Conscious Life Magazine June ed 24

Conscious Life Magazine www.childoftheuniverse.co.za

COVER MODEL : LIEZEL VAN DER WESTHUIZEN

ed’s letter Hello Friends

ABOUT US www.childoftheuniverse.co.za PUBLISHER 2Luni Media EDITOR Linda Navon 071 346 8138 linda@childoftheuniverse.co.za OUR “Little Boss” Carmen Ché Jardim NATIONAL SALES & MARKETING Cj Stott Matticks 082 900 1010 FREELANCE WRITER Arizona Quinn DISTRIBUTION & RESEARCH Dani Lee Coulter CONTACT NUMBERS TEL: (011) 462-2900 0110 262 643 0110 468 737 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.

MEDIA PARTNERS

I trust you are all well and managing to keep your home’s stocked up with all the natural remedies for any coughs and sniffles this winter. The cold has really settled in, here is Jozi anyway – I can hear the Cape Town wind howling at my door as I am completing this mag. Yes, it’s 4am and I am snug in bed, duvet firmly held down by my two cats.

You may have noticed by now that we are a tad on the unconventional side – reason being that we are not and never will be looking for the ever-elusive ‘G-Spot’, or dishing out tips on trimming your nostril hairs. We will, however, keep you enlightened about topics that are relevant to our everyday well-being and may sometimes introduce you to new ideas. We strive to keep our content alive and colourful.

Our magazines are usually published by the second week of each month, reason being that, once again, we are not conventional. We like to delight our readers with something fresh and insightful to read once you have gotten over the month end rush, and can put your feet up with a nice ‘cuppa’ tea, and consciously relax with us.

Over the month’s you will notice that our cover have been graced by well-known personalities who we have especially chosen for their social awareness involvements, eco-friendly lifestyles and positive attitudes to making our country shine. If we all do just a little bit for someone else, what a huge impact we can make. Try it, just one small act or effort daily – and a big smile goes a long way to brightening someone’s day!

Remember to enter our competitions – super hampers up for grabs!! And pass the magazine on to your friends and family.

As Kurt Cobain said “See you again on the 4th of July”.

Be well and keep smiling Much Love

Linda

Contributing Team & Experts

LISA RALEIGH

LOUISE L. HAY

MARGI McALPINE

PENNI DU PLESSIS

HANNA KOK

SUE VISSER

HALEY RITZLMAYR

REGINA MAVUNGA

ALANA JAMES

SERGIO SALOTTO

ANTHONY WILLIAM

LAUREN CORLETT

LINDA NAVON

Cj MATTICKS

HEATHER PICTON

DEBBIE ADLARD

NICK ORTNER

PAULA QUINSEE

NICKY HAMID

HEATHER PLETT

CONTENTS ON THE COVER & FEATURE INTERVIEW DOWN TO EARTH WITH LIEZEL VAN DER WESTHUIZEN

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CONSCIOUS HEALING LOUISE HAY’S NEWSLETTER HEALING WITH ARCHANGEL CHAMUEL THE COLOUR OF COMPASSION

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AWAKEN YOUR MIND & HEART WHAT IS MEANS TO ‘HOLD SPACE’ FOR SOMEONE HAVE-DO-BE vs BE-DO-HAVE

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HELP YOURSELF TO HEALTH NATURALLY CHILD OBESITY IN SOUTH AFRICA WINTER BLUES MAY BE DEPRESSION BEATING BURNOUT INTIMATE HEALTH & HYGIENE BRAIN FOODS FOR CONCENTRATION

LISA’S HEALTHY RECIPES OVERALL HEALTH WITH THE MEDICAL MEDIUM PULSES – THE KEY TO ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY UNDERSTANDING BLOOD PRESSURE READINGS IS YOUR PINEAL GLAND CLOGGED WITH FLOURIDE?

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BODY CONSCIOUS FULL BODY BOSU BALL WORKOUT WITH LISA RALEIGH NECK & SHOULDER PAIN – 2 MINUTES EXERCISES MANAGING ECZEMA TREAT YOURSELF TO A FULL BODY SCRUB AT HOME

CONTENTS H

HOME WISE SHOULD YOU ENSURE YOUR HANDBAG? GET PERSONAL WITH THE INDWE RISK SERVICES TEAM BEING SAFETY CONSCIOUS WHEN HEATING YOUR HOME EASY WAYS TO RECYCLE

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READING HAY HOUSE BOOKS – NEW REALEASES & COMING SOON MEDICAL MEDIUM BY ANTHONY WILLIAM

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OUT & ABOUT

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GNOSTIC WHOLISTIC FESTIVAL – CAPE TOWN

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THE BARNYARD THEATRE SHOWS AND COMPETITION

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M.A.D. FESTIVAL – PLETT

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WINTER FESTIVAL IN DULLSTROOM

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MYSTIC TOUR BUS – CAPE

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ARNO CARSTENS & FRIENDS LIVE – PLETT ROCKING THE DAISIES FESTIVAL – CAPE

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ANIMAL WORLD WHEN YOUR PET BECOMES A SENIOR CITIZEN MY FUR COAT DARLING! YINDEE’S STORY

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REACH OUT SUNFLOWER FUND – HOPE BEGINS WITH YOU ENTER & WIN – AWESOME GIVEAWAYS

Your thoughts and feelings play a big role in your overall health. Not only do positive and kind thoughts help in loving your full self – it also helps keep the colds at bay. If you feel that you get a cold every other month or always have low energy or your allergies are acting up constantly, your negative thoughts are having a huge impact on these symptoms.

