Conscious Life Magazine March 2016 Issue 21

*FREE DIGITAL MAG *ISSUE 21 *MARCH 2016

Shining a light on

From Big Brother to Conscious

Mother Understanding

Healing with Hypnosis

SUPPLEMENTS Inspirations from Madiba The of

Defining

�

Have your

A Native American Perspective Getting to know

BARS run Family Constellations

7 Truths of

conscious life magazine – living with intent

Cover model: Margaret Westerhof

PUBLISHER 2Luni Media EDITOR Linda Navon 071 346 8138 OUR “Little Boss” Carmen Ché Jardim SALES & MARKETING Cj Stott Matticks 082 900 1010 FREELANCE WRITER Arizona Quinn DISTRIBUTION & RESEARCH Lee Coulter OFFICES Sonata Square Olivedale TEL: (011) 462-2900 0110 262 643 FOR ADVERTISING PLEASE CALL Cj ON 082 900 1010 Email: candida@childoftheuniverse.co.za 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. www.childoftheuniverse.co.za

MEDIA PARTNERS

ed’s letter Hello lovely people It’s hard to believe that we are already in the third month of 2016, the first term of school coming up for a break, and Autumn on our doorsteps. Time to start hauling our moth-balled winter kit out again!

A couple of weeks ago whilst doing the ‘aisle-dance’ through a Clicks store, with my 4 year-old grand daughter throwing a tantrum – yes, I bribed her – with the first thing that came to hand. I grabbed this snazzy looking snack, ON THE GO, and now we are all hooked. Best kept close at hand, and I can guarantee it will be scoffed fast!

In this edition we catch up with Margaret, remembering her from the first Big Brother – now she is a business woman of note, and a conscious mother.

We take a look at the importance of Dietary Supplements, and recommend a few that we have tried and tested. How else would we make it through the ‘all-nighters’ of putting our fantastic magazines together for you…

We focus on the importance of dietary supplements along with the exercise program by Lisa Raleigh. Sue has an interesting ‘secret recipe’ for you, plus some other yummy meals. Mary-Ann’s is showcasing her natural health store and there are a couple of really cool courses on offer. If you are one of the people feeling the changes going on and the general feeling of chaos, never fear, you are not alone.

On a lighter note, get outdoors and enjoy the beautiful changes in colour this Autumn. Please remember to do your bit on the 19th for Earth Hour – make it fun!

Until next month, be well and keep smiling Linda xxx

TO ENTER: Email your full name, contact number, address for courier delivery and cc 5 of your friends: usncompetition@childoftheuniverse.co.za Subject: USN ActiLife Competition Draw will take place on 5th April 2016. Winners will be notified by telephone or email.

Conscious Life Contributing Team & Experts HANNA KOK

LOUISE L. HAY

AMY McCREADY

HEATHER PICTON

SUE VISSER

GREGG PRESCOTT

MARGIE McALPINE

HELEN HANSEN

DANIEL HOFINGER

LISA RALEIGH

NICKY HAMID

VANESSA BURGER

contents COVER  MARGARET WESTERHOF - MAGS FROM BIG BROTHER TO CONSCIOUS MOTHER

 THE MAGS BRAND  INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES FROM NELSON MANDELA  WE ARE ONE – A NATIVE AMERICAN PERSPECTIVE

 CRAZYWIZE – ‘MENTAL ILLNESS’ DEFINED  PROTECT THE THINGS YOU CARE ABOUT BODY MIND & SOUL           

LOUISE L. HAY NEWSLETTER 7 MYTHS OF MEDITATION IT’S ALL IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND WHAT IF RECEIVING OPENS THE POSSIBILITY FOR EVERYTHING? WHERE DOES THE TERM ‘TREE HUGGERS’ COME FROM THE EMOTIONAL CHAOS OF NOW ANGELS IN HARMONY LOVE FREQUENCIES WHY WE GRAVITATE TO COLOURS FAMILY CONSTELLATIONS –THE THEORY & PRACTICE THE ROLE OF HYPNOSIS IN HEALING

contents HELP YOURSELF TO HEALTH         

33 USES OF COCONUT OIL WHY DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS ARE SO BENEFICIAL LISA’S HEALTHY RECIPES CHOOSE BALANCE OVER EXCESS WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU STOP EATINGT MEAT THE SECRET USES OF EGGSHELLS UNDERSTANDING ADULT ADHD GETTING TO KNOW BACOPA THE FUTURE OF THE KETOGENIC DIET

EXERCISE & FITNESS  WORKOUT WITH LISA RALEIGH

ANIMAL WORLD  DOG FOOD: TEN SCARY TRUTHS  IF YOU CAN START THE DAY WITHOUT… THEN YOU KNOW YOU ARE NOT A DOG!

READING  THE LATEST FROM HAY HOUSE OUT & ABOUT  A NIGHT OUT WITH NIANEL  DRUMMING UP DOLPHIN FUN

MARGARET & DANIEL

MAGS & MOM – CLARE FORTMAN

MARGARET – A LIFE IN PICTURES - WITH A VISION

GETTING TO KNOW MARGARET WESTERHOF (MAGS) TODAY Hey Mags, just pop your answers below the questions, don’t think too hard about how to answer, just write as you normally do on Facebook. Answer the questions that you want to answer.

CHILDHOOD WHAT WAS YOUR CHILDHOOD LIKE? DID YOU HAVE A VIVID IMAGINATION, WERE YOU A DREAMER, DID YOU DRIVE YOUR TEACHERS UP THE WALL OR WERE YOU AN ‘APPLE POLISHER’ (TEACHER’S PET) We had a stunning free farm-styled childhood, growing up was very basic for us, we didn’t have much but we had a lot, if it makes any sense, mostly we had each other and a very close family. On the teacher front, well let’s just say I was a straight A student but all things changed when the hormones kicked in - then I was no longer teachers’ pet… ahhahahahhah!

WHAT WAS THE MOST REBELLIOUS THING YOU DID AS A TEENAGER? Far too many to tell but one thing that pops into mind was peroxiding my hair and then rocking up to school like that – let’s just say I had to wear a wig until my colour grew out…. Enough said.

DID YOU KNOW WHAT YOU WANTED TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP? I always knew it was in the entertainment industry. I knew I wanted to be creative and to help change the world like that – so here I am….

WHAT QUALITIES WOULD YOU LIKE TO INSTILL IN DANIEL THAT SERVE HIM FOR THEREST OF HIS LIFE? Manners, Manners and Manners – if you have manners in life it will get you very far.

CAREER HOW DID BECOMING SUCH A WELL-KNOWN PERSONALITY, STARTING FROM YOUR BIG BROTHER DAYS, AFFECT YOUR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS? It has been a very long hard road, the sudden fame shocked our family and we were not prepared for it, then comes the ‘behind the scenes struggle’ to maintain the ‘stardom’. It’s not all what it’s made out to be and mostly it’s a long lonely road to keep afloat, but I have an amazing support system and I’m very lucky to have my life turn out like it has. I’m exceptionally blessed in every single way, I couldn’t ask for more.

WERE YOU SHY IN FRONT OF THE CAMERAS OR DID IT ALL COME NATURALLY – LIKE YOUR BEAUTY? (LOL Mags, we won’t mention that you were the first one to take off her top in the shower on the first Sunday of BB… !! I remember the days fondly of everyone congregating in Riverglades Clubhouse watching ‘our loud neighbour’ on BB – our Margaret with the big laugh) Aahhahahahhah well no I wasn’t shy, I was a 22 year old given this opportunity, I wasn’t about to go and get all shy, I was going to exhaust every opportunity even if it was getting naked for the first time on camera – besides my body was rocking, I wouldn’t dare do it now hahahhah.

WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE YOU HAVE HAD TO FACE AND HOW DID YOU OVERCOME IT? Definitely my divorce, simply heartbreaking for everyone, it affects not only the immediate family but everyone involved. I would be here all day to tell you how I have overcome it but let’s just say ONE DAY AT A TIME. I hated people telling me that but looking back it’s the only way I have survived the revolting ordeal called divorce. The only one that can pull you through your hardest time is God, when you realize that you will realize a world of happiness and resolution that awaits.

HAS YOUR FAME BEEN OF BENEFIT TO YOU IN YOUR LIFE NOW? Yes most certainly, but it’s what I have made of it, I extended my shelf life to over 10 years in the industry but in 2011 I decided that it was enough and time for my family and Daniel and of course the business. Fame can get you so far but it isn’t something you can sell and if you can’t sell it then what is it worth? My goal is to build the business for another 8 years and sell it… so we are on the road to the goal.

WHO IS MAGS NOW? IF YOU COULD START YOUR WORKING LIFE ALL OVER AGAIN, WHAT WOULD YOUR ALTERNATIVE CHOICE OF CAREER HAVE BEEN? Nothing I’m right where I want to be.

WHAT ARE YOUR ‘GUILTY PLEASURES’? WHAT DO YOU DO AS A TREAT TO YOURSELF Full body massages.

NAME FOUR THINGS YOU HAVE IN YOUR BUCKET LIST Monaco Grand Prix on a yacht, sit front row in a Roberto Cavalli Paris show, free dive with a whale, design my new home (currently in the making), and have more children. (Ed’s note… she still can’t count!)

HAVE YOU EVER MADE AN ABSOLUTE ‘SPECTACLE’ OF YOURSELF IN PUBLIC? TELL US ABOUT IT! I would rather leave this one out.

IF YOU COULD MEET ANY ONE PERSON, DEAD OR ALIVE, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY? Robert Downy Jnr. Simply he is the best actor, businessman and he does it all sober… respect!!

WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO IMPROVE SOUTH AFRICA? How did I know this question was going to come up…. I would officialize the # especially since it has become the leader for the ‘must fall’ campaign…

ANY WORDS OF WISDOM YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH OUR READERS? Just stop being so serious and laugh! (Ed’s note: take a listen to Margaret, she has the loudest most contagious laugh) Thanks Mags We wish you a blessed life with an even more colourful future Keep laughing, always Love Linda xx

About TMB It is with this 16yr experience that we pride ourselves in a local and national footprint with an extensive infrastructure that can add value to the needs & demands of your business. Our dynamic & committed team will reach the goals of your Marketing, or Conceptual projects. Working nationally and into the African continent we have had the privilege of working with some top brands, Vodacom, MTN, Cuddlers, Always, ABI, Garnier and PEP are amongst some of the big names.

This experience has given us the edge we need to be great at what we do.

The team is led by Margaret Westerhof who has enjoyed 12 years in the entertainment industry as a TV and Radio personality, with extensive experience in Marketing and PR� Margaret Van Der Westhuizen was part of Big Brother 1, 13 years ago, It has been 13 years of gracing magazine covers, hosting TV shows, and co hosting and producing the afternoon drive on KZN, CT, JHB radio stations. Mags is a devoted mother.

BUSINESS HEAD Margaret Westerhof 083 654 0906 mags@themagsbrand.co.za

TELEVISION APPEARANCES Mags has been involved in a number of television productions  Big Brother 1 Housemate 2001.  Hosted the Durban leg of Idols, interacting with the contestants.  Presented Miss South Africa MNet.  3 Talk with Noleen – interviewed her at the Ushaka Marine World KZN.  Presented Blonde Ambisie with Patricia Lewis for two years in a row.  Scripted in to the Project Fame reality show as a prank & was also one of the celebrity guests who were invited to contend in the Project Fame House before the contestants arrived.  Hosted D-Jays on DSTV.  ETV for a East Coast’s Promotional Campaign.  Official female presenter for Shark Bite Supersport TV programme for the Super 14 (This entailed introducing the show, supplying sufficient information with regards to the rugby logs and knowing who plays what in which position and of course the points system and so on. Interviewing supporters and knowing the products that are being promoted during the game as to throw forward to the events)  Mags was extensively involved with the entertainment at the games and broadcasting onto the big screens while interviewing supporters in the crowds.  Mags opened up the Sharks vs. Brumbies at the ABSA stadium for the Super 14. ( & ran the Sharks rugby team on to the field)  SPCA corporate DVD presenter and voiceover, KZN  Give n Win  ETV Siyadlala “Health Note” SABC 2  Hybrid Living SABC 3  Radio Exchange radio show host to BBC Radio UK  East Coast Radio Afternoon Drive co host and producer  KZN Heart 104.9 Afternoon Drive co host and producer , Cape Town.  Jacaranda 94.2 music radio show host - JHB  YeboRadio Commercial Presenter – JHB

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

1. “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” (Tweet) 2. “A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination.”

