecting the world, Mother Nature and everything and everyone around us.

Many don’t understand the concept of us all being one and this virus is emphasizing how we are all connected and are one and the positive or negative consequences of that.

We are now being given the ability to step out of our egos and work in love and light for the highest good of all and if we choose as a collective not to do this then we force the shutdown of our very existence!

This is a time of truth. There is no place for smoke and mirrors and the deceit and lack of integrity that some have been working in.

Everything is being brought into the light now and we will be shown in that light right down to our souls for all to see!

We will become aware of the energy and frequency of all and those working in love and light will become a beacon to those that are living in a dimmer light and lower frequency. Those souls will now have the opportunity to raise their vibrations and step into the light depending on what path they now choose.

The Universe has spoken and it has shaken the world to its core because this is the only way that our ego driven society will sit up and take notice.

This is the only way that we will stop our own destruction and this is the only way for this immense change of energy and vibration to happen.

It is a huge task that we as Lightworkers face but if we stand together and spread the light as opposed to the Coronavirus, we can climb this mountain together. By loving and supporting each other we can assist as many as possible to achieve this peak and raise the vibration of the planet and every individual living on it.

Angel light and blessings Margi Angel Connection

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Sugar & Inflammation: A Slippery Slope Article courtesy of FitChef

It is scary to think that sugar is one of the 10 most eaten foods in a South African’s diet. Local data has shown that we eat as much as 60g of added sugar per day, a whopping 12 teaspoons. Sugar is part of the carbohydrate food group, and, along with fat and protein, carbohydrates are one of the three food groups essential to human health. The problem comes in when a big chunk of our carbohydrate intake is not from healthy carbohydrates like fruit, wholegrains and legumes, but rather in the form of added sugar.

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The Inflammation Situation Part of a normal immune response, inflammation is a natural physiological response and an essential part of stimulating the body’s natural healing processes. Think of inflammation like a slow burning fire. The trouble is that through poor dietary and lifestyle choices, this fire can get fuelled and burn out of control for long periods of time. This so called chronic, low grade inflammation activates the body’s immune system which may cause unnecessary damage to healthy cells.

Some common signs of chronic low-grade inflammation include body pain, weight gain, frequent illness and infections, fatigue, and mood disorders like depression and anxiety. An increasing number of disorders (also influenced by our genes) are linked to inflammation, such as chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes , as well as effect mental health like increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and depression.

The Link Between Sugar and Inflammation

No food has more of a reputation in causing inflammation than sugar. Sugar, as well as other highly refined carbohydrates, has both a direct and indirect effect on inflammation. When we consume large amounts of sugar on a regular basis, this moves into the blood stream quickly and causes a spike in blood glucose. This directly triggers a host of metabolic changes in the body that kickstart the inflammatory processes. It is also thought that sugar stimulates the production of free fatty acids in the liver, the resulting compounds of which can trigger inflammatory processes.

The other way that sugar may indirectly trigger inflammation is through weight gain. This is because sugar doesn’t have much impact on our feeling of fullness yet is high in energy. We also tend to eat sugary foods with more sugary foods, compounding the problem. Together, this may mean we eat too much energy (kilojoules) leading to an increase in body fat. Excess body fat has been linked to inflammation, partly due to insulin resistance Therefore, the more overweight we are, the more proinflammatory cytokines are released, leading a continuous cycle of inflammation.

It’s important to note though that natural sugar has not been linked to inflammation, behaving very differently to added sugar when consumed and digested in the body. In fact, many foods containing natural sugars, such as fruits and vegetables, are actually anti-inflammatory foods.

Fruit and vegetables are rich in phytonutrients and antioxidants that soothe inflammation and are also accompanied by fibre which slow down the digestion and absorption of the natural sugar which prevents blood sugar spikes.

How to Put Out the Fire

The good news is that it’s possible to lower inflammation levels in the body through various dietary and lifestyle changes, in addition to cutting out sugar.

Watch your intake of saturated fats such as the fat in chicken skin, fatty cuts of meat, cheese and coconut oil. These fats are bad fats as they are pro-inflammatory.

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Limit processed foods. Studies have shown that replacing processed foods with whole, unprocessed foods improves insulin resistance, improves cholesterol levels and reduces blood pressure, all of which are related to inflammation. FitChef meals are proudly made

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• •

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from whole foods and free from preservatives and colourants.

Choose wholegrain carbohydrates. These high fibre carbohydrates help control blood sugar and protect against inflammation. FitChef meals use wholegrain carbs like brown rice, wholewheat pasta and quinoa.

Eat more fruits and vegetables which are rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that protect against and reduce inflammation in the body. Aim for half a plate of salad and/or vegetables with each main meal and include at least two fruits each day in your diet. Grab a FitChef smoothie to help boost your fruit intake.

Focus on anti-inflammatory omega-3s in fatty fish like salmon, trout, pilchards, sardines and mackerel. Flaxseeds/linseeds also have small amounts of omega-3s.

Flavour your food with ginger and cumin, which are known to have anti-inflammatory property.

Learning to read food labels is a vital skill in the quest to watch your sugar intake. Other common names for sugar to look out for on food labels include sucrose, fructose (high fructose corn syrup/ corn syrup), glucose, maltose, dextrose, and even foods like honey and molasses.

Maintain a healthy weight. Excess body fat is known to increase inflammation.

Regular activity has been shown to lower inflammatory markers in the body. The decreases in inflammation markers seem to be related to decreases in belly fat. Being active can also help manage weight which manages inflammation.

If you smoke, stop smoking.

Manage your stress levels and ensure you get enough sleep.

References: 1.

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Della Corte KW, Perrar I, Penczynski KJ, Schwingshackl L, Herder C, Buyken AE. Effect of Dietary Sugar Intake on Biomarkers of Subclinical Inflammation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Intervention Studies. Nutrients. 2018;10(5):6060. DOI: 10.3390/nu10050606.