I know that with the weather changing between cold and overcast and warm and sunny every other week it could be affecting your health. Please don’t let June gloom get you down. I want to help you move from illness to wellness. Remember, your body is always trying to work at its optimal health no matter how poorly you treat it. So, the less you take care of your body the harder it has to work in order to reach optimal health. This can cause colds and other ailments, such as headaches.

Taking care of your body will bring you vibrant health and energy. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep and getting the proper vitamins in your body. Also, please go outside. If you work at a desk, make sure you’re getting up and taking walks or stretching. I believe that we contribute to every illness in our body. The body, just as your mood, is a mirror of your inner thoughts. Our thoughts affect us on a cellular level. That means that every single cell in your body responds to every single thought that you have.

This is good because we can always change our thought patterns and turn our health around. We aren’t stuck with chronic headaches or we don’t have to be prone to allergies. Illness is a way of the body telling us that there’s a false idea in our consciousness. It’s a chance for us to take a step back and think about how we’re treating ourselves.

The body is telling us that we’re not thinking, saying or doing for our highest good. So when you start to feel sick, remember it’s probably your body telling you to pay attention. Self-care is in need, dear ones.

Now when we cure these ailments at a physical level that doesn’t mean it will be gone forever.

That is why most people think they are stuck with a chronic illness. Curing illness at a physical level won’t bring us to a state of full wellness. I believe that we cure ourselves on an emotional and spiritual level as well. Total health is related to mind, body and spirit. To move from illness to wellness we must treat our bodies with proper care – eating the right foods and getting proper rest. And we must also practice positive thoughts and reflect on emotional issues through meditation and mirror work.

Let’s affirm: My healing is already in process. I listen with love to my body’s messages.

Love,

ONLINE COURSES THROUGH HAY HOUSE Elemental Space Clearing Online Course: A Space Clearing Certification Course Streaming Video Clear your space, Clear Your Way to Abundance, Happiness, Health and Love!

When our energy shifts or is lowered either by events or spaces we enter, we have the ability to clear and alter that energy so we stay in alignment with what we most want.

When your space is clear, everything begins to flow effortlessly to you.

Denise Linn, best-selling author, creator of the term “space clearing,” and respected authority in energy healing, has over 40 years’ experience in using ancient techniques proven to uplift your mood, your energy, your sense of well-being and increased prosperity.

Elemental Space Clearing® Online Certification Couse, includes far more than learning to clear your energy and your home. It is a globally recognized certification course that offers you an opportunity to use these techniques for your loved ones and for clients, if you choose to follow a career path in this growing field. Mainstream interest in space clearing is dramatically expanding. Many businesses are discovering that the well-being of employees improves when energy is cleared. Additionally, businesses who use these techniques are seeing sales and profits expand as well.

Enjoy radio shows from some of the world’s greatest teachers in spirituality, health, and wellness. Begin your journey of personal growth and healing now by listening to HayHouseRadio.com – radio for your soul.

Conscious Life Magazine

COMPASSION AND LINKING YOUR HEART TO YOUR TONGUE WITH ARCHANGEL CHAMUEL Compassion is being able to see beyond whatever issue, challenge or event is unfolding before you and to see the soul behind what is happening and then be able to link your heart chakra to theirs. Behind every angry or aggressive attack lies a wounded human being; someone who is in pain and so is lashing out to try and relieve that pain. Sometimes the tongue seems to have a life of its own and the most awful and negative things are just spewing out. This just adds fuel to the fire and a huge issue is now created! At this workshop Margi of Angel Connection will help you to deal with these issues with understanding and unconditional love. She will share her vast experience with you and give you the tools to change yourself and your life and assist you to resolve this. She will also facilitate a powerful visualisation bringing in Archangel Chamuel. This will assist you to lift your vibration and remove any blockages that are holding you back.

At this workshop you will learn about: •Compassion •How to link your heart to your tongue.

•Archangel Chamuel •Useful exercises to clear your blockages •Powerful visualisation to shift your vibration

FACILITATOR: Margi McAlpine DATE: 3rd July 2016 TIME: 10am to 1pm (morning session) and 2pm to 5pm (afternoon session) VENUE: Shanti Sanctuary, 2 Eddy Avenue Bedfordview Johannesburg (Please note this is a shoe free zone so bring socks or slippers to wear inside)

INVESTMENT: R395 per person. Pensioners or full-time students R250 per person Tea, Coffee, light refreshments and notes included.