(Tweet) 3. “Do not judge me by my successes, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.”

4. “The time for the healing of the wounds has come. The moment to bridge the chasms that divide us has come. The time to build is upon us.”

5. “No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin or his background or his religion.

People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite”

6. “There is no passion to be found playing small–in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.”

7. “For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”

8. “If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner.”

9. “Money won’t create success, the freedom to make it will.” (Tweet) 10. “I am fundamentally an optimist. Whether that comes from nature or nurture, I cannot say. Part of being optimistic is keeping one’s head pointed toward the sun, one’s feet moving forward. There were many dark moments when my faith in humanity was sorely tested, but I would not and could not give myself up to despair. That way lays defeat and death.”

We Are One – A Native American Perspective

As a society, we have lost that connection to nature and how it interacts with every form of life. We have bought into ego, materialism, and greed at the expense of depleting our resources and subsequently killing that which keeps us alive.

The following video contains quotes from Floyd Red Crow Westerman, Oren Lyons, and Russell Means. These Native American words of wisdom show our link to all life and the future of our planet.

The driving point in this video is the story of the tree. If you cut down one tree, you are also affecting everything that relied upon that tree, such as herbs and plants that grow near specific trees and any animal or bird life that existed in that particular tree. You’re also depleting the regenerative ability for that tree to purify our air. Just one single tree connects so many living things in the forest as they are all related and interplay with one another.

We are all one child spinning through Mother Sky. ~ Shawnee Tribe

Red Crow Westerman stated, “We are all from the Earth and when Earth, water, the atmosphere is corrupted, then it will create it’s own reaction.

Mother is reacting.”

We are preoccupied with nonsensical distractions such as sports, television, and most importantly, the feeling that we need to be economic slaves to a broken system of fiat currency. We are literal slaves to the almighty dollar and are willing to work 40-plus hours, 5 days a week until we are no longer able to work anymore. For what? And why?

Aho Mitakyue Oyasin means in Lakota “We are all one” – not just all one with a part, but one with the whole .

“I, Chief Arvol Looking Horse, Keeper of the Sacred C’anupa brought to the Lakota-Dakota-Nakota Nation by the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Woman nineteen generations ago. Mitakuye Oyasin has a bigger meaning than just our blood relatives. Yes, it’s true; we are all one human race. But the word Mitakuye means relations and Oyasin means more than family, more than a Nation, more than all of humankind.

Everything that has a spirit. The interconnectedness of all beings and all things. We are all One”

by Gregg Prescott, M.S., BodyMindSoulSpirit.com

1. I took my youngest daughter to see her favourite musician/YouTuber in concert.

It wasn't someone I had much interest in seeing, but she's a little young to be in a music venue alone, so I bought an extra ticket and hung out at the fringes of the teenage crowd.

Because this performer shared his coming out story quite publicly on his YouTube channel and now writes songs about that experience, he has developed a large following among GLBTQ youth. Probably at least half (maybe more) of the audience in the crowded room was from that community.

I was struck especially by three separate young men at the fringes of the room. They knew every word of every song and sang along with rapt attention. These were all young men who have probably spent much of their lives on the fringes - not finding a place of belonging because they don't fit the stereotype of what a teenage boy is supposed to look like or who they're supposed to fall in love with. And yet, in that room, they fit in and were accepted.

They'd found a musician who was like them and therefore made them feel safe to be who they are. They belonged and they were witnessed.

It was a beautiful thing to witness - a space where teenagers who don't normally fit in can find belonging. When the performer shared his coming out story from the stage, there was loud and prolonged applause. They were safe, they were affirmed, they weren't the weirdo's in the room.

2. My oldest daughter, a university art student, turned twenty while we were traveling, so in honour of her birthday, we spent much of Saturday visiting art galleries.

In the Weisman Art Museum, there's a unique interactive art installation that invites you through a doorway into the hallway of an apartment building. The hallway is silent until you lean on the apartment doors, and then you can hear what's going on inside. There are six doors, and inside each one is a different soundscape. I was mesmerized and listened at every doorway.

Through one of the doors, the only sound is a woman weeping. That door was the most captivating to me and I could barely tear myself away. I was alone in the hallway for quite some time, so I stood leaning and listening. Though I knew it was only a recording on the other side of the door, I felt compelled to stand there and hold space for the woman's tears, to bear witness to her grief even though she didn't know I was there. Her tears represented so many of my own tears, so many of those times when I've cried alone behind a closed door.

Coming home with those two experiences reverberating in my heart, I am struck by the common threads that run through them...

There is inherent in all of us a longing for belonging, a longing to be witnessed.

Whether our stories are like those of the teenagers, seeking a space where they are not judged or ostracized, or like the woman (me) leaning on the door remembering her own lonely tears and how badly she wished someone had born witness to her in those dark moments, we long to be seen. We long to know we're not alone, we're not outsiders, we're not locked away behind a door mopping up our own tears.

As I thought about those two moments, I was struck by another realization...

I have a responsibility to bear witness to others, to share my stories, and to let people know they are not alone. And you do too.

I am so grateful to that young performer who dared to speak his coming out story out loud. I am grateful that he found the courage to show those young people in the room that they are not alone in their fear, their isolation, and their "otherness". I am grateful that, even in loud music venues, he is creating safety for young people to live authentic lives.

That's the responsibility of each of us on this path to authenticity - to open our hearts to others, to bear witness to their pain, and to share the stories we feel called to share. Because when we share, we create safety for each other. We create belonging. We give them permission to be who they are.

Living authentically means living collectively. We make connections with each other through our shared stories and we find ways to heal together and create the more beautiful world our hearts are longing for.

One of the best ways I know of to be intentional about bearing witness to other people's stories is to sit in circle with them.

Whether it's the tears of grief and loneliness, or the fear of coming out, we all want to be seen.

CRAZYWISE reveals a paradigm shift challenging the way Western culture defines and treats “mental illness”. The documentary introduces patients, survivors and activists in a growing movement demanding more choices for recovery.

TRAILOR

Phil Borges’ and Kevin Tomlinson’s new documentary “CRAZYWISE’ is a game changer. It’s going to be an important step forward in starting the long overdue conversation on how we define and treat mental illness in America.

FULL-LENGTH DOCUMENTARY COMING SPRING 2016!

How many ‘alternative’ healing methods do we have available to us here in South Africa …

See our list of Healing Modalities, and their definitions, that you can explore for your own Healing Journey.

“

Dr Gabor Maté on the Myth of “Normal” in Psychological Disorders He explains how mental distress and pathology exists in a continuum and are largely a result of a materialist culture that rigidly “idealize individuality and ignores emotional needs,” prioritizing objects over people and well being.

interview by Crazywise http://crazywisefilm.com/

Let us protect the things you care about

We all know how important it is to be insured, however, as we buy or receive new items we often forget to reassess our policies or see to what extent our possessions are adequately covered.

Here are a few things that we tend to accidentally leave out of our policies.

BICYCLE GEAR We know that you’ve invested a lot of time and money to get your bicycle kitted out and that’s why it’s so essential that you get the right insurance to protect your investment and keep you on the road and pedaling. With our InCycle insurance product you’re covered for the theft, damage and hijacking of your cycling gear. Because we take your personal safety seriously, InCycle also covers medical expenses and emergency transportation. Call Indwe today about getting the advice you need to keep your bicycle wheels turning.

JEWELLERY When you leave your house to go to work, to a meeting, to drop the kids off at school or to buy groceries, you want peace of mind that your jewellery, watch and the other personal possessions that you carry with you are covered for loss, theft or damage. We’re serious about protecting the things you value, and that’s why we provide All Risk insurance (also known as portable possessions insurance). Speak to us today about getting the best cover for your treasured gold and gems.

MOBILE OFFICE Gone are the days where your employees spends their eight-hour working day glued to their desk. Today, hours are more flexible, offices are more mobile and people can work from anywhere, anytime. If you have a small business, where your employees work away from your office, it’s important that you insure all your devices like laptops, cellphones and tablets from accidental loss or damage. Remember that when your business grows and you hire new employees, and then purchase additional devices, your insurance policy needs to be updated.

Speak to your advisor to ensure that all your valuable assets are covered.

At Indwe Risk Services we know that your possessions are important to you and that’s why we provide insurance advice that can be tailored to your specific needs.

Do you find yourself always in a hurry or being rushed? Are you always running late or not feeling in control of the clock? Because we live in this fast-paced world, we tend to always be running around. Constantly, we are fighting the clock and not finding the time to get where we need to be or get all the things we need done, done. With most everything in life, remember to take a step back and reflect on your routine. Find the reasons why you’re always in a rush. If you allow yourself to, or tell yourself that you have all the time in the world, you’ll find that everything just falls into place.

You have complete control over your life. No other factors make choices for you. If you’re feeling rushed, you’re choosing to not give yourself enough time and time speeds up. Time is exactly what you make it to be. All you have to do is believe that you have enough time to do the things you want to do. Trust me, the time will suddenly appear. We complain that we’re stuck to a strict schedule, but by who? We’re at the whim of others’ needs. Our tendencies lean toward blaming others.

Allow yourself to take control of your life and choices. Don’t let time control you. You have all the time in the world dear ones. Try prioritizing your day by making a list the night before of the things you feel are most important to do. You’ll find that nothing takes as long as it seems to take. This can free up your time, so you’re not rushed the next day. Start by pinpointing what you focus on the most. How much mental energy do you use rushing around over that task? Is it work? Money? If you’re spending too much time working and running around, maybe you feel rushed because you have no balance in your life. If you have a busy day, try prepping the night before. Pack a healthy lunch. Pack your exercise clothes to go take a nice walk or jog on your lunch. It is just as important to sleep 8 hours as it is to work 8-plus hours. It is just as important to eat healthy food as it is to run errands constantly.

If you make the time to rest your body and treat it right, you’ll perform better. Your work performance will increase and you won’t feel like you’re working all day long. Your list can consist of: paying the bills, exercise, meditate, work, and spend time with loved ones among other things. Once we do things that are right for our body and minds, we have all the time in the world. We exhaust ourselves on things that don’t matter or aren’t good for us, so we don’t end up having time for the things that are good for us. Managing and gaining control of your time will allow you to do the stuff you love and feel accomplished at the same time. You have as much time as you give yourself. Take a moment to smell the flowers and don’t rush through your life.

Many of our stresses stem from judging ourselves and setting physical and material goals, instead of loving ourselves completely and unconditionally. When you love yourself and let life love you, you live in richness and fullness. When you accept all of yourself, you become whole and healed.

Let’s affirm: I create my own security by trusting the process of life.

Love,

By Deepak Chopra

In the past 40 years, meditation has entered the mainstream of modern Western culture, and been prescribed by physicians and practiced by everyone from business executives, artists, and scientists to students, teachers, military personnel, and -- on a promising note -- politicians.

Despite the growing popularity of meditation, prevailing misconceptions about the practice are a barrier that prevents many people from trying meditation and receiving its profound benefits for the body, mind, and spirit. Here are seven of the most common meditation myths, dispelled.

Myth #1: Meditation is difficult.

Truth:

This myth is rooted in the image of meditation as an esoteric practice reserved only for saints, holy men, and spiritual adepts. In reality, when you receive instruction from an experienced, knowledgeable teacher, meditation is easy and fun to learn. The techniques can be as simple as focusing on the breath or silently repeating a mantra. One reason why meditation may seem difficult is that we try too hard to concentrate, we're overly attached to results, or we're not sure we are doing it right. In our experience at the Chopra Center, learning meditation from a qualified teacher is the best way to ensure that the process is enjoyable and you get the most from your practice. A teacher will help you understand what you're experiencing, move past common roadblocks, and create a nourishing daily practice.

Myth #2: You have to quiet your mind in order to have a successful meditation practice.

Truth: This may be the number one myth about meditation and is the cause of many people giving up in frustration. Meditation isn't about stopping our thoughts or trying to empty our mind -- both of these approaches only create stress and more noisy internal chatter. We can't stop or control our thoughts, but we can decide how much attention to give them. Although we can't impose quiet on our mind, through meditation we can find the quiet that already exists in the space between our thoughts. Sometimes referred to as "the gap," this space between thoughts is pure consciousness, pure silence, and pure peace.