Frassetto LA, Schloetter M, Mietus-Synder M, Morris RC Jr, Sebastian A. Metabolic and physiologic improvements from consuming a paleolithic, hunter-gatherer type diet. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2009;63(8):94755. Doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2009.4.

M.Bonaccio. A.Di, Castelnuovo S, Costanzo A, De Curtis M, Sarchiapone C, et al. Lifestyle and biological factors influence the relationship between mental health and low-grade inflammation. Brain Behavior and Immunity. 2019. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/609768.

Ihalainen JK, Schumann M, Eklund D, Hämäläinen M, Moilanen E, Paulsen G, et al. Combined aerobic and resistance training decreases inflammation markers in healthy men. Scandinavian Journal of Medical Science. 2018;28(1):40-47. Doi: 10.1111/sms.12906.

Joseph SV, Edirisinghe I, Burton-Freeman BM. Fruit Polyphenols: A Review of Anti-inflammatory Effects in Humans. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2016;56(3):419-44. Doi: 10.1080/10408398.2013.767221.

Teng KT, Chang CY, Chang LS, Nesaretam K. Modulation of obesity-induced inflammation by dietary fats: mechanisms and clinical evidence. Nutrition Journal.2014;12:13.

Zhu F, Du B, Xu B. Anti-inflammatory effects of phytochemicals from fruits, vegetables, andfood legumes: A review. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. 2017;58(1):1-11.

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8 Foods To Stop Stress & Keep You Resilient Article by Tess Patrick courtesy of www.foodmatters.com

When I’m stressed, I look to food for comfort. Other than triggering a soothing response and making me feel good inside, there’s a good case for it. Research has been telling us for years that stress impacts the gut. Prolonged stress can actually alter the makeup of our digestive system. We also know that what we put in our gut can have a significant impact on our stress levels; it can be our demise, or it can be the reason we thrive. In times of great uncertainty, through this major health crisis and the never-ending ramifications, it’s understandable that our stress may be at an all-time high. Thankfully, we are what we eat, and there some special foods that counteract and complement our resilience to external stressors.

1. Maca Root Powder

Maca is magical. It makes hot cups of cacao creamy and sends anyone to the most beautiful, gentle sleep. This adaptogen is a stress-healer. It prevents increases in cortisol, adrenal size, and feelings of fatigue. Maca is a root, carrying the nutrients of the soil from the Peruvian Andes, but is commonly enjoyed in its powder form. It is actually a cruciferous vegetable, like broccoli and cauliflower, and packs a beautiful earthy taste. We love it in this Chocolate Nut Milk, or in a slab of Raw Maca Chocolate.

2. Cashew Nuts

This much-loved nut is a nutrient powerhouse, so it should be no surprise that its stress-reducing properties are one of the reasons we should be snacking on cashews. They are a great source of

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magnesium, which plays an amazing role in stabilizing energy alongside regulating our nervous system. The essential amino acids they contain help to rebuild parts of our bodies damaged by stress responses. Cashews are so incredibly versatile too; sweet or savory, there’s a cashew recipe for everyone.

3. Alkalizing Greens

Alkalizing your body has as much of a physiological impact on stress levels as it does mentally.

Eating a diet rich in different types of alkalizing greens has been noted for cleansing properties, where we are able to eliminate stress-causing toxins from the gastrointestinal tract. These greens help to harmonize the gut, which has an intrinsic connection to the environment of our brain. By alkalizing our bodies, we are also helping to deliver oxygen to all of our cells - and we all know that a deep breath is calming in times of stress, our cells happen to think the same.

These Superfood Greens & Matcha Bliss Balls are a great way to get sustenance and do maintenance on your insides.

4. Comforting Foods

Although the relationship between comfort foods and stress can be a risky one, it’s important to consider the positive impacts of a nourishing bowl of good food. Healthy options like oatmeal, homemade curries, and seasonal soups have a profound impact on stress - the soothing sensation, both physically and emotionally, triggers serotonin production in the brain. Serotonin is our calming, happy brain chemical, that fights away unwelcome stress. In days like these, there’s no better time to nourish your soul.

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5. Healthy Fats & Omega 3’s

We’ve all heard how vital a good Omega 3 balance is for brain function, and healthy fatty foods can help to prevent a surge of stress hormones throughout the body when overwhelm arises.

Fatty, sustainably sourced fish is one of the best ways to get the benefits of this response, but a flaxseed oil salad dressing is a wonderful plant-based alternative.

6. Vitamin C Vitamin C is heaven-sent. The immune-supporting, water-soluble vitamin is readily available in all of our much-loved citrus fruits, and alongside supporting our physiological wellbeing, it supports our body through stressful times. A strong immune system is so important for when illness comes along, and like Omega 3, the vitamin can also help to prevent a surge of stress hormones. We love getting our Vitamin C straight from camu camu.

7. Raw Vegetables

Biting into a fresh, crunchy carrot often feels like a little massage for your facial muscles - and as it turns out, this massage is good for levelling out our stresses! In a mechanical aspect, this crunching and chewing motion, known as mastication, helps to release tension in the jaw, which triggers a release of stored stress. It’s about giving ourselves a total-body destress, and if we can enjoy some fresh foods and good hummus while doing it, who’s complaining?

8. Homecooked Foods & Flavours You Enjoy For me, there’s nothing more de-stressing then taking over the kitchen with a nourishing and creative recipe that requires your complete, undivided attention. It’s almost like a meditation practice, where your divine presence removes your mind from everything going on outside the room. Life is too short to weigh ourselves down eating foods and flavors that leave us with a bad taste, so cook up a big, healthy pot of your favorite foods, and unwind from it all.