BOOKINGS : Contact Margi on 082-563-7422 or Email margi@angelconnection.co.za for more details and booking forms. You can also pay via credit card.

Books, CD’s, Cards and other angelic items will be available. Credit card facilities and Snapscan are also available. We will once again be collecting for the animals. Food, blankets or monetary donations will be gratefully accepted.

ANGEL CONNECTION ALSO OFFERS: •Spiritual Teacher Training •Angel Readings •Telephonic/Skype Angel Readings •Reiki •Egyptian Healing •Spiritual Counselling •Past Life Regression.

MAKE ANGELS PART OF YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE!!

By Margi McAlpine

Archangel Chamuel is the Archangel in charge of the Heart Chakra and the Angel of Unconditional Love. As you move into this new dispensation and era it is of vital importance that you understand that only when you are able to live in pure unconditional love are you able to achieve your Ascension process.

In order to do this you first have to develop your heart chakra which will enable you to expand the love flame within you. Start by breaking down the walls that you put up every time you were hurt by anyone or anything. Not only does this keep the hurt out but it also prevents all the positive and good things from entering your heart.

Chamuel and his Angels of Love bring in love and healing where it is most needed. This will remove all blockages which have been caused by pain and will enable you to also forgive yourself and others unconditionally, for without total forgiveness there cannot be absolute unconditional love.

You have to participate and not just be an observer. Archangel Chamuel will assist you in bringing qualities of tenderness and compassion into your heart enabling you to function from a much higher perspective which also brings in absolute peace.

You need to allow yourself to “feel� all that is going on around you. You cannot go through this process without allowing yourself to experience everything.

Every morning request Archangel Chamuel to pour his soft pink light of unconditional love into your Heart Chakra so that you are able to expand it with total forgiveness and compassion for yourself and others.

Acknowledge that the more he expands your Heart Chakra, the more you are able to love unconditionally enabling you to be totally committed and dedicated to your Divine Life Path.

Everything starts with you! Love yourself unconditionally with forgiveness and compassion first and then extend that to others. Remember that if you cannot love yourself unconditionally then you are unable to love others the way they deserve to be loved. You cannot give them something that you do not have.

As you start to evolve, the colour of the Heart Chakra changes. It starts off as green in the third dimension and then starts to develop a pink centre as you progress. When you have raised your vibration to the fourth dimension it becomes lighter pink and the colour violet starts to develop.

As you reach the fifth dimension it becomes even lighter eventually becoming pure white. When you reach this level you are able to carry the intense energy of the Christ Consciousness which connects you to the absolute love of the cosmos. This is an indication that you are ready to become an Ascended Master.

Chamuel works closely with Lord Serapis Bey, who is the Master of Egypt and Ascension. Originally from Venus, the planet of Love, Serapis Bey assists us and our planet to live in unconditional love and is the Keeper of the White Flame of Atlantis, for humanity.

If you know someone is hurting emotionally, request Chamuel and his Angels of Love, to pour love and light into their hearts, enfolding them in their soft wings of healing and light. They benefit and you receive grace.

Margi McAlpine Angel Connection

Minerals, gems, and crystals have been used for millennia to enhance emotional, physical and spiritual balance. How the ancients knew, we may never know for sure, but these cultures certainly considered stones a major aspect of their existence.

Crystal healing is an alternative medical technique in which crystals and other stones are used to assist with ailments and protect against disease. Proponents of this technique believe that crystals act as conduits for healing — allowing positive, healing energy to flow into the body as negative, diseasecausing energy flows out.

During a Crystal body massage the therapist will attempt to re-energise the 7 principal chakras. This is achieved through the healing that comes with massage and the healing energy from the crystals and the universal Reiki healing energy. Crystal massage can be a wonderful and uplifting experience. It works on a deep esoteric level and not only does the physical body enjoy total relaxation but all the inner emotional stresses are brought skillfully to the surface of the mind and dissipated.

Crystal massage also works with the body’s energetic systems. Various crystals and Reiki are used during the massage to balance your body’s major energy centres known as chakras.

A session normally lasts for an hour for a full crystal body massage. Crystals are incredible to work with and the client always feels extremely relaxed and calm after the session. The healing carries on for a few days assisting with sleep, energy levels and general overall wellbeing for the client.

The Colour of Compassion So what does the colour Coral say about you?

The colour pink is all about love… we know that – it makes us go mushy and think of babies and relationships and love. Now if you add a little yellow to the pink it turns the colour into coral.

Yellow is enlightenment, self confidence and joy, which when added to pink takes on a whole new meaning. Think of Gandhi or Nelson Mandela. They were both people who came to share, support and give from the heart in ways we could never have imagined before. There was no need for personal gratification or reward for their behavior. It just came from the heart, whole heartedly. They were perfect personifications of exuding the colour coral.

By Penni du Plessis Divine Space

Is this who you are? Are you there for everyone… giving, supporting and sharing? This is a wonderful quality IF you don’t negate yourself in the process.