When we meditate, we use an object of attention, such as our breath, an image, or a mantra, which allows our mind to relax into this silent stream of awareness. When thoughts arise, as they inevitably will, we don't need to judge them or try to push them away. Instead, we gently return our attention to our object of attention. In every meditation, there are moments, even if only microseconds, when the mind dips into the gap and experiences the refreshment of pure awareness. As you meditate on a regular basis, you will spend more and more time in this state of expanded awareness and silence.

Be assured that even if it feels like you have been thinking throughout your entire meditation, you are still receiving the benefits of your practice. You haven't failed or wasted your time. When my friend and colleague David Simon taught meditation, he would often tell students, "The thought I'm having thoughts may be the most important thought you have ever thought, because before you had that thought, you may not have even known you were having thoughts.

You probably thought you were your thoughts." Simply noticing that you are having thoughts is a breakthrough because it begins to shift your internal reference point from ego mind to witnessing awareness. As you become less identified with your thoughts and stories, you experience greater peace and open to new possibilities.

Myth #3: It takes years of dedicated practice to receive any benefits from meditation.

Truth: The benefits of meditation are both immediate and long-term. You can begin to experience benefits the first time you sit down to meditate and in the first few days of daily practice.

Many scientific studies provide evidence that meditation has profound effects on the mind-body physiology within just weeks of practice. For example, a landmark study led

by Harvard University and Massachusetts General Hospital found that as little as eight weeks of meditation not only helped people experience decreased anxiety and greater feelings of calm; it also produced growth in the areas of the brain associated with memory, empathy, sense of self, and stress regulation.

At the Chopra Center, we commonly hear from new meditators who are able to sleep soundly for the first time in years after just a few days of daily meditation practice. Other common benefits of meditation include improved concentration, decreased blood pressure, reduced stress and anxiety, and enhanced immune function. You can learn more about the benefits of meditation in a recent post, "Why Meditate?" on the Chopra Center blog.

Myth #4: Meditation is escapism.

Truth: The real purpose of meditation isn't to tune out and get away from it all but to tune in and get in touch with your true self - that eternal aspect of yourself that goes beyond all the ever-changing, external circumstances of your life.

In meditation you dive below the mind's churning surface, which tends to be filled with repetitive thoughts about the past and worries about the future, into the still point of pure consciousness. In this state of transcendent awareness, you let go of all the stories you've been telling yourself about who you are, what is limiting you, and where you fall short -- and you experience the truth that your deepest self is infinite and unbounded.

As you practice on a regular basis, you cleanse the windows of perception and your clarity expands. While some people do try to use meditation as a form of escape -- as a way to bypass unresolved emotional issues - this approach runs counter to all of the wisdom teachings about meditation and mindfulness.

In fact, there are a variety of meditation techniques specifically developed to identify, mobilize and release stored emotional toxicity. If you are coping with emotional upset or trauma,

I recommend that you work with a therapist who can help you safely explore and heal the pain of the past, allowing you to return to your natural state of wholeness and love.

Myth #5: I don't have enough time to meditate.

Myth #6: Meditation requires spiritual or religious beliefs.

Truth: Meditation is a practice that takes

Truth:

us beyond the noisy chatter of the mind into stillness and silence. It doesn't require a specific spiritual belief, and many people of many different religions practice meditation without any conflict with their current religious beliefs. Some meditators have no particular religious beliefs, or are atheist or agnostic. They meditate in order to experience inner quiet and the numerous physical and mental health benefits of the practice -- including lowered blood pressure, stress reduction, and restful sleep.

There are busy, productive executives who have not missed a meditation in 25 years, and if you make meditation a priority, you will do it. If you feel like your schedule is too full, remember that even just a few minutes of meditation is better than none. We encourage you not to talk yourself out of meditating just because it's a bit late or you feel too sleepy.

In life's paradoxical way, when we spend time meditating on a regular basis, we actually have more time. When we meditate, we dip in and out of the timeless, spaceless realm of consciousness... the state of pure awareness that is the source of everything that manifests in the universe.

Our breathing and heart rate slow down, our blood pressure lowers, and our body decreases the production of stress hormones and other chemicals that speed up the aging process and give us the subjective feeling that we are "running out of time.“ In meditation, we are in a state of restful alertness that is extremely refreshing for the body and mind. As people stick with their meditation ritual, they notice that they are able to accomplish more while doing less.

Instead of struggling so hard to achieve goals, they spend more and more time "in the flow" -- aligned with universal intelligence that orchestrates everything.

The original reason that I started meditating was to help myself stop smoking. Meditation helps us to enrich our lives. It enables us to enjoy whatever we do in our lives more fully and happily -- whether that is playing sports, taking care of our children, or advancing in our career.

Myth #7: I'm supposed to have transcendent experiences in meditation.

Truth: Some people are disappointed when they don't experience visions, see colors, levitate, hear a choir of angels, or glimpse enlightenment when they meditate.

Although we can have a variety of wonderful experiences when we meditate, including feelings of bliss and oneness, these aren't the purpose of the practice.

The real benefits of meditation are what happens in the other hours of the day when we're going about our daily lives. When we emerge from our meditation session, we carry some of the stillness and silence of our practice with us, allowing us to be more creative, compassionate, centered, and loving to ourselves and everyone we encounter.

As you begin or continue your meditation journey, here are some other guidelines that may help you on your way: • Have no expectations. Sometimes the mind is too active to settle down.

Sometimes it settles down immediately. Sometimes it goes quiet, but the person doesn't notice. Anything can happen.

• Be easy with yourself. Meditation isn't about getting it right or wrong.

It's about letting your mind find its true nature.

• Don't stick with meditation techniques that aren't leading to inner silence. Find a technique that resonates with you. There are many kinds of mantra meditation, including the Primordial Sound Meditation practice taught at the Chopra Center. Or simply follow the in and out of your breathing, not paying attention to your thoughts at all. The mind wants to find its source in silence. Give it a chance by letting go.

• Make sure you are alone in a quiet place to meditate. Unplug the phone. Make sure no one is going to disturb you.

• Really be there. If your attention is somewhere else, thinking about your next appointment, errand or meal, of course you won't find silence.

To meditate, your intention must be clear and free of other obligations.

Deepak Chopra is co-author of Super Brain: Unleashing the Explosive Power of You

Deepak Chopra is co-author of Super Brain: Unleashing the Explosive Power of Your Mind to Maximize Health, Happiness, and Spiritual Well-Being and founder of The Chopra Foundation

source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/deepak-chopra/meditation-myths_b_2823629.html

Here is a simple way to relieve pain without stuffing yourself with chemical-loaded drugs.

Read the following instructions carefully and improve your condition: Locate the point on your thumb that is associated with the pain in your body. Press it for 5 seconds.

Release the pressure for 3 seconds.

Press again and repeat the same step for several minutes.

Do this at least once a day and you will feel much better within a week.

Source: womensbest.net

Run Your BARS! • • • • • • • • •

Relieve the tension in both body, mind and body Create a lasting feeling of peace and well being You will feel both relaxed and invigorated at the same time Quieten the chatter in your head, that is often present when you are under pressure to perform Release the blocks caused by build-up of anger, frustration and exhaustion where it locks into your body Improve your interpersonal relationships by creating space of allowance for self and others.

Excellent when run on children for exams, it can have a dramatic effect on their grades Pregnant woman report that labour is much shorter and the birthing process is much easier when they have their BARS run regularly Assists with insomnia and better sleeping patterns

Contact Sheryl Mobile: 083 229 7307 Email: sheryl@inspirations.net.za Bars opens up our capacity to RECEIVE! There are no difficulties in life except when we will not receive...

Booking by appointment.

Address given on booking confirmation.

Boksburg, Bedfordview, Northcliffe The sessions last about 1 hour.

WHAT IS ‘BARS’?

The Access BARS consists of 32 points on your head which, when gently touched, effortlessly and easily release anything that doesn't allow you to receive? These points contain all the thoughts, ideas, beliefs, emotions, and considerations that you have stored in any lifetime. This is an opportunity for you to let go of everything! Equivalent to starting fresh with a clean slate!

Each Access Bars session can release 5-10 thousand years of limitations in the area of your life that corresponds with the specific Bar being touched, Money, Hope & Dreams, Healing, Control, Aging, Awareness. to mention a few, This is an incredibly relaxing & nurturing process, undoing limitations in all aspects of your life.

How much of your life do you spend doing rather than receiving? You could have everything you desire (and even greater!) if you are willing to receive lots more and maybe do a little less!

Receiving Access Bars sessions will allow this to begin to show up for you.

Access Bars has assisted thousands of people to change many aspects of their body and their life including sleep, health, weight, money, relationships, anxiety, stress and so much more.

At worst you will feel like you have just had a phenomenal massage. At best your whole life can change into something greater with total ease.

Releasing all of the thoughts, feelings and emotions that don’t belong to you, is just one of the incredible benefits of Bars.

This is an incredibly dynamic process that leaves you feeling refreshed, relaxed as if you have had a deep energy makeover of body, mind & spirit, It can change your life.

LIVE – Like Heaven is on Earth LOVE – Like you have never been hurt LAUGH – Like no one is looking SING – As if no one can hear you DANCE – As if no one is watching DREAM – Like there are no impossibilities PLAY – Like there are no winners GIVE – Like you have plenty SMILE – Till your face & inside hurts CHERISH – Your Family & Friends every day!!

‘TREE HUGGERS’ Where did the

term ‘Tree Hugger’ come from?

The first tree huggers were 294 men and 69 women belonging to the Bishnois branch of Hinduism, who, in 1730, died while trying to protect the trees in their village from being turned into the raw material for building a palace

They literally clung to the trees, while being slaughtered by the foresters. But their action led to a royal decree prohibiting the cutting of trees in any Bishnoi village. And now those villages are virtual wooded oases amidst an otherwise desert landscape.

Not only that, the Bishnois inspired the Chipko movement (chipko means “to cling” in Hindi) that started in the 1970s, when a group of peasant women in the Himalayan hills of northern India threw their arms around trees designated to be cut down.

Within a few years, this tactic, also known as tree satyagraha, had spread across India, ultimately forcing reforms in forestry and a moratorium on tree felling in Himalayan regions.

This article is from:

www.earthisland.org

the Emotional Chaos of Now

By Nicky Hamid So many of you are feeling emotions that are running through you. And you cannot bring them to check. You swing from one to the other, thoughts can race through your head. They can be triggered apparently through something very incidental or something clearly out of alignment with your knowing. They are unstoppable.

You asked for it. You asked to be here Now, you asked for change, you asked for transformation, you asked for “enlightenment in embodiment. Now you are getting it and there is no turning back, holding on for dear life, and retaining anything of the “old” matrix of reality or the “self” that you once knew.

Let me put it this way. It was illusion to think there was thought (a “mind”) body, and an emotional body that was separate from each other. They are one. Think of it this way. When you pass a current through a wire you get a magnetic field around that wire- we call it electromagnetic energy.

Thoughts are electric, emotions are magnetic, they go together and are not separate. Every thought you have has an emotional energetic field. So obviously as you are letting go of all the old thoughts about life, your world, and most importantly, who you are, you have to expect all this beautiful energy, in the “form” of emotional experience to be released.

It is being released from the great impulses of Light and Love coming from our Sun in waves and “upping the magnetics, the frequencies in the body’s for us all. Shifting the awareness, make available totally new ways of being, experiencing, and seeing. And an easy OR difficult, painful, tumultuous, confusing and chaotic experiencing of all that is happening to you lies in the “try to control versus the nondoing.

In the allowing, watching, and loving, versus anything else.

So with the emotions let them play out and embrace the experience allowing yourself the copious tears, and the laughter, And when you are angry, annoyed, frustrated and irritated, appropriately find a place where you can be alone for a minute and say “No”, stamp your foot into the ground (“no more allowing anyone of anything to trample on your truth”) affirm your Loving and powerful Truth into your body. Watch and experience the emotions playing out in you, and love it all.

And for heaven sake, GIVE NONE OF IT A STORY. You are expanding rising and starting to experience a totally new way of feeling that has no words or labels. And it is all absolutely OK. There is no way that you ever have been nor ever will be, not OK. I So Love You.