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CHICK(PEA) PESTO-MAYO SARMIE courtesy of www.greenmonday.co.za

Ingredients

• 3x cups cooked chickpeas, drained and skins removed • 1 avocado, pitted • 3x stalks of celery, washed and finely chopped • 4 tablespoons of egg-free mayonnaise • 2 tablespoons Pesto Princess Basil Lemon Pesto • 1 tablespoon of lemon juice • Salt & pepper • Fresh herbs, sprouts or microgreens of choice • 2 tablespoons Pesto Princess Classic Hummus • Corn cakes, lettuce leaves, wholegrain toast or whole wheat wraps to eat the smash with.

Method:

1. In a big mixing bowl, smash up the chickpeas and avocado with a fork, potato masher or food processor until you reach a chunky consistency.

2. In a small bowl, mix the Pesto Princess Basil Lemon Pesto into the egg-free mayonnaise.

3. Add the chopped celery, pesto-mayonnaise, lemon juice, and fresh herbs or microgreens and mix through.

4. Season with salt and pepper according to taste.

5. Spread the Princess Princess hummus on the insides of two slices of bread. Add the filling along with any additional salad vegetables such as leafy greens, tomato, cucumber, gherkins, and top with toasted nuts and seeds or onion sprinkles.

6. Close the sandwich and enjoy.

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MUSHROOM CAULI “RISOTTO”

by Amy Hopkins, courtesy of www.greenmonday.co.za

Ingredients • • • • • • • • • • •

2 cloves of garlic, chopped 1 large brown onion, chopped 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil 400 to 500g mixed fresh mushrooms, large pieces chopped 400g cauli rice 3/4 to 1 cup dry white wine 1 cup vegetable stock 1/2 tsp chilli flakes 1 bunch thyme, tied with string 2 tbsp truffle oil Pinch salt and pepper, to taste

Method:

1. Place the garlic, onion and olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat.

Cook for five minutes until fragrant, then add the mushrooms and sauté for another five minutes.

2. Add the cauli rice, 3/4 cup wine and vegetable stock. Add a little more wine or water if necessary, to cover the veg. Stir in the chilli flakes and add the thyme stalks.

Cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the moisture is absorbed and the texture is risotto like. Add another 1/4 cup of wine if necessary – you should be able to smell it.

3. Once cooked, remove the thyme stalks and stir in the truffle oil for extra richness, season and serve immediately.

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COCO YOGURT WITH STRAWBERRIES, NUT & SEED CRUMBLE, & BEETROOT REDUCTION

by Simone Kruger, Yellow Papaya for Rugani Juice, courtesy of www.greenmonday.co.za

Ingredients • • • • •

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2 cups coconut yoghurt 100 g seed mix 100 g mixed nuts, roughly chopped 200 g strawberries, stems removed and sliced 200 ml Rugani Beetroot and Zobo juice 50 ml maple or date syrup

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In a saucepan heat the beetroot zobo juice and syrup.

Reduce on a low heat for approximately 30 minutes until 1/3rd of the original mixture or until the consistency of honey. Cool completely.

In a frying pan, toast the seeds and nuts until golden brown, being careful not to burn. Cool completely.

To assemble divide and layer the yoghurt, nut mixture and beetroot reduction in layers.

Serve immediately.

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Photo by Yannic Läderach on Unsplash

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10 Free Yoga & Meditation Classes You Can Do At Home

Why Yoga?

By Misha-Joy Clark, Clinical Psychologist, www.mishajoy.com

It’s a well-accepted fact that exercise improves your mood and general sense of wellbeing. Not to mention the state of your physical body. So how do you choose what type of exercise to engage in, when you do?

And why is the world going gaga over Yoga in particular?

Well I must admit I am a fan of yoga myself and have walked a long personal journey with the practice so I might be slightly biased. But let’s look at the facts, shall we…

Derived from the Sanskrit word “yuji,” meaning yoke or union, yoga is an ancient practice that aims to unite mind and body, which are so often polarised in Western culture and even within traditional psychotherapy. In fact, yoga originated because those ancient yogis sitting in meditation for hours began to get bodily pains. Their teacher told them to move in certain ways before sitting for meditation. And the rest is history! Yoga incorporates breathing exercises, meditation and physical poses designed to encourage relaxation and reduce stress. In these ways, Yoga is set apart from other forms of exercise, as it goes beyond the purely physical.

In her comprehensive review of over one hundred reputable studies on the therapeutic effects of yoga, Catherine Woodyard (2011) found that Yoga undoubtably has longer lasting positive effects on the mental state of individuals than do other forms of exercise.

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Drawing from the abovementioned study, and my own experiences, I have summarised some of the benefits of yoga. This is by no means a comprehensive list, but it may help you understand Why Yoga?, or this list may even inspire you on your healing journey! Yoga has been shown to: 1.

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Decrease stress and anxiety – many studies have shown that Yoga actually acts on the brain directly, decreasing levels of cortisone (the “stress hormone”).

Reduce inflammation and pain - inflammation is a normal immune response, but many people suffer from chronic inflammation due to stress, leading to the development of serious disease. Yoga has been shown to decrease inflammation and pain in chronic disease patients.

Improve heart health – by pumping blood through the body in a steady and even way (the yogic breath control helps with this, avoiding extreme heart rate spikes), Yoga helps supply the body with important nutrients.

Improve quality of life – yes, that overall feeling of peace and contentedness seems to stick around longer after a yoga practice than, say, after a gym class.

Fight depression - this may be because yoga is able to influence levels of serotonin, the neurotransmitter often associated with depression Improve sleep – Woodyard showed that in a 2005 study, 69 elderly patients were assigned to either practice yoga, take an herbal preparation or be part of the control group. The yoga group fell asleep faster, slept longer and felt more well-rested in the morning than the other groups.

Improve flexibility, strength, and balance – naturally, feeling good physically helps you feel good emotionally.