Did you know that every colour has it’s own secret code or signature?

When you are attracted to a colour it tells a lot about where you are, at that particular point in time. The message in the colour could be positive, a gift or your strong points… or it could be an indication that there is something you are struggling with or requiring in your life.

I have so often seen people who hold these qualities being there for everyone else, but never for themselves. They have many people who rely on them and call on them all the time, which leaves very little time, energy and money to do the things they would enjoy. This is their biggest lesson in life.

In a way there is a payback for doing all of this.

Most often people with this personality type have very little self confidence and self love – so by doing so much for others… the other person may like and need them; which validates that they are good enough, and helps them to build their own self love and feel worthy.

Go back into childhood and see what your life was like while at school. Did you have lots of friend, excel and shine in those formative years, or were you the outsider, never fitting in and always feeling rejected? If the latter speaks to you, then look at how you interact with others today. If what I have said up until now resonates with you, then addressing it and changing your behaviour could really support your life.

A more physical and practical way to support yourself is to anoint your body with the beautiful Coral Oil of Transformation.

This gentle oil not only smells divine, but it begins to heal all those years of self abuse and neglect. Soak in a bath with this oil, or gently and lovingly rub it all over your body after a shower and feel the difference. It softens the skin, helps with stretch marks and scaring and is a fantastic night cream in winter.

How do you do this, you may ask…

Simple.. think of things that you would enjoy.

That would nurture you and your body : time out with friends that make you laugh and feel light, a massage, facial or day at the spa. Time to walk in nature, smell the roses and play outside with your family or pets … and then… now here is the key… Book time out in your diary to fill those needs. Set aside the budget if that is required and don’t let ANYTHING distract you from these. This is how you put yourself first in line rather than at the back of the queue. You are the most important person in YOUR life.

If your erstwhile friends and family need you urgently , and they will because they are used to you dropping everything to help them – let them know that you already have an appointment at that time (and don’t tell them what it is, as it has nothing to do with them).

You could offer to help them before or after, but don’t cancel your date with yourself for anyone or anything. This is the way you begin to honour yourself.

I have used this oil off and on for years, and every time I feel myself slipping and beginning to feel resentful that I am always there for everyone else, and yet no-one is there when I am in need, I remember the message and the remedy. Using it helps me to feel nurtured, loved and stronger. It is like wrapping myself in compassionate wings of support, and reminds me to take time out.

If you would like to give it a try, please don’t hesitate to drop me a mail – I would love to share my divinely colourful gems with you.

Visit: www.divinespace.co.za Email: penni@divinespace.co.za

By Heather Plett

How to be there for the people who need you most When my Mom was dying, my siblings and I gathered to be with her in her final days. None of us knew anything about supporting someone in her transition out of this life into the next, but we were pretty sure we wanted to keep her at home, so we did.

While we supported Mom, we were, in turn, supported by a gifted palliative care nurse, Ann, who came every few days to care for Mom and to talk to us about what we could expect in the coming days. She taught us how to inject Mom with morphine when she became restless, she offered to do the difficult tasks (like giving Mom a bath), and she gave us only as much information as we needed about what to do with Mom’s body after her spirit had passed.

“Take your time,” she said. “You don’t need to call the funeral home until you’re ready. Gather the people who will want to say their final farewells. Sit with your mom as long as you need to.

When you’re ready, call and they will come to pick her up.”

Conscious Life Magazine

Ann gave us an incredible gift in those final days. Though it was an excruciating week, we knew that we were being held by someone who was only a phone call away.

In the two years since then, I’ve often thought about Ann and the important role she played in our lives. She was much more than what can fit in the title of “palliative care nurse”. She was facilitator, coach, and guide. By offering gentle, nonjudgmental support and guidance, she helped us walk one of the most difficult journeys of our lives.

The work that Ann did can be defined by a term that’s become common in some of the circles in which I work. She was holding space for us.

Learning to hold space for others

What does it mean to “hold space” for someone else?

It means that we are willing to walk alongside another person in whatever journey they’re on without judging them, making them feel inadequate, trying to fix them, or trying to impact the outcome. When we hold space for other people, we open our hearts, offer unconditional support, and let go of judgement and control.

Sometimes we find ourselves holding space for people while they hold space for others. In our situation, for example, Ann was holding space for us while we held space for Mom. Though I know nothing about her support system, I suspect that there are others holding space for Ann as she does this challenging and meaningful work. It’s virtually impossible to be a strong space holder unless we have others who will hold space for us. Even the strongest leaders, coaches, nurses, etc., need to know that there are some people with whom they can be vulnerable and weak without fear of being judged.

Conscious Life Magazine

Understanding the essence of holding space for others In my own roles as teacher, facilitator, coach, mother, wife, and friend, etc., I do my best to hold space for other people in the same way that Ann modeled it for me and my siblings. It’s not always easy, because I have a very human tendency to want to fix people, give them advice, or judge them for not being further along the path than they are, but I keep trying because I know that it’s important. At the same time, there are people in my life that I trust to hold space for me.