Shared with love and gratitude to Nicky

Ten Points 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

GO TO A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO SIT STILL AND READ. LISTEN TO YOUR SILENT VOICE. TREAT YOURSELF KINDLY. TALK WITH A LONELY CHILD. REMEMBER THAT BEAUTY IS RELATIVE. YOU ARE PERFECT: YOUR MISTAKES ARE LESSONS; YOUR DISAPPOINTMENTS ARE TESTS. 7. DO THE THING YOU LIKE DOING MOST AND DO IT OFTEN. 8. WHAT MATTERS MOST IS WHAT THE MIND TAKES IN, FEEDS ON, AND PUTS BACK OUT INTO THE WORLD. 9. TEACH INTELLIGENT DECISION MAKING. 10. YOU CAN MAKE THE PLACE YOU ARE NOW YOUR PARADISE.

ARCHANGEL HANIEL AND BRINGING IN HARMONY

By Margi McAlpine

So many live and work in an environment that is discordant and noisy and so are completely out of balance. Not only does this impinge on their work and home environment but also spills over into their personal and individual dealings with themselves and those that they love. Most will not even realize the imbalance in their lives, as humans adapt and change to the environment around them as a coping mechanism. However what is happening within us has to come out somewhere, and so will manifest itself as disease in the body causing all sorts of dreadful and often life threatening conditions.

It is therefore extremely important that your chakras need to be balanced and aligned; there needs to be balance between the left and right brain; there also needs to be balance between the male and female energies that every human being carries. When you are out of balance you are unable to work and live at your full potential and therefore you are at a huge disadvantage. To achieve and maintain this desired state you need to bring harmony and peace into your life.

Surround yourself with people who are peaceful and loving so that you are able to live in a harmonious environment. Remember that if you wish to live in harmony you have to have harmony within yourself. Lead by example and show others how to live in balance and unconditional love. By having this wonderful energy you will be able to spread it to others enabling them to change their energy to a more positive and happier way of life.

Archangel Haniel will bring wisdom into your heart and mind in a quiet and humble way. You can invoke her and she will bring wonderful harmony and peace into your life. She is a planetary Archangel with strong connections to Venus and she may be invoked to bring love and compassion into your life.

She is especially involved in teaching you how to utilize various crystals, herbs, tinctures and powders as well as bringing in the Moon energy into potions that are necessary for your physical, emotional and spiritual healing. When you need to speak or perform in public, or are nervous about an interview or any other public event, she will give you poise, confidence and the ability to carry it through perfectly.

She also gives you the confidence to discover and develop your psychic abilities, especially clairvoyance. Many have wonderful gifts that they are too scared to utilize because of the implications and the way it will change their lives. She helps you to overcome these fears.

She reminds you that you need to take your ego out of every situation so that you elevate yourself to the God level of unconditional love and integrity.

Ideally you need to find a happy medium and balance but this is not always so easy to do. By calling on Archangel Haniel, she will give you the poise, confidence and ability to carry it through perfectly. She will allow you to open up to new visions and ideas and enable you to bring your dreams into reality in a quiet and humble way that acknowledges your Divinity.

If we want to change the way we think we need to change our subconscious thinking. We need to release our self-sabotaging beliefs, emotions and habits and replace them with supportive ones. We have a range of products and services that assist you with that.

CONTACT HANNA KOK: MOBILE 082 856 6655 www.makealife.co.za

The Heart energy center radiates a powerful very fast broad band frequency of 528 Hz. Within the Love frequency are subfrequencies which are the very fast Virtues we all have the capacity to actuate.

Some are Compassion, Empathy and Cooperation. These exist in the broad band of the Love frequency.

Each of the sub-frequencies are only possible as an expression that is Loving. They 'require' a certain degree of Love to become active.

Love as an energy frequency is the greatest Healer and Unifier and magnified when actuating the above 3 Virtues also. Love is extremely active, the Virtues expressed as action further define Loves wonderful field.

Source: Chris A. Haletsky on Facebook

Choosing the Colour that will make a difference

By Penni du Plessis of Divine Space Have you noticed how you seem to choose the same colours over and over?

Odd isn’t it? These are the colours that either coincide with your strengths or more interestingly, colours that we actually need to introduce into our lives to create balance, harmony and personal power.

If you have been entrenched in the scientific greyness of Western culture you may find it uncomfortable at first to trust that instant pull you get when you look at the colour wheel.

Let the voices in your head worry about the conversation you had with your mother in law yesterday and while they are busy, hop onto divine space (www.divinespace.co.za) and do a quick colour reading. What colour popped out for you (there is always one)? What colour did you avoid?

This is the part where you need to practice courage - did that colour talk to your strengths or did it touch that place inside you that isn’t so stable and pleasant?

If you find yourself being drawn to a colour that you don’t ‘like’ or wear then you are probably being drawn to it because you need its vibrational energy to bring back balance and healing into your space or life.

The next step is the fun part.

For a week surround yourself with that colour. Wear it, see it, use one of the divine oils on your body or in your bath and allow it to support to your physical being….and see what happens.

This is what it means to live in colour. It is about healing your life, creating balance and most importantly bringing joy and abundance into every moment of every day.

Go on, put some colour back into your life, and live in colour!!

FOCUS ON THE COLOUR VIOLET The colour violet is all about change and transformation….

Are you ready to step into a new space? Is life pushing you in directions you never thought possible? This could be a comfortable journey or most often when pushed out of our comfort zones lots of fear, grief and depression emerge.

As you let go of the old, it often feels like you have lost your own identity, and unless you have a deeper spiritual knowing and understanding that all things are perfect, and happen exactly as it should – you could fall into the depression trap, and that puts everything on hold.

So if you need support through this phase in your life, please use the Violet Oil of Transformation – it helps to lift your spirit, and connect you with your higher essence, which knows the gift in every situation and can see the potential in the way forward.

The Basic Theory and Practises of

FAMILY CONSTELLATIONS RICHARD HIGGINS is offering a five day Training Intensive which provides an in-depth understanding and experiencing of Family Constellations theory and practices.

The course is designed to enable individuals and facilitators to acquire techniques and insights which can immediately be integrated into their own practices, workshops and personal lives.

Who Should Attend You are invited to attend if you have the sincere desire to obtain comprehensive knowledge and understanding of this life-changing modality - whether for your own personal growth; to incorporate with other modalities you use; or as a stepping stone to ultimately facilitating your own Family Constellations.

This course requires that you have the courage to work directly with your own healing, on the way to becoming part of the healing journeys of others.

Course Dates: Saturday 23rd to Wednesday 27th April 2016 Venue: 35 Cowley Road, Bryanston, Johannesburg Course Fee: R6 490 - Tuition, manual, refreshments, lunch and attendance certificate R5 990 - Early Bird fee if paid in full by the end of March.

CONTACT RICHARD (021)785-2568 or 076 046 3044 EMAIL: richard.athol.higgins@gmail.com Saturday 23rd April Bert Hellinger Family Systems & the Orders of Love The Approach of a Facilitator The Interview Technique

Monday 25th April Review & Practise Exercises Constellations for Couples Career Constellations Constellations for Illness & Disease

Sunday 24th April Review & Practise Exercises Using Representatives Clarifying & Resolution Statements Constellations for Not Belonging

Tuesday 26th April Review & Practise Exercises Trans-Generational Constellations Historical Events & the Family System Victims & Perpetrators

Wednesday 27th April Review & Practise Exercises Constellations with Family Secrets Unusual Constellations Pitfalls, Mistakes & No Resolutions Closing Circle & Certificate Ceremony

What exactly is FAMILY CONSTELLATIONS?

By Richard Higgins The first question I am usually asked when mentioning in conversation that I am a Family Constellations Facilitator is, “What on earth is that?” This is sometimes followed up with, “Does it have something to do with Astrology?” or “Does my whole family have to come along?”

During the last four decades Hellinger has investigated and integrated most of the major psychotherapeutic models which have emerged in the West. Starting his career as a Catholic priest, he spent 16 years working as a missionary to the Zulu in Marianhill in what was then Natal.

The answer to the latter two questions is quite simply, “No.” The answer to the first one needs rather more column space to clarify!

The influence of his time with the Zulu, their rituals, honouring of ancestors and connection to the forces of nature, would shape much of what he later developed.

After 25 years as a priest he defrocked and returned to Europe where he studied Psychoanalysis in Vienna.

Family Constellations is a trans-generational healing modality, which explores the deep, unconscious dynamics which occur within a family system and how these often contribute to the challenges experienced in our everyday lives.

A wide range of problems, even beyond family issues, can be addressed successfully through constellation work. These include: relationship difficulties; illnesses and diseases; dealing with the effects of abuse; depression and anxiety; career issues and many others.

Some History This therapeutic approach was made widely popular by the innovative and at times controversial German psychotherapist Bert Hellinger. He first encountered the work when training in the UK with Family Therapists Ruth McClendon and Leslie Kadis.

They coined the term Family Constellations as it dealt with an individual’s placement within a broader cluster of family members, captured by the term “constellations”. To avoid any confusion with Astrology, it is also now sometimes referred to as Family Systems Theory.

Thereafter Hellinger embarked on an exhaustive exploration of other modalities, from Arthur Janov’s Primal Therapy; Eric Bern’s Transactional Analysis; Milton Erickson’s Hypnotherapy right up to NeuroLinguistic Programming (NLP) – and everything in between. Although having turned 90 last December, Hellinger is still active in the work and has planned workshops in Brazil and Mexico this year.

Today the Family Constellations model is practiced by thousands of facilitators in about 35 countries around the world. It has now almost taken on a life of its own and has been enriched by the cultural influences, creativity of individual facilitators, and new insights from emerging modalities.

The Traditional Model In its formative years Family Constellations was done mainly “in-the-round”, where a group of about 15 to 20 people would sit in circle for a one day or weekend workshop.

The facilitator would work directly with between 5 and 10 of the delegates in a day, depending on the theme of the workshop and the length of the constellations.

The process starts with the facilitator conducting a short interview with the client (sometimes referred to as “the issue holder”) in order to establish some family background. These questions might include: Were there any special circumstances surrounding your birth?

Where are your parents and grandparents from? How many siblings do you have?

Have there been any early or unusual deaths in the family? Have there been any adoptions, miscarriages or abortions? or Has there been any injustice that you know of in the family?

Based on the feedback from the client, the facilitator will identify certain themes or patterns within the family system and decide upon an entry point. The client will be asked to choose members of the circle to "represent" specific family members and to place them in the work area generally referred to as the Field.

Without doing anything - simply by intention – these representatives will take on the thoughts and feelings of the family member or ancestor they are "representing".

Through observation and feedback, the facilitator will be able to identify the hidden patterns that lie beneath the family story and move the constellation towards a healing resolution.

Essentially what is happening is: the representative acts as a conduit to connect with the Soul of the person they are representing - whether living or dead. At that level there is none of the “story” on which we expend so much of our daily energy – only love. By revealing the love that exists behind even some of the grizzliest human stories, we create a new picture at the Soul level. This then filters down into the person’s everyday experiences in the weeks that follow, and a new healthier script emerges.

It's impossible to say how many times it is necessary to do a constellation. Some people come once and are able to shift the issue they have presented, while others have deep traumas which may take several constellations to heal.

It is best to experience one constellation and then allow a good deal of integration time before returning. For some this may be weeks, while for others it may be months.

The Individual Setting Not all clients are comfortable dealing with personal issues in a group setting, and choose to experience the process in an individual session. Because there are no other people present to act as representatives, the facilitator makes use of props to represent the family members.

Some of those used are small plastic dolls; mats or actual shoes placed on the floor, or my personal favourite, gem stones. The process differs slightly from the group setting, but is just as effective – and sometimes quite extraordinarily so.

The process can also be facilitated in such a way that the client does it “in their minds eye� by visualization of the family members.

This is a particularly useful way of working over the telephone or via Skype.

In whatever way it is done, a Family Constellation is a magical and a truly "eyeopening" experience. Even after 10 years of facilitating scores of workshops and hundreds of individual sessions I continue to be surprised and delighted by the power of this modality. It is at once expanding and humbling. Anyone experiencing it will probably never look at the nature of family relationships the same way ever again.