Improve breathing – it may seem obvious, but breath is life and we often forget that. We often breathe incorrectly, and this means we don’t get enough oxygen into our cells. This could result in many problems, including migraines and an increase in sympathetic nervous system (stress) responses.

Let me stop there for now (yes, there is more!). Put simply, multiple studies have confirmed the many mental and physical benefits of yoga. Incorporating yoga into your routine can help enhance your health in numerous ways. Finding the time to practice yoga just a few times per week may be enough to make a noticeable difference when it comes to your health.

Some South African Yoga studios that offer great online classes (just google them!) for all levels include: Yoga Works Yo Yoga YouTube An international option on YouTube: Yoga with Adrienne Get moving, get breathing, get unified! Namaste.

References: Woodyard, Catherine. 2011. International Journal of Yoga. July-December, 4(2): 49-54.

Article written by Rachael Link, MS, RD on August 30, 2017 on healthline.com

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Courtesy of www.foodmatters.com

The prospect of isolation is a daunting one if we’re not already immersed in the entirety of it. Know that we appreciate you for doing your part in flattening the curve. Emotions are running high, but how can we accept this stress, anxiety, and overwhelm and guide it towards a positive outlook? We’re experiencing something the world has never seen before. Over the weekend in Australia, thousands of people were served the tough blow that they would not have jobs to return to on Monday, with no certainty of the future ahead.

This is awful, and there’s no way of denying that. But now we can question the best ways to channel light and positivity into our lives. We can do this in the best ways we know how; a gentle practice to share with ourselves. Yoga and meditation practices that revitalize energy flows and trigger healing are crucial at times like these. Everything we have learned, practiced, and developed has been in preparation for this moment. So here are a handful of free flows and meditations for every emotion and challenge you may be facing today.

These classes are all from our FMTV channel on Gaia, the world’s largest transformational network. If you’re looking to use your time at home wisely over the next few weeks you can try a 7 day free trial of Gaia here and start your journey to a better you. Together we’ve got this!

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1. Simple & Powerful Guided Meditation for Happiness

With everything going on in the universe, it’s hard to find a little positivity in your day.

Laurentine’s guided meditation for happiness invites a little cheer. This short and simple practice has a profound effect on our mood, so if you’ve woken up feeling less-than, invite a little smile.

2. Yoga for Digestive Health

We know that stress has a profound impact on our digestive system, and prolonged exposure can be devastating. With more time at home to work on ourselves, supporting this vital body pathway is made easy with this gentle 10-minute flow. Designed to cleanse and release stress and toxins from the body, a series of twists and sun salutations will leave you feeling revitalized and anew.

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3. Guided Meditation for Harmony & Relaxation

Koya Webb’s journey is one of resilience, overcoming challenges, and being at peace with the present. Her healing meditation leaves a feeling of oneness in oneself. By giving the body the space and tools it needs to heal, we embark on a journey deeper towards harmony and relaxation.

4. Core Strengthening Class

When our core is strong, the rest of our mind, body, and spirit follows suit. Our core strength is often at the center of all we do, so ensuring we have a strong and stable stomach will set the foundation for a grounded yoga flow. This 10-minute class supports the spine, moves the muscles, and leaves us with a fulfilled feeling of a good workout from the comfort of our yoga mats.

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5. Busy Mind Meditation

With the ever-connectedness of the world and an abundance of information that we’re constantly consuming (for good reason), it’s becoming increasingly difficult to calm and quiet our busy minds. Regain that control over your mind and rewire your neural pathways with Emily Spurling’s short-but-sweet meditation. Develop a way of understanding what thoughts we should keep, and all that we should let go of.

6. Hip-Opening Yoga Flow

This intense period in time has brought about a lot of emotion. Some good, a lot of negative, and many arising that we can’t quite make sense of. Yogis know that emotion is stored in the hips. By moving through a gentle series of openers, we not only release tension in this space of our somatic body but invite stored emotions to come forth. Join Koya Webb for a deliciously gentle flow that leaves you feeling limber and liberated.

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7. Daily Gratitude Meditation

With all the sham and drudgery of this current world, it’s difficult to focus on those things that we have. Family, shelter, love, health, guidance‌ These are all the very things that keep us thriving. Amid this crisis, appreciation for all can lift our spirits, mindset, and overall health. Tom Cronin’s short, 8-minute meditation is a beautiful way to adopt a daily gratitude practice.

8. Yoga for Wrists & Ankles

Given the opportunity, we can spend some of our time at home nurturing the very parts of our body that need tending to the most. For many, joint weakness is a challenge in the day-to-day world. Most prone to sprains and strains, these often neglected areas gain strength and stability throughout this simple series.

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9. 10-Minute Flow for Busy Souls

Despite spending more time at home, between looking after children trying to develop a new work routine, finding a spare moment in the day for ourselves might be harder than we think.

Even the most simple practice can still offer those benefits we know and love, so wake up a little earlier tomorrow and join us on the mat.

10. Meditation to Relax & Relieve Self-Doubt

Koya Webb’s meditation is a small gesture to bring in an abundance of self-love into these gloomy times. If you’re finding summoning the energy to practice yoga or any exercise challenging today, this meditation is the perfect way to invite presence and connection, and nourish you, soul, with a big bear-hug.

Over the coming weeks, we are making it our mission to keep our community connected, healthy and happy throughout this unknown time. Stay tuned across the Food Matters Facebook and Instagram for daily classes including; yoga & meditation, film shorts and healthy recipes!

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This is an example of a weekly workout plan that includes both strength/resistance training and burst training.

Legs 20 reps | Arms 15 reps | Chest/Back/Shoulders 12 reps

By Dr. Josh Axe, DC, DMN, CNS

You don’t need a gym membership. You don’t need fancy, expensive equipment. You don’t even have to leave your bedroom if you don’t want to! Burst training is a type of exercise that you can do anywhere, anytime.