To truly support people in their own growth, transformation, grief, etc., we can’t do it by taking their power away (i.e.. trying to fix their problems), shaming them (i.e.. implying that they should know more than they do), or overwhelming them (i.e.. giving them more information than they’re ready for). We have to be prepared to step to the side so that they can make their own choices, offer them unconditional love and support, give gentle guidance when it’s needed, and make them feel safe even when they make mistakes.

Holding space is not something that’s exclusive to facilitators, coaches, or palliative care nurses. It is something that ALL of us can do for each other – for our partners, children, friends, neighbours, and even strangers who strike up conversations as we’re riding the bus to work.

Conscious Life Magazine

Every day is an opportunity to hold space for the people around us

8 Tips to Help You Hold Space for Others Here are the lessons I’ve learned from Ann and others who have held space for me.

1. Give people permission to trust their own intuition and wisdom. When we were supporting Mom in her final days, we had no experience to rely on, and yet, intuitively, we knew what was needed. We knew how to carry her shrinking body to the washroom, we knew how to sit and sing hymns to her, and we knew how to love her. We even knew when it was time to inject the medication that would help ease her pain. In a very gentle way, Ann let us know that we didn’t need to do things according to some arbitrary health care protocol – we simply needed to trust our intuition and accumulated wisdom from the many years we’d loved Mom. 2. Give people only as much information as they can handle. Ann gave us some simple instructions and left us with a few handouts, but did not overwhelm us with far more than we could process in our tender time of grief. Too much information would have left us feeling incompetent and unworthy.

3. Don’t take their power away. When we take decision-making power out of people’s hands, we leave them feeling useless and incompetent. There may be some times when we need to step in and make hard decisions for other people (i.e.. when they’re dealing with an addiction and an intervention feels like the only thing that will save them), but in almost every other case, people need the autonomy to make their own choices (even our children). Ann knew that we needed to feel empowered in making decisions on our Mom’s behalf, and so she offered support but never tried to direct or control us.

Conscious Life Magazine

4. Keep your own ego out of it. This is a big one. We all get caught in that trap now and then – when we begin to believe that someone else’s success is dependent on our intervention, or when we think that their failure reflects poorly on us, or when we’re convinced that whatever emotions they choose to unload on us are about us instead of them. It’s a trap I’ve occasionally found myself slipping into when I teach. I can become more concerned about my own success (Do the students like me? Do their marks reflect on my ability to teach? Etc.) than about the success of my students. But that doesn’t serve anyone – not even me. To truly support their growth, I need to keep my ego out of it and create the space where they have the opportunity to grow and learn.

Keep your own ego out of it 5. Make them feel safe enough to fail. When people are learning, growing, or going through grief or transition, they are bound to make some mistakes along the way. When we, as their space holders, withhold judgement and shame, we offer them the opportunity to reach inside themselves to find the courage to take risks and the resilience to keep going even when they fail. When we let them know that failure is simply a part of the journey and not the end of the world, they’ll spend less time beating themselves up for it and more time learning from their mistakes.

6. Give guidance and help with humility and thoughtfulness. A wise space holder knows when to withhold guidance (i.e.. when it makes a person feel foolish and inadequate) and when to offer it gently (i.e.. when a person asks for it or is too lost to know what to ask for).

Though Ann did not take our power or autonomy away, she did offer to come and give Mom baths and do some of the more challenging parts of caregiving. This was a relief to us, as we had no practice at it and didn’t want to place Mom in a position that might make her feel shame (i.e.. having her children see her naked). This is a careful dance that we all must do when we hold space for other people. Recognizing the areas in which they feel most vulnerable and incapable and offering the right kind of help without shaming them takes practice and humility.

Conscious Life Magazine

A wise space holder knows when to withhold guidance and when to offer it gently 7. Create a container for complex emotions, fear, trauma, etc. When people feel that they are held in a deeper way than they are used to, they feel safe enough to allow complex emotions to surface that might normally remain hidden. Someone who is practiced at holding space knows that this can happen and will be prepared to hold it in a gentle, supportive, and nonjudgmental way. In The Circle Way, we talk about “holding the rim” for people.

The circle becomes the space where people feel safe enough to fall apart without fearing that this will leave them permanently broken or that they will be shamed by others in the room.

Someone is always there to offer strength and courage. This is not easy work, and it is work that I continue to learn about as I host increasingly more challenging conversations. We cannot do it if we are overly emotional ourselves, if we haven’t done the hard work of looking into our own shadow, or if we don’t trust the people we are holding space for. In Ann’s case, she did this by showing up with tenderness, compassion, and confidence. If she had shown up in a way that didn’t offer us assurance that she could handle difficult situations or that she was afraid of death, we wouldn’t have been able to trust her as we did.