Toby Mac Speak Life

Master Hypnotist Life Coach NLP Practitioner Antaneea Therapist Access the Bars速 Practitioner Imago Professional Facilitator Overcome: addictions, eating disorders, phobias and panic attacks Alleviate: stress, anxiety and depression Prepare: for childbirth with Hypnosis Enhance: fertility Improve relationships: With Imago Couples & Family Counselling

Contact me today to book an appointment Mobile: 082 929 5142 Email: linda@lindaclarke.co.za www.lindaclarke.co.za www.relationships.lindaclarke.co.za Edenvale and Sandton, Gauteng

The Role of Hypnosis in Healing

By Linda Clarke The role of hypnosis in healing is many faceted. Hypnosis is a trance state induced through focusing attention on any current internal or external sensory experience; hypnotherapy is the art of utilizing this state of absorption to facilitate inner change and physical healing.

People who have experienced guided visualization or other meditative states describe it as being similar to hypnosis in many ways.

Trance states can be accessed in a variety of ways, many of which occur spontaneously.

Hypnotic trance is a normal, natural state that we move into and out of many times in our daily life.

A trance state can also occur when we voluntarily choose to focus our attention on something that interests us. Any activity that absorbs our attention will induce a trance state, whether it is reading, watching TV, making love, praying, day-dreaming or dancing.

As well as trance arising spontaneously and voluntarily, a trance state can be induced when somebody else focuses our attention. People are often guided into a state of hypnosis as they listen to words that help them focus their attention on the feelings of deepening relaxation.

This helps to induce a pleasurable and comfortable therapeutic trance state that has the added benefit of relaxation.

When we enter a state of hypnosis the parasympathetic nervous system is activated, giving rise to what is known as the relaxation response; This response works in opposition to the “fight or flight response” and counteracts the body’s physical and emotional response to stress, allowing it to return to a calm balanced state. While in this state there is a measurable decrease in heart rate, blood pressure breathing rate, stress hormone levels and muscle tension and people experience a wonderful feeling of relaxation.

Hypnosis can be experienced to varying depths and is experienced differently from person to person.

While in a state of hypnosis we can be aware of what is going on around us, although we are likely to become so absorbed in our own inner experience that we choose to pay little attention to unnecessary distractions.

While in this state we have access to our unconscious mind which is the storehouse of all our past, experiences of which we are presently unaware. We may be able to recall things more vividly and easily and are more likely to remember events with all our senses. The unconscious also holds our automatic behaviours as a set of stimulus-response programmes”, which have been derived from our instincts and learned experiences. The unconscious mind is strictly habitual and will automatically respond to life’s signals over and over again.

Past disturbing or traumatic events that continue to carry an emotional charge for us can be resolved using hypnotherapy. These experiences can be integrated so that the necessary learning remains but the emotional and energetic arousal is reduced. Resolving and integrating these past experiences allows us to live without the negative impact of that event affecting our present life.

One of the great strengths of hypnotherapy is that hypnosis is a tool that can be learnt. Once a person has learnt to induce a state of hypnosis on their own, they can use this tool to benefit themselves on an ongoing basis. One can learn a variety of ways in which to use hypnosis to reinforce changes and to become relaxed when undergoing medical procedures (which will make them more effective).

*The success of hypnosis and neuro-linguistic programming is dependent on a person’s motivation for change and results may differ from person to person

Hypnosis can help you to:- Alleviate Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Phobias or Eating Disorders, Lose Weight, Stop Smoking, Heal Past Hurts, Improve Self-Confidence, Learn Self-Hypnosis for Self-Mastery, Pain Relief and Childbirth Preparation, Enhance Fertility.

Mary-Ann Shearer, author of the best-selling books on natural health in the Southern Hemisphere, The Natural Way – A Family’s Guide to Vibrant Health and The Natural Way Recipe Books 1 & 2, Healthy Kids, Perfect Weight, Take Control and Perfect Health – The Natural Way brings to you the comprehensive Natural Health and Nutrition Home Study Course.

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33 USES OF

COCONUT OIL

LAURENTINE TEN BOSCH, FILMMAKER (FOOD MATTERS AND HUNGRY FOR CHANGE)

Here’s 33 Reasons To Go Crazy For Coconut Oil! (And not just in the kitchen…)

Coconut oil is quite possibly one of the most versatile ingredients to keep in the kitchen. Perfect for frying, baking and sweets cooking, it’s hard to imagine how we ever got by without it!

Aside from its culinary virtues, coconut oil offers many other benefits around the home. It’s even incredibly useful in your natural beauty regime!

Beauty Nourish Split or Dry Ends. Trying to grow long and luscious locks? Protect the delicate ends of your hair with a regular treatment of coconut oil. Simply warm a small quantity of oil in the palms of your hands, then gently rub into the tips of the hair shaft. Leave in for at least several hours before rinsing, or wait until your next hair wash.

Natural Eye Make Up Remover. Do you have sensitive eyes or find it hard to get rid of the last bit of makeup residue? Apply a few dabs of coconut oil around your eyes and gently massage in small circular motions to dissolve your makeup. Rinse away with warm water and enjoy the clean, rejuvenated feeling.

Salvage Cracked Heels. Hard, cracked heels are uncomfortable and expose your skin to higher risk of infection. Soften and moisturize this area with a regular dose of coconut oil. Pop on an old pair of socks afterwards to help the oil soak in and to prevent any slippery falls.

Make A Massage Oil. There’s few things as relaxing and rejuvenating as massage. It stimulates blood flow, increases lymph drainage, relieves muscle tension and instantly creates calm. There’s no need to buy a fancy bottle of massage oil; simply mix a few drops of your favorite essential oils into a small container of coconut oil.

Exfoliate Naturally. Mix a little coconut oil with some leftover coffee grounds from your morning brew. Rub gently over the rough skin on your elbows, knees and feet, then rinse off in your morning shower. Super invigorating for your mind and body to kick start the day!

Make Your Own Delicious Scrub. The formula is simple: Combine 1 cup of coconut oil, ¼ cup of sea salt, ¼ cup of sugar and a few drops of your favorite essential oil and mix well.

Lather a handful over your skin, then rinse off for an indulgent pampering. Just keep wet hands out of the scrub (pour onto your hands or dispense with a spoon instead) as moisture will invite spoilage into the mixture.

Reduce Hair Dye Stains. If you use natural hair dyes at home, you may be familiar with the pesky job of trying to keep the dye from seeping down and staining your scalp. Before applying the hair dye, try smearing a small amount of oil along the boundary of your hairline. This acts a natural barrier to help protect against unwanted smudges and stains.

All-Round Moisturizer. Coconut oil is cheap, natural and effective as a whole body moisturizer. Keep a jar beside the shower and apply whilst your skin is warm and ready to soak up the goodness!

Pucker Up, Baby. Plump and glossy lips speak of rosy health and a natural beauty. The trouble is, many glosses and lip sticks contain all manner of chemicals which are bad news for your health. Carry a small vial of coconut in your handbag instead. You’ll achieve the same glossy sheen and nourish your lips at the same time.

Care For Your Cuticles. Giving your cuticles some TLC with a regular dose of coconut oil will help you to grow strong nails and maintain youthful hands. Simply dab a tiny drop onto the bed of your fingernail and work into your cuticles. It feels beautifully nourishing too! (Hot tip: leave your hands for a little while before driving… They will be a little slippery.)

Combat The Frizz. Few of us wake up with an orderly ‘do. For most of us, our hair needs a little love and attention before we’re ready to face the day. Instead of spritzing your scalp with chemical hair sprays (which ultimately get absorbed into the bloodstream), try gently massaging your hair with a very small quantity of coconut oil. Start at the ends of your hair and slowly work your way up as needed. And remember, a little bit goes a long way here.

Freshen Up With A Foot Scrub. Our feet carry us all day long and often don’t receive the love they deserve! Mix a large dollop of coconut oil with peppermint oil and a tablespoon of salt to create your scrub. Soak your feet in a bucket of warm water for 10 minutes before rubbing the coconut scrub over your feet, taking extra care over the heel or any harder areas.

Rinse your feet in the bucket and pat dry. Put a pair of socks on straight away to lock in the residual oil and protect you from slipping.

The Most Simple Deodorant Ever. If you’re not a naturally sweaty person (yup, some people perspire more than others) and don’t have any scheduled exercise, some people find that a smear of coconut oil under their armpits will naturally protect against BO. For a little extra support, you can also mix in some aluminium-free bicarb soda to keep you fresh. (Heads up - this option is probably best in sleeveless tops, as some material will stain with the oil and bicarb.)

Shave Naturally. Forget chemical shaving creams and say hello to coconut oil! Lather your legs with a generous coating of oil and slide over your razor. You’ll nourish your skin and achieve a silky close shave! (This is sometimes easier to do on a towel before jumping in the shower. You can wipe your hands on the towel if they start to slip and it stops the oil from coating your shower floor.)

Deep Condition Dry Hair. After shampooing, massage a handful of coconut oil through your hair, paying special attention to your scalp and roots. Leave for ten minutes before rinsing clean. (This can make your shower a little slippery, so feel free to wash your hair off over a sink instead.)

Home Polish Your Furniture To A High Shine. Many commercial furniture waxes and polishes contain artificial chemicals. We breathe these chemicals into our lungs (and therefore our bloodstream) or absorb them into our skin when we contact the furniture. Coconut oil can make a great natural alternative… Just be sure to patch test an area first!

Condition Your Pots & Pans. If you use cast iron cookware, a regular conditioning of these cooking surfaces will go a long way towards preventing rust and preserving cookware quality.

Dispense a small amount of coconut oil into the pan and rub over with paper towel or old rag.

Shine Your Shoes. Coconut oil makes a cheap, natural alternative to shoe polish. You only need an old rag, a small dab of coconut oil and a little bit of elbow grease! Patch test a small area of your shoes first to make sure the surface is definitely suitable. (Most leather shoes should be okay.)

Say Goodbye To Soap Scum. Apply a generous smear of coconut oil over built-up soap scum and leave to soak in for at least 20 minutes. If the surface is suitable, wipe away using a rough sponge or old pantyhose. Rinse the oily residue away with warm soapy water.

Give Your Plants A Green Glow. Indoor potted plants tend to lose their vibrancy when they gather dust. Restore a shiny healthy glow to their leaves by rubbing a very small quantity of coconut oil into their upper foliage. This will help deter further dust from building up so quickly, too!

Kitchen Condition Your Cutting Boards. Wooden chopping boards will last a lot longer - and carry a whole less germs - with a regular deep clean and condition. Spray your board with a little vinegar before washing well in warm soapy water. Once dry, gently massage coconut oil into the wood for a shiny finish and powerful protection!

Butter Up With Coconut Oil. Can’t eat dairy and miss your butter? Coconut oil makes a tasty substitute! For a special treat, smear a serve of coconut oil over your toast, pancakes or homemade cakes and muffins. Coconut oil also makes a great vegan substitute for butter in general baking.

A Super Simple Scrumptious Snack. Hungry for something quick and nourishing? Warm a little coconut oil in a pan and make your own popcorn! These crunchy white balls will come out with a gentle hint of coconutty goodness.

Natural Non-Stick Baking. Simply grease your cake tins, trays and roasting containers with a thin film of coconut oil. It will reduce the food sticking to the cookware surface.

Remedies Natural Sleep Aid. Mix a few drops of pure lavender essential oil into a small quantity of coconut oil. Massage this mixture into your temples, back of the neck and shoulders to wind down and sink into a relaxing, restorative sleep.

Make Your Own Vapor Rub. Mix a couple of drops of Eucalyptus Oil into a few spoonful's of coconut oil. Massage into your chest and back or dab onto a tissue to place under your pillow. It will decongest your airways and soothe an aching chest.

Total Teeth Health. Mix coconut oil with a tiny smidge of clove and oregano essential oils.

Apply to your toothbrush and use at the end of your normal dental care routine. This can support dental health naturally and brighten your teeth!

Make A Natural Insect Repellent. Combine coconut oil with a few drops of either rosemary, tea tree, peppermint or eucalyptus oil. Smear some lotion over exposed skin to keep those creepy crawlies at bay! (But please note, some essential oils are not recommended for use during pregnancy.)

Soothe A Sore Tummy. Put a few droplets of pure peppermint oil into 2 teaspoons of coconut oil. Using the flat of your hand, gently rub into your stomach in a clockwise direction to soothe stomach spasms and bloating.