It involves exercising at 90–100 percent of your maximum heart rate for 30–60 seconds, followed by 30–60 seconds of lower intensity exercise or resting.

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And it’s the most effective way to burn fat and lose weight. Studies have shown that people who do this type of burst or interval training lose SIX TIMES MORE FAT than people who do long distance cardio exercise.* And they exercise for HALF THE TIME! Here are some ideas to get you started. You can roll right out of bed in the morning and try any combination of these exercises. Pick a handful and burst for 10–20 minutes 3–5 times a week.

1. Run in place Keep your knees high and the speed fast. Make it really count!

2. Jumping Jacks This reminds me of my high school gym class days. But maybe they were onto something. See how many jumping jacks you can fit inside 30 seconds.

3. Squat pulses With your feet shoulder distance apart, squat low and move up and down slightly. Make sure your knees don’t come past your toes.

4. Jump rope Connect with your inner child and pick up a jump rope. Can you still double dutch?

5. Bike You can exercise in bursts either on a spin bike indoors or a bicycle outside. This is also a great exercise that can involve the whole family.

6. Swim Ok, so this one only works if you have a pool at your house. But if you don’t, you can swim in bursts anytime you’re at a lake, beach or community pool.

7. High jumps You don’t have to be Michael Jordan to get benefits from high jumping. Simply stand in place, reach your arms above your head and jump as fast you can for 30-60 seconds. *Results not typical, as regular exercise and proper nutrition are essential to achieving and maintaining your desired physique. Even using the same exact program of diet and exercise, be aware that individual results will vary.

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The Soil Solution

Photo by Gabriel Jimenez on Unsplash

By Laura Poppick, published by www.knowablemagazine.org on 03.11.2020

Policymakers, entrepreneurs and farmers are increasingly looking to soils in their fight to slow climate change.

On a steely November morning, Dorn Cox tours me around the dairy farm where he works in Freeport, Maine. The hummocky coastal landscape has begun to brown for the winter, and the scraggly pastures feel lifeless as we shiver in freezing rain.

But Cox, research director at the 600-acre Wolfe’s Neck Center for Agriculture and the Environment, paints a far brighter portrait of these dreary fields. He describes networks of fungi bustling with activity beneath the wilting grass — feeding on sugars at tips of roots, sponging up rainwater and extending tendrils that nourish the pasture with nutrients. To him, this ground is a subsurface garden teeming with life. “Soil is not built, it’s grown,” he says.

The key ingredient fueling all this life: carbon. Plants generate it through photosynthesis and trade it with soil microbes in exchange for nutrients. It’s a virtuous cycle — the more carbon that plants send toward the soil, the more plentiful microbes become, and the healthier the plants grow. And because carbon locked up in soils is carbon not floating in our atmosphere, carbon-rich soils make for a healthier climate, too, Cox says. “It’s very difficult to improve soil health and not have a climate benefit.”

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Lush soils appeal not just to farmers but, increasingly, to policymakers and entrepreneurs scrambling to slow climate change, with mounting pressure from the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement that calls on nations to keep global warming from reaching 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels this century. (The United States has taken steps to withdraw from the agreement, but nearly 200 other nations remain committed.)

A growing body of research from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recognizes sustainable agriculture as key to slowing warming. So scientists like Cox are probing and tweaking farm practices to optimize soil health, and a soil-centric carbon marketplace has begun to emerge offering farmers financial incentives to adopt these practices. Now, as technologies allow farmers to share more data and monitor their soils more readily than ever, new tools are available to further cultivate this multipronged solution sitting right beneath their feet.

To harness this momentum, Cox and colleagues have launched an ambitious project to pool all these new data into a single online platform and encourage researchers and farmers to share strategies on how best to keep carbon underground. Called OpenTEAM — Open Technology Ecosystem for Agricultural Management — the project aims to woo farmers to change their practices in relatively minor ways that could eventually have major impacts on their bottom line, and the environment.

So far, the team consists of about 20 regional “hub farms” around the country including research farms, production farms and combinations of the two like the Wolfe’s Neck Center, which sells all its milk to the organic yogurt and dairy company Stonyfield. These hub farms will host field trials of the OpenTEAM software during the 2020 growing season to help iron out kinks and get other farmers on board and comfortable with the system.

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“It’s exactly the sort of collaborative platform that’s needed,” says Peter Smith, a soil scientist at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. Soil carbon storage, he says, is a no-brainer tactic in mitigating climate change, though it is limited in how far it can take us: At their best, global soils can store just 2 to 5 of the roughly 37 gigatons of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere each year. And, over time, they can become saturated and stop absorbing more.

But given all the ways that soil carbon boosts farm productivity, there’s no reason not to include it in the suite of tools used to meet the Paris Agreement, Smith says. “Just about everything it does is beneficial.”

Shoots to soils

Carbon worms its way into soil through several pathways that research has recently helped clarify. It turns out that living plants play a much larger role in sending carbon underground than scientists had once thought, says Steven Banwart, a soil scientist at the University of Leeds and author of a report on soil ecology in the 2019 Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences.

Farmers have perceived dead plant material as a key source of soil carbon (plants are roughly 45 percent carbon), and mulches and composts as the means to get it into farm fields. But this is just a fraction of the story, Banwart says. “Plants are actually pushing carbon, minute by minute as they are photosynthesizing, out into the soil.”

Up to a third of the sugars plants create during photosynthesis goes not to leaf and stem growth, but to growth of fungi that rapidly spread out of plant roots and into the soil — sometimes expanding by up to a centimeter per day. In return, the fungi offer up nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus that plants can’t make on their own.

Biologists have known about this symbiosis for years, but new technology allows scientists to quantify it and watch it unfold. In the lab, researchers can expose plants to carbon-14 — a radioactive carbon isotope — and use imagery to track the isotope as it travels from the air, into leaves and down through roots within hours. “You’ll suddenly find, within a day, bright spots on that image out at the tips of these fungi,” Banwart says.