The circle becomes the space where people feel safe enough to fall apart

Conscious Life Magazine

8. Allow them to make different decisions and to have different experiences than you would.

Holding space is about respecting each person’s differences and recognising that those differences may lead to them making choices that we would not make. Sometimes, for example, they make choices based on cultural norms that we can’t understand from within our own experience. When we hold space, we release control and we honour differences. This showed up, for example, in the way that Ann supported us in making decisions about what to do with Mom’s body after her spirit was no longer housed there. If there had been some ritual that we felt we needed to conduct before releasing her body, we were free to do that in the privacy of Mom’s home.

Holding space is not something that we can master overnight, or that can be adequately addressed in a list of tips like the ones I’ve just offered. It’s a complex practice that evolves as we practice it, and it is unique to each person and each situation. http://upliftconnect.com/hold-space/

Eco Warrior, Radio & T V Personality, Model & Actress…

A True Beauty Inside and Out!!

Conscious Life Magazine

COPYRIGHT: www.cara-leegevers.com

Conscious Life magazine caught up with the beautiful Liezel van der Westhuizen, a name and lovely face that I am sure you all recognise. You may be surprised when you look over her biography at all the amazing things she has already accomplished in life, TV presenter, Radio Dj, MC, Model, fitness junkie, acted in a few Afrikaans Movies and she is an active ambassador for living green!! Just one look at her and you can already see that despite all of this she is still down to earth!! In short – she is our kinda gal!!

The morning of the “face to face” Skype interview with Liezel, Linda Navon was ill in bed, and the interview fell into my lap. I found myself filled with butterflies and excitement to speak with her. Even though I had put together the written part of the interview, I suddenly didn’t know what to ask Liezel.

Would she be intimidating to speak to? Would I completely bungle the interview? (Let me clarify – this was my 1st physical interview!!) Being the absolute beauty that she is, I made sure that my make-up was nicely applied and my hair was not sticking up in 500 different directions (I tend to just go with bed-head some days). So, the moment of truth, I tapped video call on Skype…. And there was this lovely smiling, bright and cheery face looking back at me. She really exudes a lovely light, you can tell immediately that she is filled with it!

“She even had a sunset over Table Mountain shaved into her hair on the side of her head once…”

We chatted like we were old friends, comparing our short hair do’s with one another, Liezel giving me the advice to simply go with bed head as to the rest of the world it actually looks like we tried really hard to get that great look. When I mentioned that I am thinking of bleaching my hair and dyeing it pink, she encouraged me – saying that hers has been pink, and many other colours. She even had a sunset over Table Mountain shaved into her hair on the side of her head once, and a bow at the back in support of breast cancer at another time!! I can’t wait for my next salon appointment…

“Liezel shaved her hair off years ago in support of her Grandmother who was diagnosed with cancer” Some of you may or may not know, Liezel shaved her hair off years ago, and went bald for a year in support of her Grandmother when she was diagnosed with Cancer.

She keeps it short now in memory of the wonderful woman her Grandmother was and as a reminder that life is short and as she says we need to “Live each day to the fullest!” And that is exactly what Liezel does and why she is where she is in her career and personal life today. Whenever she feels that she is taking life too seriously, she remembers that her Grandmother said not to take it seriously!

“Whenever she feels that she is taking life too seriously, she remembers that her Grandmother said not to take it seriously! “ When I asked her if she sings or dances too, she told me that these are definitely not her strong points. She is a 2nd Soprano but that she is pretty sure she is tone deaf, and as for dancing Liezel says that she has no coordination and even with her Afrikaans background, she most certainly cannot “Lang-Arm”!! She says this with an infectious, easy laugh.

I asked her what advice she has for those of us wanting to get into presenting, acting, modelling etc, and if it’s too late once in your 30’s and 40’s to do so.

Her answer was along the lines of, “It’s a good time to get into things such as modelling, as they are looking for woman with curves, real woman and older women too.” Her advice, if you choose these paths, is to always have something to fall back on as these industries are seasonal and fickle, use modelling, acting etc as a way to make money and if it works out to be something more – great. But go for it, knock on the doors of agents in your area and keep knocking!!

Liezel is training for another Triathlon at the moment, all while being on air on KFM, video blogging and everything else she manages to squeeze into a day.

She is a true beauty – inside and out and an inspiration to “Live Life to the Fullest” while still keeping grounded!!

“Live each day to the fullest”

> Conscious Life Magazine

Conscious Life Magazine

PHOTO COURTESY OF WWW.LIEZEL.CO.ZA

You received some exciting news just after our Skype call – tell us more!!

I've just landed a role in a new local film.

What wonderful news!! Congrats!!

With a degree in Human Resources Management and both an Honours and Masters degree in Communications Management, you took time off in 2012 to finish you PhD in Communication Management. Have you completed that now? Any plans to study more?

Due to financial reasons, I have put this on hold for now.

What did you aspire to become when you grew up?

I'm an absolute animal lover and wanted to be a vet.

You are very passionate about the environment, and have been an ambassador for Glass Recycling South Africa, and nominated for the Green Heart Green Celeb award in 2012. What do you to reduce your impact on your environment?