Itchy Skin Salve. Apply a small amount of coconut oil over insect bites and itchy welts. Just patch test if the rash is new or you haven’t tried coconut oil on your skin before. For most people however, coconut oil can be quite soothing for normal itchy skin conditions.

Freshen Your Breath Naturally. Brush your teeth with coconut oil and a little bicarb soda, taking care to gently brush the top surface of your tongue as well. The naturally antifungal and antibacterial properties of coconut oil help to protect against the bad bacteria in your mouth that contribute to bad breath. Gargle and rinse with a little sea salt dissolved in water for a fresh and squeaky clean mouth feel.

Oil Pulling. For centuries, Ayurvedic Medicine has promoted the practice of oil pulling for detoxification. Simply put a tablespoon of coconut oil into your mouth and swish it around as it melts to coat your teeth and tongue. Hold for 20 minutes without swallowing before spitting into a waste bin.

Why Dietary Supplements Are So Beneficial Our unique lifestyles and dietary habits mean that our true nutritional requirements can differ significantly from the choice of products that is available on shelf in pharmacies and health shops. This can make selecting the right food supplement, or complementary lifestyle products, very difficult at best.

Taking part in an activity of your As discerning consumers become more aware of the choice, whether its yoga, Pilates, source and production methods of their chosen foods the gym or a quick run in the and supplements, healthier choices are being made. evenings is a great way to de-stress, Consumers of health and wellness products are continually searching for supplements that firstly suit while increasing your vitality and their lifestyle and dietary choices, and secondly aid in fitness levels. achieving and supporting their own individualistic goals. These products are developed to complement your lifestyle, making your approach to eating, health and wellness a realistic one, while ensuring you stay on track with your nutritional requirements.

…the focus on good, quality, healthy food is a necessary and important tool to maintain our good health and wellness levels…

What has become clear over the last decade is that the focus on good, quality, healthy food is a necessary and important tool to maintain our good health and wellness levels. It’s this principle of ‘nutritional stress’ from the over processed and refined foods that has resulted in the health epidemics that we as a Western society face today. And, with the same token, it’s this very principle that has spurred on a global awareness of, and adjustments to the way we choose to consume an array of foods and nutritional supplements, from vegan, vegetarian and Banting approaches.

An absolute commitment to your nutritional plan is an important stepping stone to success. But realistically, this is very difficult to achieve with our fast-paced lifestyles and challenges around complying to strategic eating. It’s all about preparation, planning and making excellent choices around your supplement strategy.

A complimentary, healthy and wellness orientated lifestyle is one that includes a focus on fitness. Taking part in an activity of your choice, whether its Yoga, Pilates, going to the Gym or a quick run in the evenings, exercise is a great way to de-stress, while increasing your vitality and fitness levels. The trick is finding something that fits into your lifestyle, is enjoyable and provides progress. Naturally, you need to stick to this, or have variables between your training types to remain interested and challenged.

No doubt that as your proficiency and ability levels increase, you will be more motivated to get involved and see progress. The key is to keep moving, stay consistent and love what you do.

The role of nutrition is all about improving your quality of life! It needs to be both complementary to, and beneficial for the goals that you have set out for yourself. One of the most difficult tasks is to maintain the consistency and enjoyment of the approach, so it’s in your interest to look for training variety, while incorporating some of the most enjoyable, tasty and effective supplements into your lifestyle.

For ideas for tasty and healthy supplements have a look at USN’s Actilife Range Article Sourced from USN

By Lisa Raleigh

Banana Oat Pancakes Ingredients: 2 bananas 2 eggs ¼ cup rolled oats 3 T vanilla protein powder ½ teaspoon baking powder Pinch of salt Maple syrup or honey to serve (optional) Fresh fruit of your choice, to serve

Method: • In a blender, combine the peeled banana, eggs, oats, protein powder baking powder and salt.

• Blend until the mixture is as smooth as you like, then let the batter stand for 10-20 minutes until thickened slightly.

• Heat a non-stick frying pan over medium heat.

• Fry spoonful's of the batter until golden brown on both sides.

• Serve with a drizzle of maple syrup and fresh fruit of your choice.

Protein Overnight Oats Recipe Just four ingredients make a delicious breakfast or snack that’s packed with protein.

Ingredients: 3 cups fine oats 4 cups almond milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 3 T vanilla protein powder 2 T chia seeds Pinch of salt ½ cup fat-free Greek yogurt

Method: • Place all ingredients except the Greek yogurt into a large container and mix until combined.

• Put the top on the container and place in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight to let the ingredients soak and expand.

• Finally, add in the Greek yogurt, mix and enjoy. Store in refrigerator for up to 5 days.

By Lisa Raleigh www.lisaraleigh.co.za

Us humans are growing more health-conscious by the day, and our supplement intake is increasing accordingly. By now, we are well aware that a variety of fresh produce is the best way to take in the many nutrients our bodies need, but this is also by no means the easiest road to health. Enter: supplements.

What a pleasure to routinely pop a few pills down our throats and tick ‘healthy eating’ off our daily to-do list! The problem is: this is more complicated than it sounds.

Don’t get me wrong, supplements are very powerful aids in this quest, but it takes careful and realistic use of them to maximise their benefits. Of growing concern is the idea that ‘more’ is ‘more’ when it comes to loading up on supplements. This couldn’t be further from the truth! And in many cases, it can be harmful to our health as well. Here are a few important things to know about vitamins when it comes to getting your intake right:

Why Balance Makes Perfect Technically speaking, vitamins and minerals are organic compounds that have important roles in many of the body’s metabolic functions. Getting the right balance of all these nutrients is what helps us function optimally. Since the modern diet can often be void of fresh produce, it is typically assumed that MORE vitamins and minerals always means BETTER, when the reality is that we should be striving for a balance of nutrients – not an excess.

Being too alkaline is, in actual fact, just as unhealthy and dangerous as being acidic…

A similar concept is that of the body’s pH levels. We need a slightly alkaline pH of roughly 7.4, and since so many of us are acidic, we are always looking to be as alkaline as possible versus simply looking to bring our pH back to a balance. Being too alkaline is, in actual fact, just as unhealthy and dangerous as being acidic – it’s just far more uncommon. And so the misconception that ‘more’ is always ‘better’ breeds.

Food vs Supplementation When vitamins are taken in supplement form, they are ingested at rates that could never be achieved through even the healthiest of diets. They are also typically isolated compounds, and don’t have the many others surrounding them that they would in food form.

Removing a compound from its food source and reintroducing it in supplement form, without its many partners, can not only mean it is less effective, but it could also even be harmful in large doses.

Can do damage Take vitamins A, D, E and K for example. These when taken are fat soluble, which excessively… means the body can store them, versus passing out the excess as it does with water-soluble types. Taking high doses of these vitamins over a long period of time – particularly vitamin A – can actually do serious damage to your body, and even be cancer-causing rather than preventative! What! Vitamin B6 – a watersoluble vitamin – has been linked with nerve damage when taken excessively, and the ever-popular vitamin C – also a water-soluble vitamin – has been known to cause nausea, stomach cramps, diarrhoea and even kidney stones when taken in excess!

It can also interfere with your body’s ability to metabolise other nutrients, leaving you with unwanted nutrient deficiencies and excesses. Vitamin deficiencies and excesses also take time – sometimes even months – for the body to show symptoms. That means that your triple doses of vitamin C once you’ve already been hit with flu aren’t going to significantly impact your symptoms.

Aim for Daily Recommendations.. Not excess So, let’s not get confused. Credible vitamin supplements ARE good for you! You just need to be tallying up what nutrients you take in organically (through your food), and which ones you would be better off ingesting through supplementation – and then sticking to reasonable, recommended doses.

More is NOT better, and supplements should never be a replacement for healthy eating. A diet rich in fruits, veggies and whole grains will give you the nutrients you need, in the optimal doses our body wants them in. In short? There is just no replacement for healthy eating!

Join Lisa Raleigh’s well i am 5: 100 day challenge starting 9th March 2016 Entries from R549 www.welliam.co.za

hat appens

f ou top ating eat You will lose weight Does cutting meat out of your diet affect you in any way? Neil Bernard, professor of medicine at George Washington University worked on the answer of this question. He analyzed clinical research on the impact of diet and vegetarian diet on losing weight and came to this conclusion: besides preventing lost of illnesses, vegetarian diet will also help you lose at least 4 kg of your body weight.

You will reduce the risk of health diseases Some researches, in which more than 76.000 man and women took place, have confirmed that there is a 24% less risk of heart diseases in vegetarians. Also, with cutting out the meat significantly reduces the risk of blocage of the coronary arteries compared to those who consume meat.

You might lose your sense of taste A research conducted in the Japanese University in Tokushima has shown that zinc, which we usually get from meat, is in charge of our sense of taste. Reducing the zinc intake leads to loss of the sense of taste. Beans, walnuts, cereals and dairy products contain zinc but phytate acid which is found in these foods prevents the zinc absorption. That is the reason why it is also recommended to vegetarians to take zinc supplements.

Your muscles will need more time to heal Proteins are very important for the muscles. If you don’t get enough proteins, your muscles will need much more time to heal after physical activity.

You might need supplements All people who are vegetarians might have iron, potassium and vitamin B12 deffiency. Taking supplements is strongly recommended.

kids range

Only Pure Goodness

* 100% Natural * No added sugar * No preservatives *No additives And most importantly, YUMMY A nourished child has a stronger body & mind, & more vitality to help them optimize their talents & potentials www.juicedco.co.za

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Ingredients: • • • • •

1-1.5 cups of goat's milk yogurt (you can use any yogurt but goat's milk has special properties) 2 pitted dates 1-2 spoonful's of local raw honey 1 large ripe banana 1-1.5 spoonful's of pure cacao powder

Put it all together and blend until smooth. Drink slowly or delight in each bite using a spoon.

These ingredients all have incredible benefits for your health and energy levels.

Honey: a great energy booster (immediate and sustained energy), helps fight allergies, builds immunity, its antioxidant and antibacterial properties can help digestion, antimicrobial properties help a sore throat.

Goat's Milk: According to the Journal of American Medicine, "Goat's milk is the most complete food known." It contains vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, trace elements, enzymes, protein, and fatty acids that are utilized by your body with ease. In fact, your body can digest goat's milk in just 20 minutes. It takes 2-3 hours to digest cow's milk. (http://www.roseofsharonacres.com/raw_goat_mil k_benefits)

Yogurt: Probiotics repopulate your gut with beneficial bacteria that facilitate digestion on many levels.

Chocolate: dark chocolate is a probiotic food (it actually contains probiotics) and it is a superior delivery mechanism for probiotics as compared to dairy! And its chock full of antioxidants!

Dates: have iron, protein, potassium, vitamins B1, 2, 3 & 5 as well as Vitamin a1 and C. They are a great source of energy and are said to contribute to eye and bone health. The fiber they provide aids in digestion and creates a positive environment for the growth of friendly bacteria in the gut. Lastly dates have a good amount of magnesium, a mineral shown to be anti-inflammatory.

Banana: Contains prebiotic oligosaccharides that help digestion and create a positive environment for good bacteria in your gut.

How to Extract Minerals and Joint Supplements From Eggshells Information and recipe sheet for THE HEALTHY HAPPY KITCHEN

Sue Visser: Health Researcher & product developer

Eggshells are made out of 19 minerals. The most abundant is calcium and it is easy to extract a good bone and joint supplement from them. Three eggshells will deliver enough calcium to meet your daily requirements for a week. On average about 7 x 250mg of elemental calcium. It will also provide other minerals that are present in our bones and teeth such as magnesium, boron, copper, manganese, molybdenum, sulphur, silicon and zinc. The eggshell membrane is made out of collagen for connective tissue support and sagging skin, glucosamine and chondroitin to build cartilage in joints and hyaluronic acid - a substance that draws moisture into the joints and skin. Hyaluronic acid and collagen are present in expensive skin creams.

When we can obtain organic farm eggs, it is certainly worth using every bit of natural goodness. Here are two methods that will deliver an acidic and therefore more absorbable form of calcium to keep your bones and joints from crumbling and will also give you a free natural face lift! The creamy residue can be used as a rejuvenating facial treatment. You will immediately feel the effects.