These images show that carbon storage calls for more than just compost — it requires an ongoing boost to those underground alliances. But many conventional farming practices hurt rather than help those relationships, Cox says. The heavy steel plows that churn up topsoil during tillage, for example, rip fragile fungal threads that facilitate symbiosis. Low-till or no-till methods keep those threads intact by more delicately managing fields.

But low-till methods take more time and effort than quick-tilling rides through fields on a tractor, and this can push farmers away from these practices. That’s especially since the capacity of soils to hold carbon — and thus crop yield and overall farm health — have largely been anecdotal, Cox says. He hopes that the data-driven evidence compiled through OpenTEAM will help persuade more farmers to adopt soil-friendly practices.

Cox describes OpenTEAM as an “ecosystem” of soil maps, satellite imagery, app software and other soil analysis technologies that have existed scattered around the Internet but have never

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been pulled together on a single platform. In many cases, they have been hard to find or difficult to use.

Cox hopes pooling these tools will make them collectively stronger and more user-friendly for farmers. A Yale-based group called Quick Carbon, for example, is designing an app to help farmers estimate soil carbon out in fields based on reflectivity (darker soils tend to contain more carbon) using a handheld tool called a reflectometer. It would offer a less cumbersome and less expensive alternative to lab-testing soil samples. But to strengthen those field estimates, Quick Carbon needs ample, well-tested data to calibrate measurements, and OpenTEAM members could help compile them.

Cox and colleagues are now working to ease the flow of such data so that the information can travel seamlessly from one online platform to the next, with a goal of completing the preliminary setup this year.

Brewing the incentive

Pooling tools and data like this is “a terrific idea,� says Lini Wollenberg, a natural resource management specialist with CGIAR, a global research consortium, and the University of Vermont.

But for the information to really make a change, farmers will need to stick with the methods.

Carbon is constantly in flux, and soil accumulations can quickly travel back into the atmosphere as environmental conditions change or as farming practices shift. A farmer practicing no-till methods over several seasons, for example, can fast undo progress by resorting back to tillage.

One way to encourage farmers to stick with carbon-friendly practices is to provide an immediate financial incentive. That’s what the Seattle-based startup Nori is doing, by building a marketplace that rewards farmers for storing carbon in their fields. (Nori is a partner of OpenTEAM, along with more than a dozen other companies, nonprofits and research groups tackling soil health from different angles.)

Photo by Dylan de Jonge on Unsplash

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Through Nori, farmers commit to adopting a suite of sustainable practices — such as low-till methods or cover cropping to keep carbon-friendly root masses intact year-round. At their best, these practices can increase carbon storage by up to about 1.5 metric tons of carbon dioxide per acre per year, Nori estimates, and farmers can sell what are called Nori Carbon Removal Tonnes (NRTs) to individuals or corporations interested in taking climate action. Once farmers have chosen their methods, Nori connects them with an accredited third-party verifier who estimates how much carbon their practices will store over a 10-year period.

“No one is being forced to pay for carbon removal, but they see its value,” says Christophe Jospe, Nori cofounder and chief development officer. Corporations, for example, may experience pressure from their shareholders to reach certain sustainability goals, or they may recognize marketing potential in taking this voluntary step.

The first pilot project was launched last year at Harborview Farms, a 13,000-acre operation in Maryland that grows soybeans, corn and wheat, and several other pilots are in the works to demonstrate the supply and demand within the market. For now, the NRTs are listed at $15, though farmers will ultimately be able to choose rates based on supply and demand, similar to sale at a grain elevator. “The farmer is generating a digital crop that they can take to the elevator based on the market price,” Jospe says.

As Cox and I walk along the muddy road through sleet, he mentions that food companies are increasingly wising up to benefits of sourcing from climate-conscious farms. Stonyfield, Wolfe’s Neck's primary client, was a founding member of OpenTEAM. And General Mills also has jumped on board in hopes of encouraging its supply farms to adopt more sustainable practices and so help the company meet its own climate goals.

Passing a dairy barn on our right, Cox adds that these companies haven’t before had a good way of quantifying how close they were to meeting their goals. He hopes OpenTEAM will change that — and, in the end, that the project cultivates not just a thriving techno-ecosystem, but actual ecosystems, right on farms. “We are creating habitat,” he says.

------------------------------------------------------------------------Laura Poppick is a freelance science and environmental journalist based in Maine who enjoys being elbow-deep in her garden soils.

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Photo by Ramiz Dedaković on Unsplash

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Photo by Joseph Phillips

New Discovery: Penguins Vocalise Under Water When They Hunt Article courtesy of www.theconversation.com, aurthors AndrĂŠa Thiebault, Isabelle Charrier, Pierre Pistorius and Thierry Aubin.

Penguins, like all seabirds, are known to be highly vocal on land where they come to breed. They use these vocalisations to help them recognise their mate and kin.

Outside of the breeding season, seabirds spend most of their life at sea and are adapted to the marine environment where they feed. Penguins are very unique among seabirds for their extreme diving abilities. They can perform series of dives to depths of between 20 and 500m (depending on the species) in search of fish, krill, or squid.

Given the penguins’ diving abilities, we wanted to know if they produced sound underwater. To do this, our Marine Apex Predator Research Unit (MAPRU) team at Nelson Mandela University (South Africa) attached small video loggers, with built-in microphones, on the back of three species of penguins: the King penguin, the Gentoo penguin and the Macaroni penguin.

Our study provides the first evidence that penguins emit sounds under water when they hunt.

Recording penguins at sea

Because of recording difficulties, very little was previously known about the vocalisations of penguins when they are at sea. However, thanks to recent developments in technology, such

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observation becomes accessible, in particular through the use of miniaturised penguin-borne video loggers.