I cycle to most of my meetings in Cape Town. This has reduced my carbon foot print and petrol bills.

“I cycle to most of my meetings…”

What have you done to make your life greener, from your home through to your skincare?

I have stopped using cotton balls and ear buds, as well encouraging my friends not to use any beauty products that contain Microbeads .

• Microbeads are tiny plastic particles in many beauty and personal products (shower gels, toothpastes , soaps and facial scrubs. These do not dissolve.) Much of this ends up in our rivers and oceans and contributes to killing our wildlife and oceans. Rather use natural products that use ground up almonds etc to use in scrubs.

Do you use your status as a celebrity to encourage others to do the same?

I use my social media accounts to encourage people to live greener. Even did a review on my Vlog on a range of green cleaning products that are now available in SA.

What tips and advice do you have for others wanting to live a greener life?

Start with small things in your home. Put in recycling bins and use green cleaning products. It's amazing to see how these small things can turn into you becoming even more greener.

(Check out Eco Monkey Recycling and Earth Probiotic in this month’s issue) What charities do you support and why those?

I support Signature of Hope, they target various organizations and charities , and assist where needed.

Velokhaya- Combining cycling with school is an incredible combination.

Tell us about a day in the life of Liezel?

My days are different and all very active. The day starts out with reporting Traffic on KFM Breakfast with Ryan O Connor and it varies each day with the following: • Voice Over bookings for clients • Then cycle or lunch time run • Film a Vlog • Photo-shoots • Key Note talks • Master of Ceremonies • Take Dog to Doggy Class • Take Dog to Acting Class

You are also quite a sports lady, having completed many different challenges such as Iron man , The Dusi Canoe Marathon and the Cape Cycle Tour. You are busy training for a triathlon at the moment, tell us more?

I love tackling new challenges and each race brings a different enjoyment. I also tag a charity onto my various challenges. I cycled the first ever bike that tweeted, and I raised bicycles for Velokhaya.

“5 years ago I broke my pelvis in a cycling accident…”

What is the biggest challenge you faced and how did you overcome it?

I am currently dealing with an old reoccurring injury which is making training tough. I couldn’t understand why I wasn’t getting stronger with my cycling and running. 5 years ago I broke my pelvis in a cycling accident, and immediately started training without going through any rehab and strengthening work. It was the worst mistake I made because I taught my body to use the wrong muscles. This year I started working with Braam Du Toit and Keenan Ford (from Physio Train Smart) , they quickly realized what was wrong and I had to start training from scratch. This has been a hard journey for me because my training is starting from scratch.

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Conscious Life Magazine

Conscious Life Magazine

PHOTO COURTEST OF WWW.LIEZEL.CO.ZA

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

Spending my free time with my fur baby on the beach playing in the smaller waves.

Do you have any hobbies?

Yes. I love baking.

Lesser known talents of yours?

I can play the didgeridoo. (WOW!! Impressed! That is one of Editor, Linda Navon’s favourite instruments!)

“Stand up paddling – it’s my favourite way to relax…”

List 4 of your favourite things in life and why they are your favourites.

• Stand up paddling - its my favourite way to relax over a weekend. Spending time out on the ocean and enjoying the beauty that surrounds me.

• My VLOG – Love making videos of what I get up to and sharing it with friends and family and fans.

• Roller Skating – My latest activity, only just started and loving learning how to skate again (reminds me of my childhood where my gran taught me to roller sate) • My Family – A day doesn’t go past that I don’t speak to one of my family members 4 items on your bucket list and why 1. Tackle Leadville Trail 100MTB in Texas. This race looks incredible and the medal is a belt buckle.

2. Climb Kilimanjaro – Tanzania is one of my fave countries to visit and I’ve been wanting to do this climb since High school.

3. The Cape Point Challenge – Known as the toughest one day surf ski race, I heard about this race when I started training for The Dusi Canoe marathon and immediately added it to my bucket list.

4. The Otter African Trail Run – Trail running is one of my hardest events to train for. I would like to challenge myself by doing this race.

What are you currently reading?

• "The Beauty Myth" by Naomi Wolf

And what are your 4 favourite books?

• Life Without Limits by Chrissie Wellington • Wild by Cheryl Strayed • Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay • This is also on my Book shelf “Simply Delicious” by Zola Nene

“Tackle Leadville Trail 100MTB in Texas. This race looks incredible and the medal is a belt buckle” Top 10 Bands – SA and International • Monark • iScream & the Chocolate Stix • Springbok Nude Girls • New Hero • Prime Circle • Desmond and The Tutus • MiCasa • Hozier • The Weekend • DNCE Your choice of Cosmetics?

• Fave Skin Care – DMK • Fave Ligloss – ESSENCE • Fave Eye shadow MAC Plans for the future?

I am currently working on a new Fitness lifestyle TV show which should be out in the middle of next year.

Thank you Liezel, for spending some time with me and Conscious Life Magazine, sharing a peak into your life with us and our readers. You have certainly inspired me to get out there and do more of that which makes me feel alive!!