1 Leech Calcium from an Eggshell With Vinegar Place one or two hard boiled eggs in a jar of white vinegar for a few days and the calcium carbonate will dissolve off the shell and into the vinegar, along with many of the trace elements. It is best to use a boiled egg because cooking will kill off any bacteria that may be present. You can also peel the eggs and then place the shells in the vinegar. A creamy white and quite sour solution will be the result after a day or two. Strain it off and keep it in the fridge. Drink some before your main meals. This provides a substantial source of calcium as well as other minerals and trace elements. When calcium is delivered in an acidic carrier it is easier to assimilate. Some people object to the taste, so they may prefer the second method, using citric acid. With this technique you can also get eggshell membrane extracts.

2 Extract Calcium from Eggshells With Citric Acid This method produces a creamy, bland tasting liquid, rich in extracts from the shell as well as membrane. Three eggshells provide a week's supply of calcium citrate – plus all the extra minerals that may be assimilable at this pH. It also provides valuable joint and connective tissue support.. The liquid can be added to your cottage cheese or smoothies or taken as is.

The gritty residue after filtration makes an excellent skin exfoliator and rejuvenating face pack.

It works miracles for the tired, patchy skin on your face and hands. After you rinse it off you will understand what I mean about the "secret" ingredients in the membrane!  Keep your eggshells and when you have about a dozen, (for 1 month) bake them in the oven on a metal tray at a low temperature to sterilize them. This is best to do when you switch off the oven after a baking or roasting session. Be careful not to burn them! The residual albumen and membranes burn easily and let off a ghastly smell and will taste awful.  Crush the eggshells and place them in an electric coffee grinder or blender attachment.

Process them to make a fine powder. If you don't have such a device, place the shells in a plastic bag and crush them as fine as you can, using an empty glass bottle or rolling pin.

But try and pulverize them.  Take a large, deep bowl of at least 3 litres capacity and tip 100ml of the eggshell powder into it. Add 100ml of citric acid and 1 litre of water.  Give the mixture a stir from time to time. It will fizz up each time. After two days, you will see the water become white and creamy. Allow 2 - 4 days soaking time. It can then be strained through a fine cloth, placed in a sieve above a bowl. You need to squeeze out the milk and it is very messy. Keep it in a bottle in the fridge and take a dose (about 25ml) before dinner every day or add it to yoghurt, amasi or a smoothie.  The residue inside the cloth is a gritty paste that becomes your facial treatment. Slap some onto your face and hands and massage it in well. You can also roll it into clay balls and dry them out to use every day. Dip them in water and use as a skin scrubber.

NATURE FRESH & CHILD OF THE UNIVERSE PROUDLY SUPPORT

Our History

FACTS

Founded in 2006, Operation Smile South Africa (OSSA) joined Operation Smile, Inc. as its 25th partner country. Based in Cape Town, OSSA medical volunteers provide free surgeries to children and adults throughout Southern and Central Africa, as well as educational and training opportunities that promote sustainability and selfsufficiency throughout the region.

•Every 3 minutes, a child somewhere in the world is born with a cleft lip and cleft palate, and are often unable to eat, speak, socialize or smile.

•One in 10 of children born with a cleft will die before their first birthday.

•Approximately one in every 1000 babies in Africa is born with a cleft lip or cleft palate.

•Children with facial deformities who do not receive reconstructive surgery often have difficulty breathing, drinking, eating and speaking. As a result, many suffer from malnutrition, medical and psychological problems.

•Many children with untreated cleft lips and cleft palates develop permanent and significant hearing loss.

•A cleft lip or cleft palate operation and follow up care costs approximately R5500.

•In as little as 45 minutes, one cleft lip surgery can change a child's life forever.

•Operation Smile South Africa (OSSA) has treated more than 4 000 children since 2006.

•Since 1982, more than 200 000 children and young adults have been treated by thousands of Operation Smile volunteers worldwide and thousands of healthcare professionals have been trained globally. http://southafrica.operationsmile.org/

Understanding Adult ADHD DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE A CHAMELEON LIVING ON A SMARTIE BOX

By Heather Picton – Founder and CEO of ADHASA

“Living with my ADD partner is impossible – we swing from one extreme to the other and there is no middle ground! I cannot keep up with the clutter, or the trail of unfinished projects! We can never finish a conversation and I can no longer manage the determination to have it all their own way; or the moods which change in an instant with devastating effects on the family!

SOUND FAMILIAR? These are fairly common traits but certainly don’t cover all the aspects of ADHD in Adults. The condition manifests in many different ways and so not all adults with ADHD will have the same symptoms. Confusing, isn’t it?

Symptoms of ADHD manifested by children are said to fall into three basic categories which are (1) Inability to pay attention (unless fascinated); (2) Impulsivity; and (3) Hyperactivity. Poor Organizing Skills fall under Inattention (no 1 above) and this alone can cause tremendous difficulty.

Looking at the above helps us to understand a vast majority of ADHD unacceptable behaviours of in terms of these four points. The same basic symptoms can be expressed throughout their lives but in different ways. For example, the child who impulsively runs around the block may become the adult who drives to Durban on a whim. Some families seem to cope and manage their ADHD members in a way that they can accept themselves, but where there is no understanding and no coping strategies, things can fall apart.

As symptoms of misunderstood and mismanaged ADHD combine to create further difficulties, this often leads to what has become one of the most damaging legacies of an ADHD childhood : poor self-esteem. It can have a powerful and devastating effect on every aspect of their life for as long as they are on this earth.

LOW SELF ESTEEM Poor self esteem is the most damaging “symptom” of all. The child, and later the adult, usually finds ways to work through his challenges, but it is far more difficult to work through a poor self esteem. Unfortunately low self-esteem in ADHD adults is very common because they have invariably struggled with the challenges of ADD since they were children. They probably tried their very best but were constantly told every single day that they were not trying hard enough; that their work wasn’t good enough; that they were naughty, lazy and plain bad! Often there was no one they could turn to for support.

We are hurt when we hear one nasty comment, but consider what it’s like for children with ADHD who are verbally hammered every day? We all nurse those incidents in our childhood which still affect us as adults. But what about the ADHD adult who carries such an enormous burden from his earlier years … and still no-one really understands why he is so complicated, and is so over-sensitive. I have seen 30 year old adults with ADHD burst into tears of relief when they realize that they are not ‘bad people’, and finally understand that they’ve never had acceptance because nobody, and least of all themselves, understood the challenges and difficulties they faced on a daily basis.

Some of the saddest people I have ever met are ADD adults totally disillusioned with the human race.

WHAT CAN WE DO? A good place to start is taking the advice of Dr Edward Hallowell who suggested The Seven Habits of Highly Successful ADDers. In fact they make a lot of sense for all people: 1.

Do what you are good at.

2.

Delegate what you are bad at.

3.

Connect your Creativity with an outlet.

4.

Get well enough organized to meet your goals.

5.

Ask for advice (Good Advice) where and whenever you can.

6.

Make sure you keep close contact with your friends.

7.

Go with your positive side; Run your life with your positive side.

THINK ABOUT IT: Do what you are good at: Think about it … is there any point in pushing a pen for the rest of your life if you struggle to write – you’re going to end up hating it! Find your strength and if possible find the kind of employment that entails using your strengths. If you love people and enjoy talking, maybe you should be a salesman. Try to incorporate your strengths into other activities as well.

Delegate: If you are relying on your areas of weakness to earn your income it is inevitable that results can be disappointing. If you were forced to rely on them for most of your life, wouldn’t your life be less enjoyable? If possible, delegate tasks that you are bad at to someone else who has strengths in that area, and who enjoys that particular type of work more than you do. If you are not in the position to delegate, start changing things by reading books or joining courses in order to gain marketable skills your areas of strength.

Creativity: If you are creative and enjoy painting, drawing, sculpting, writing, gardening or cooking, make time to be involved with and enjoy the activity. It would be even better if the family enjoy it too, but don’t expect your partner to have to pick up the mess or always wash the dishes after that sumptuous meal that used every dish in the kitchen!

Organization: Improved organization may require assistance from partners, close friends, an educational psychologist or a coach who will help with structure and strategies.

Whichever way you choose it could prove invaluable as you find yourself meeting deadlines more easily, or being more punctual, or find yourself being better able to plan your life. It will help you feel much better about yourself.

SUPPORT AND UNDERSTANDING Adults with ADHD often need tremendous support and understanding and it can be heavy going for their partners. Even so, it can be highly rewarding for everyone concerned. A word of caution though; building your ADHD partner’s self-image is not to be at the expense of turning yourself into a doormat – it’s better if you both grow in the process.

Twenty years ago few people even recognized that adults could be affected by ADHD and there was little help for them, not even in the medical field. There was usually little regard or sympathy for them. There is now so much information available and so many resources that a lot can be done to gain insight and understanding, and undo some of the harm.

Thank heaven that people are becoming more aware of healthy eating, but unfortunately this is often avoided by the ADHDers – usually because it takes a bit of planning rather than stopping at the first fast food outlet. If only they realized what a tremendous difference healthy eating and supplementation with EFAs and multivitamins could make to their lives, no matter what their age, they’d change their eating habits immediately. But that is a topic I’ll be covering at a later date...

THE BRIGHTER SIDE People with ADHD often have many advantages over the rest of the population but are usually so bogged down with all the problems of ADHD that they often don’t recognize the gifts they have. Take time and, if possible, uncritically examine yourself and your partner. Look at some past events and you may be amazed at the overlooked talents and capabilities in your lives. Start using them and be surprised by what you can do.

Children with ADHD may spend twelve or thirteen years of their lives in the school system, relying on their weaknesses every step of the way. The irony is that they usually have to go through the school system in order to secure a future in which they can choose to avoid the same kind of (school) environment, and find something else that they can enjoy and where they can excel!

By naturopath and nutritionist Karen Latter I find getting to know a medicinal herb much the same as meeting somebody new. First you get to know their name, hear where they come from and find out what they do, which allows you to begin to understand a little of their personality and uniqueness that sets them apart from others. Of course, some become a favourite, which is why I would like to introduce you to one of mine: Bacopa monnieri.

‘Bacopa monnieri’ is somewhat of a formal introduction, using the herb’s two Latin names (also known as ‘bionomial nomenclature’). I could have been less specific and used its common Sanskrit name ‘Brahmi’, that has been used by everyday people for thousands of years. However, such informality may lead to confusion, as another plant with a quite different character, Centella asiatica, can also be referred to as Brahmi. So, for the purpose of getting to know this herb, I will use ‘Bacopa’.

Bacopa has its history in Indian Ayurvedic medicine, which forms its name from ‘Ayu’ meaning ‘Life’ and ‘Ved’ meaning ‘Science’. Bacopa’s first known mention is in an ancient Ayurvedic text in 800BC and is classified under ‘Medhya rasayana’, relating to medicinal plants, which rejuvenate intellect and memory. For a culture that relied heavily on word of mouth to pass down its teachings and traditions a sound memory was vital. Bacopa was viewed as a ‘restorative agent’ being the primary choice to rejuvenate memory as well as assisting through the lifespan from sensorial development in early life, mental and intellectual development in middle age and spiritual growth in latter years.

To understand what Bacopa can do we must look to its known actions of usage. These have been identified through observation of Bacopa’s effect as a medicine and also through its scientific evaluation in the laboratory.

In Ayurveda medicine, Bacopa is primarily regarded as a ‘nerve tonic’ to improve the function of the nervous system. This is an important distinguisher, because its tonic action to the brain and the nervous system makes it useful in situations of stress, anxiety or in nervous exhaustion, which are increasingly prevalent in modern life.

Of crucial importance is Bacopa’s ability to act as a ‘cognitive activator’ that facilitates quicker learning, recall and improves concentration. I see the value of this in clinic with my older patients who struggle to remember a ‘word’ (for instance the name of a friend’s grandchild), feeing it’s on the ‘tip of their tongue’. Long term use of Bacopa seems to open the door to that memory, allowing them to recall such information faster. The fact that Bacopa acts as an anxiolytic (reducing anxiety) is useful because there is a lot of fear and worry for people with diminished memory. This is a unique characteristic of Bacopa and an advantage over another cognitive enhancer, Ginkgo, which does not appear to reduce anxiety.

For those with demanding lives, Bacopa has the advantage of improving cognitive function, calming the mind and improving adaptation to stress. For instance, Bacopa’s ability to improve calm focus helps students learn and retain information better, improving their exam performance.