We used video loggers and recorded 203 underwater vocalisations from all three species over almost five hours of underwater footage: 34 from two King penguins, a single one from a Macaroni penguin and 168 from Gentoo penguins.

These species were chosen because they reflect the diversity of feeding strategies in penguins.

The King penguin is specialised to feed on fish at a substantial depth (200m), whereas the Macaroni penguin feeds mostly on schooling krill within the first 10m of the water column. In contrast, the Gentoo penguin displays a very diverse foraging strategy, feeding on all sorts of prey at all depths.

The birds were caught as they left their breeding colonies at Marion Island (a sub-Antarctic island off South Africa) on the way out to the sea. We then retrieved the cameras after a single foraging trip.

We found that all vocalisations were short and emitted during dives when the penguin was hunting. Most vocalisations (73%) happened during the bottom phase of the dives. This is where penguins mostly catch their food, as opposed to the descent and ascent.

Here is a video showing a full dive by a King penguin, as observed from the penguin-borne video loggers:

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Here is a short clip showing only a few underwater vocalisations associated with prey capture:

More than 50% of the vocalisations were directly associated with a hunting behaviour: immediately after they had accelerated (chasing prey) or immediately after an attempt at catching prey.

Because vocalisations were produced by all three species of penguins, it suggests that underwater vocal behaviour may exist in other penguin species. The vocalisations were also recorded in higher proportion when penguins were feeding on fish, compared to krill and squid.

This suggests they could be more common in penguins that feed on fish.

Unexpected?

Our findings on their vocal behaviour were totally unexpected, though some of the penguin acoustics experts on our team in France had their suspicions about what we might discover.

We already knew that the use of vocalisations at the sea surface was related to group formation in the Gentoo penguins and that African penguins vocalise from the sea surface mostly whencommuting (possibly to keep contact with one another) and foraging on bait-balls (possibly to synchronise their behaviours).

There is also evidence which shows that other air-breathing marine predators – such as dolphins, seals and marine turtles – produce sound under water. So why not penguins as well?

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Door open for future research

From our observations, new questions have arisen. For example, how are penguins able to produce such sound under water, given the high pressure at depth? And why are they vocalising under water? Are all these vocalisations signalling the same information? Do they produce other underwater vocalisations in different contexts? Are they related to physiological needs for a predator diving and feeding in apnoea – to adjust buoyancy? Could they have a function in social interactions? Could they be part of a hunting technique and be used to startle prey?

We hope recent developments in technology will continue to provide more insights into the penguins’ fascinating behaviour.

Université Paris-Saclay provides funding as a founding partner of The Conversation FR. Nelson Mandela University provides support as an endorsing partner of The Conversation AFRICA. The Conversation is funded by the National Research Foundation, eight universities, including the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Rhodes University, Stellenbosch University and the Universities of Cape Town, Johannesburg, Kwa-Zulu Natal, Pretoria, and South Africa. It is hosted by the Universities of the Witwatersrand and Western Cape, the African Population and Health Research Centre and the Nigerian Academy of Science. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is a Strategic Partner. more

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Photo by Burst on Pexels

Lockdown – How Do Our Pets Deal With This?

By Paul Jacobson of Vondis

Let’s be honest, if our pets had a choice to go for walkies or spend time with their human family, they would choose the love, care and attention that are now receiving at home.

These circumstances are unreal and a huge inconvenience for all. But, we are under a state of emergency and when we flatten the curve we get back to normality. As tempting as it may be to walk our dogs outside of set exercise times, this would set a bad example and may encourage others not to honour social distancing.

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Stay calm at home (have a few whiskeys) and your pets will interpret you state as stress free and your companions will not be angered or upset.

Not getting out is an issue especially if your homes/flats does not have grounds or lawns. But our pets learn quickly. Place AstroTurf or newspaper and place urine on it ( either the dogs or yours). Reaffirm good behaviour when they pee on the paper with praise and a snack.

Then we have the other issue of little exercise but one can be innovative at home with games, throwing the ball, chasing, wrestling, etc. They also need the stimulation so think of games like hide and seek, hiding treats, etc.

Whilst, you need time out, your pet can relax with you (sleep) or offer a nice raw chewy bone.

There are also toys where your pet has to work out how to remove the treat.

Diet is extremely important at the moment for all ( Prof Tim Noakes at it again with his understanding of the virus) and this applies to our pets. We pray that the readers will take this opportunity to reassess diets and perhaps even start preparing their own home-made meals.

After all, one cannot use the excuse that we have no time. Besides the health benefits from a wholesome natural diet, proper food ( rather than high refined and sugar diets) results in a low anti-inflammatory digestion which in turn leads to a calm and relaxed outcome.

Other supplements that are useful to calm your pet are: CBD oils (no THC), apple cider vinegar, rooibos oils, chamomile, mints and probiotics.

Let’s take this unique opportunity to pay lots of attention to our dear companion animals, offered them love and they in turn will save our struggling souls with love, wagging tails and kissing.

Stay Safe. Stay Healthy. Sleep lots. Keep warm

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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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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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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.

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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

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The Beautiful Hopi Indian Labyrinth at Thirsty Falls Guest Farm

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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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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: • •

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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

www.savethechildren.org.za Conscious Life Magazine

Hotel Hope Ministries is a fully registered South African non-profit organisation established with aim of ensuring that each and every child is brought up in a safe, happy and healthy home so that they can grow up and develop into responsible and positive adults. Although children are our main focus, we have a holistic approach to the problem of orphaned and abandoned children. We realise that we need to focus on the cause of the problem too and not only the symptoms. So we have projects to focus on assisting Mothers and Fathers, so that they can look after themselves and their children.

We group our projects under three focus areas: BABIES IN NEED Creating and supporting several small family style foster homes for orphaned and abandoned babies.

MOTHERS IN CRISIS Providing young mothers facing unplanned pregnancies with counselling, guidance and practical support.