Bacopa can also be useful in children who suffer from inattention, as it appears to facilitate learning and concentration. Its ability to calm also has value in overactive types. This is currently being evaluated in a clinical trial conducted at Swinburne University’s Centre for Psychopharmacology in Melbourne (www.inattentiontrial.com).

By ‘Getting to know Bacopa’, we become acquainted with an ancient herbal medicine that is a tonic to our brain and nervous system. And where facilitating memory, concentration and learning have never been more important this new friend is well suited to support us in our demanding modern daily lives.

Swinburne University trial investigating the effects of CDRI08 (a special extract of Bacopa) on children and adolescents with hyperactivity and inattention.

The trial will investigate whether KeenMind® (CDRI 08®), a specific extract of Bacopa monnieri, may help with the symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity in boys aged between 6 and 14 years of age. Over 16 weeks, study participants will be given KeenMind® (CDRI 08®) and sit tests measuring their IQ, memory, attention, reaction time, inhibition and behaviour.

The trial is being undertaken by Professor Con Stough at Swinburne University’s Centre For Human Psychopharmacology.

Study Trial No.: ACTRN12612000827831 www.inattentiontrial.com

Swinburne University’s clinical study investigating the effects of KeenMind® (containing CDRI08®, a special extract of Bacopa) in children and adolescents with inattention and hyperactivity is sponsored by Soho Flordis International. © SFI Research 2015

About the author Karen Latter is a degree qualified Naturopath and Nutritionist who works in clinic practice at Sydney Health & Fertility, Manly and is passionate about encouraging and guiding individuals to take control of their own health. Karen presents to the general public on various natural health topics as well as lectures naturopathy at Endeavour College of Natural Health where she enjoys teaching the subjects of naturopathic philosophy and herbal medicine. www.fertilityhealth.com.au Karen Latter also provides consultant and editorial support to Flordis on a project basis.

The Future of the Ketogenic Diet The ketogenic diet (KD) has been applied for the nutritional management of refractory (drugresistant) epilepsy since 1921 with research continuously expanding on the applications thereof [1].

This high fat, low carbohydrate and adequate protein diet give rise to a metabolic state comparable to fasting, if managed correctly, without catabolism [1]. It is recommended to implement the ketogenic diet in individuals suffering from epilepsy after two anticonvulsants have been unsuccessful in alleviating seizures [2].

There are several other medical conditions in which the KD can be implemented even earlier [2]. For example, Glucose transporter I (GLUT1) deficiency syndrome (DS), in which the KD is the treatment of choice [2]. In GLUT1-DS there is an impairment in the transport of glucose to the brain, which means that the brain is deprived of energy, resulting in seizures [2]. The KD is also considered to be the treatment of choice for pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency (PDHD), which is a severe mitochondrial disorder that is associated with a flaw in pyruvate/lactate metabolism [2].

Evidence also shows that the KD provides beneficial effects for individuals suffering from inborn errors of metabolism such as Phosphofructokinase (PFK) deficiency, Glycogen Storage Diseases (GSDs) and disorders of mitochondrial energy supply [2].

In these conditions the KD can target the underlying pathophysiology or clinical symptoms in order to alleviate side effects associated with the condition [1].

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Evidence also shows that the KD provides beneficial effects for individuals suffering from inborn errors of metabolism such as Phosphofructokinase (PFK) deficiency, Glycogen Storage Diseases (GSDs) and disorders of mitochondrial energy supply [2]. In these conditions the KD can target the underlying pathophysiology or clinical symptoms in order to alleviate side effects associated with the condition [1].

Data has been emerging in which it is suggested that the KD can be an effective treatment for cancer, as cancer cells make use of glucose (as metabolized from carbohydrates) as their primary energy source [3].

Once the energy source (glucose) for cancer cells are restricted, division of these cells become more manageable [4]. The KD selectively provides normal non-cancerous cells with energy in the form of fat and ketones, thereby starving the cancer cells of energy. Therefore, individuals suffering from aggressive cancer may benefit from the KD, either as combination or standalone therapy.

In combination with the benefits associated with the KD as discussed previously, the KD has also been proven to provide neuroprotective effects. The increase in ketone bodies (formed from metabolized fat), decrease in blood glucose and involvement of different pathways, has revealed to be protective against neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson disease [5].

The benefits of the KD expand beyond improvement of seizure control, and although the applications are still being researched, there is a magnitude of evidence that has proven its benefits in epilepsy and many other neurological disorders.

References: 1.

Scholl-Bürgi S, Höller A, Pichler K, Michel M, Haberlandt E, Karall D. Ketogenic diets in patients with inherited metabolic disorders. Journal of Inherited Metabolic Disease. 2015: 38; 768-773.

2.

Kossof EH, Zupec-Kania BA, Amark PE, Ballaban-Gil KR, Bergqvist AGC, Blackford R, Bchhalter JR. Optimal clinical management of children receiving the ketogenic diet: Recommendations of the International Ketogenic Diet Study Group.

Epilepsia. 2008: 1-14.

3.

Poff AM, Ari C, Seyfried TN, D’Agostino DP. The Ketogenic Diet and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Prolong Survival in Mice with Systemic Metastatic Cancer.

PLOSone. 2013: 8(6); 1-9.

4.

Seyfried TN, Flores RE, Poff AM, D’Agostino DP. Cancer as a metabolic disease: implications of novel therapies.

Carcinogenesis. 2014: 35(3); 515-527.

5.

Paoli A, Bianco A, Damiani E, Bosco G. Ketogenic Diet in Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Disease. BioMed Research International. 2014; 1-10.

While basic trail mixes have been around for many years, usually based around fried peanuts etc, On The Go is a premium market brand using a wide range of choice grade fruits and nuts.

With interesting inclusions such as swirls, lemon twists etc, we have not only created a unique taste profile, we have created a unique selling proposition.

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With Lisa Raleigh

Rebounding is an amazing way to boost energy levels, improve blood flow, and get your heart pumping – whilst sparing your joints any hard impact. The tautening effect the motion of rebounding has on the skin is how it earns its reputation as the ultimate anti-ageing workout.

Try each move for a total of 1-2 minutes. Repeat if necessary.

TIP: This is a cardio workout. Hold onto dumbbells to create a full body light resistance workout, or strap on ankle weights to give your lower body an increased resistance workout.

Stand in the middle of the rebounder and jump in the air as high as possible, driving both knees to your chest. Land and immediately repeat. The goal is to jump as high as possible.

Keeping your feet together, use your core to twist your hips from side to side as you bounce.

Jog on the spot, leaning your body forward to be in line with your front foot. Your back foot should kick out behind you as you move, effectively working the front of your legs.

Jog on the spot, leaning your body backwards to be in line with your back front Your front foot should come out and high up in front of you, effectively working the back of your legs.

Perform the regular jumping jack motion, with arms and legs extending outwards as you jump. The difference here is that your feet will not touch the ground when they spring out, but rather be drawn back in to land with feet together and arms down, back in your starting position.

TV Personality, Author, Lifestyle and Wellness Expert www.lisaraleigh.co.za lisa@lisaraleigh.co.za www.facebook.com/LisaRaleighSAFacebook LisaRaleighSA – Twitter LisaRaleighTV – YouTube

bone strengthening exercise

Dog Food: Ten Scary Truths

By Jan Rasmusen in Nutrition And Diet

1) Commercial dog food is “fast food.”

Heavily-processed fast foods (burgers, fries, tacos, etc.) as a big diet component can cause major health problems in people. How can fast foods be good for dogs? Only dog food manufacturers think this nonsense makes sense. Dogs and people share roughly 75% the same genetic makeup, and we have similar nutritional needs. What we’re doing to our own health with processed foods, we’re also doing to our dogs. And it’s happening faster.

2) dogs.

People food is good for

Despite what you’ve heard from friends, vets and pet food manufacturers, wholesome ”people food” is good for dogs.

People food is only bad for dog food makers.

The same fresh, nutritious foods people eat can offer your dog the nutrition he needs and save you a mountain of vet bills. It just takes a little education to learn the small differences between human and canine nutritional needs. (Hint: no onions, grapes or raisins. Rinse off rich spices and sauces.

Go easy on carbs and avoid wheat and corn.)

40% of dogs are obese. 46% of dogs and 39% of cats now die of cancer. Heart, kidney and liver disease are epidemic. Like people, dogs are what they eat. Save your dog a lot of suffering, and save yourself a fortune in vet bills, by learning the truth about your dog’s diet. Here are 10 important things you may not know about what your dog is eating:

3) Don’t presume the food your vet sells is a superior product.

Veterinarians, like medical doctors, learn relatively little about nutrition in school.

Much of what they do learn comes directly from pet food company vets, sales reps, articles, studies, and seminars. If your vet hasn’t studied and experimented on his or her own with raw or homemade diets, it’s unlikely that he or she knows bad food from good, and may be acting on outdated information or superstition. And if vets profit from selling one brand, and not another, they have a conflict of interest that may influence their opinions. (Some may even be prohibited by a manufacturer from selling more than one brand.)

4) The quality of processed commercial foods is suspect.

7) Feeding the same food day after day limits nutrition.

Dog food may legally contain “4-D” meat: meat from dead, dying, diseased and disabled animals. Add a little road kill, mill floor sweepings labeled as grain, and corn contaminated with high levels of pesticide (yes, really) and you have a recipe for ill health. The cheaper the food, the cheaper the ingredients, the worse the nutrition.

Read the labels!

Imagine eating corn, rancid fat and chicken wings (without meat) every meal of your life, with the same mix of cheap vitamins and minerals added. Nutritionists urge people to eat a variety of foods, both for improved nutrition and also to prevent allergies.

5)

Kibble does not clean teeth.

Almost all dogs age three and over have dental diseases. Most of these dogs eat kibble. That should tell you something.

Although a small study once suggested that kibble might clean teeth better than canned food, better doesn’t mean effectively.

Hoping to avoid brushing our dog’s teeth, we too willingly grasp at kibble’s unsubstantiated health benefits. But pretending that kibble or hard treats will keep teeth clean will only lead to huge vet bills, lost teeth and much canine suffering.

6) “Complete and balanced” does not mean “optimum.”

“Complete and balanced” means that a food meets minimal theoretical health requirements for the average dog. Food boasting that it conducted Feeding Trials often just test only the lead product in a line of foods. Trials, too, are for only a small number of dogs for a short period of time.

Over time, nutrient and enzyme deficiencies are inevitable. Of course, complete and balanced is better than not complete and balanced, but again, better does not mean good.

Dogs need variety, too. But variety can cause gastrointestinal upset in dogs, right? In the short run, yes. Nutritionally-deprived animals have sick guts. In fact, intestinal upset when switching foods is a sign your dog needs more variety. Once good nutrition has healed a dog’s digestive system, the dog can eat different foods every meal — just as people do. Just switch foods gradually over several weeks while your dog’s gut heals.

8) Kibble is not better than canned.

Whereas canned food is preserved by the process of canning, most kibble is preserved artificially. (Ever contemplate how much preservative must be required to retard spoilage of food left out all day?) Kibble begins as a dry cooked meal whereas canned food is canned fresh. Kibble is exposed to more heat than canned (destroying nutrients).

Worse yet, kibble is linked to kidney and bladder problems in cats, and to bloat, a deadly problem especially for large, broadchested dogs. It’s also dehydrating. Of course, canned isn’t perfect either. Fresh is best, raw or cooked. Next best is frozen prepared food and then dehydrated and freeze dried foods, all available at better pet stores.

9) Some common foods can be hazardous to canine health.

Cooked bones and rawhide chews can cause major health problems requiring emergency surgery. Wheat-based treats can bring on allergies. Onions, grapes, raisins, chocolate, the article sweetener Xylitol and other common foods can be toxic for dogs and must be avoided.

10) Corn kills.

Most kibble is loaded with corn, a cheap filler. Unfortunately, the corn isn’t the luscious kind you and I eat. It’s feed corn (like cattle eat), or cheap feed corn remnants. Even corn meal dust counts as corn. The corn may even have been condemned for human consumption, there being no upper level of pesticide contamination for pet foods. If that weren’t bad enough, corn (which gives us both high fructose corn syrup and corn oil) is fattening.

Any wonder so many dogs are obese and suffer from diabetes

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