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE Helping Mothers and Fathers to help themselves by providing jobs and skill development opportunities through our fundraising and trading projects.

As a fully registered South African charity we are registered with the following authorities: · Section 21 company without share capital - 2010/006792/08 · Non-Profit Organization (NPO) number – 084 289 · Public Benefit Organization (PBO) number – 930 034 387 Mission statement: To engage the local Church Worldwide to embrace its God given responsibility of taking care of destitute mothers and orphaned and abandoned children.

Vision statement: To see a full service (either ourselves or in partner with others) covering: •Children’s homes •Adoption advocacy •Mothers in crisis •Counselling centres •Training Academy •Charity shops / trading Conscious Life Magazine

Our fundraising model: We have a unique funding model in place where we are able to generate funds to cover 100% of our administrative costs through our Charity Shop(s) as well as the output of our carpentry workshop and sewing workshop. We are extremely committed to Social enterprise as it creates employment in South Africa, funds for the Charity, volunteering opportunities as well as a lowpriced outlet for customers from low-income groups. Furthermore we can assure donors that 100% of their support will directly benefit the children in our care as well as mothers in crisispregnancy situations.

Thank you to our donors and corporate sponsors: As an organisation we are incredibly blessed to have many active supporters, individuals and corporates, who make it possible for us to do what we do and to make a difference. People often comment that it must be difficult to work in our environment hearing sad stories all the time, and it is sometimes hard, but it is also so rewarding to see those stories turning into stories of hope and it is so inspiring and such a privilege to witness people, like our supporters, coming forward to help and to give so generously. There are amazing people out there in the world, click here to see who some of them are and how they have made a difference‌ Click here Our Sponsors:

DONATE FINANCIALLY Deposit or Electronic transfer directly into our account First National Bank Account name: Hotel Hope Account number: 62194003382 Branch: Melville, Johannesburg Branch code (sort code): 256505 Account type: Cheque account SWIFT code: FIRNZAJJ (For international deposits) Reference: Donation (your name) OTHER WAYS TO DONATE/HELP US Conscious Life Magazine

Dear Reader, Because of animal lovers like you, Humane Society International is working around the clock to fight the gruesome dog meat industry – to end it for good.

We’ve slammed the doors permanently on nine dog meat farms in South Korea and rescued more than 900 dogs. Not only that, but we’re lobbying hard for better laws throughout Asia to fight the cruelty, transition farmers out of the business of cruelty, and so much more.

Here is one transformation that we can't stop smiling about. Sophie was rescued just this year from a horrible life on a dog meat farm. Now, she is running free and playing in the grass, surrounded by the love of her forever family:

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This kind of ending never gets old, but so many other dogs still need you.

You can make a difference for dogs caught up in this brutal industry: Sign the dog meat pledge today.

With you by our side, we're committed to this huge fight against the dog meat trade. We’re closing farms and rescuing the animals; we’re raising public and political awareness of the cruelty involved; and we’re growing substantial support for a phase out and ban of South Korea’s dog meat farms. Become a part of the global campaign to end the dog meat trade—sign your name right now.

Thank you, for protecting animals from cruelty all across the globe.

Sincerely, Kitty Block President Humane Society International

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Who we are: The Monkey Helpline, started in 1995, is a volunteer group, based in Westville near Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, but operating throughout the province and also anywhere else in South Africa and abroad where our assistance and advice are requested.

Our team of dedicated rescuers and rescue assistants, veterinarians, educators, monitors, fund-raisers, administrative assistants and supporters is what makes this project the success that it is today.

Monkey Helpline is a registered NPO. 130-166 NPO

What we do: As a team we devote our time to educating people about the reasons why the monkeys are here, why monkeys behave the way they do, the things people should do or not do when monkeys are around, and how to humanely keep monkeys away from those places where they are not welcome. Just knowing that monkeys will NOT attack and bite people, and that they DON’T carry rabies, is usually enough to change antagonism and fear into tolerance, and frequently into appreciation.

We also run a rescue operation and a “high care” unit. We rescue an average of three monkeys every two days, and their injuries range from wounds sustained during fights with other monkeys, dog bites, being run over by motor vehicles, electrocuted, snared, trapped or poisoned, shot with airguns (pellet/BB guns), catapults, paintball guns and firearms, as well as being caught or injured on razor-wire. Many are babies who are orphaned or injured when mother monkeys are attacked by dogs or other monkeys, or are severely injured or killed in human-related incidents.

Over eighty percent of the monkeys we rescue, irrespective of the reason why, have got air-gun pellets lodged in their bodies. Lead pellets cause terrible pain, suffering and a lingering death and no person, adult or child, should ever shoot monkeys, or any other animals, with an air-gun.

As the only dedicated monkey rescue project in KwaZulu-Natal, the Monkey Helpline is available to do rescues 24 hours a day, every day! On any given day we are treating ten or more monkeys in our home-based high care unit – frequently in excess of twenty monkeys! Once they have recovered from their injuries these monkeys are released back into their home territory, transferred to a rehabilitation facility or placed in a sanctuary.

Education is a vital tool in our hands and we distribute thousands of information leaflets, and visit many schools (at least two schools per week) to do educational talks about the monkeys. During 2009 we spoke to over 40 000 school learners and their teachers. We also do talks to many other interest groups such as police cadets, garden clubs, public service groups, conservation bodies, body corporates, etc. In addition, we advise farmers, businesses, hotels and casinos, housing and golfing estates, botanical gardens etc on the best ways to manage human/monkey “conflict”.

Monkey Helpline networks with a number of other Vervet-related individuals, groups, and general primate- and animal-care NGO’s.

NB. There is no charge for the services we offer, but donations towards the cost of running the project are welcome. Without your support we would not be able to change attitudes and legislation in favour of the monkeys nor would we be able to rescue the hundreds that we do every year and alleviate their suffering.

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