Let’s climb Kilimanjaro next year for charity and journal it in the mag!!

Cj

PHOTO COURTESY OF WWW.LIEZEL.CO.ZA

What are your guilty pleasures?

Chocolate.

Conscious Life Magazine

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.

Neuro Integration Movements (NIM) Prerequisites: This course is open to all who have an interest in learning and personal growth

This is the first course of the Brain Gym in South Africa learning track. In this 2-day introduction course you are introduced to the four-step Brain GymÂŽ warm-up program called PACE and all the Brain GymÂŽ movements. The user feels instantly focused, on track, and ready to begin any task or meet any challenge.

Discover the function of the Triune brain: the Reptilian brain, the Limbic System and the Neo-Cortex, and the learning implications of brain functioning in terms of three dimensions- laterality, focus and centering at a basic level.

Candidates will learn how "knowing" the dominant eye, ear, hand and foot can affect your ability to read, write, and other functioning.

Many teachers have found that by doing Brain Gym with the children for about five minutes a day, the children concentrate better, are calmer and much more. Teaching has become easier for the teachers who do Brain Gym daily with their class.

For information on all courses, dates and rates, please contact: HANNA KOK MOBILE: 082 856 6655 www.makealife.co.za

Have-Do-Be… vs. Be-Do-Have

By Hanna Kok

Most of us believe that we need to have something, so that we then can do things, so that we can be happy.

For example in our relationships, there are times that we wish to have a partner/child, friend, etc behave in a certain way, so that we can do certain things together, so that we can be happy. For example I used the think, if I have a husband would be more interested in the way I think, then we will talk more together and I will be fulfilled in the relationship. This Have-Do-Be is a very ineffective way to create The Life You Want.

“This Have-Do-Be is a very ineffective way to create the Life You Want” I was listening to Neal Donald Walsch the other day on this subject. He is the author of the Conversations With God books. He explained that God told him that we need to turn things around; to first Be, then Do and the Have will come. The last few days I have been playing around with new approach and the results have been amazing!

When my husband's unintentional behaviour pushed my buttons, I said to myself, “I am fulfilled”. But then my inner-voice screamed at me “Who are you kidding, I am not fulfilled; I am frustrated!” So that didn’t work. I had to find something that I could say to myself that I believed.

So I asked myself, “Why do I want a fulfilling relationship?” The answer: "I want to feel fulfilled, so that I can be at peace." I realised that in a challenging situation I could say to myself “I choose peace. I am at peace" While taking an few deep breaths, I would connect with my inner peace. (Be) After doing this a few times, I had the idea to talk (Do) to my husband about what I had learnt and asked if we could listen to it together. He said yes and we had (Have) some fulfilling discussions about what we listened to.

We can do the same when we feel ill or anything else.

If it is not yet believable to say “I am healthy”, then we can start with saying, I am at peace.

Why is it so important to claim our state of being?

When we try to have something before we have it, we often feel frustrated, or something like that. Our state of being creates an energy field around us. We now create an energy field of frustration, which will attract and create more frustration in our life.

Our energy field affects our own body, because it affects the quality of the cells that are created each millisecond. This is how we can start with our healing process.

This energy field also affects our environment with the people in it. The people around us also pick up our “vibes” and respond accordingly.

“Our state of being creates an energy field around us. Our energy field affects our own body, because it affects the quality of the cells that are created each millisecond” In Conclusion Be-Do Have, is a great inner-wellbeing strategy to have. Play around with it for a couple of days and start to notice what changes in your life. It will take some effort on your behalf to choose a peaceful state of being, instead letting your emotions just running away with you, but it is worth it.

If you want this new inner-wellbeing strategy, we can assist you with our workshops, especially our From Victim to Master workshop and One-on-One sessions. please contact us for more information or to make an appointment.​

Conscious Life Magazine

Did you know that South Africa has one of the highest rates of child obesity in the world? Recent research shows that about two thirds of South African women are classified as obese or overweight. It’s no surprise then that as adult obesity increases, obesity in children increases too.

Child obesity in South Africa is becoming more and more concerning, and parents need to be aware of habits and patterns that could affect the health of their children. Parents are overfeeding and underexercising their children and the consequences are disturbing.

Overweight parents are raising overweight children.

“…almost 2 out of every 10 children in South Africa are either obese or overweight” Child Obesity in South Africa: The Stats If that’s not enough to get you to sit up a little straighter, try some of these stats on for size…

Recent statistics show that almost 2 out of every 10 children in South Africa are either obese or overweight.

According to the Medical Research Council of South Africa, over 17% of South African children aged between one and nine living in urban areas are obese or overweight.

Some of you might say, “But I know all this. I know the dangers of bad eating habits in my kids”. Well, as with any other healthy lifestyle habit, sometimes we all need a good reminder. This is a weighty issue we cannot afford to ignore, and we need to be aware of the warning signs.

Child Obesity in South Africa: The Lifestyle Our lifestyles are more fast-paced than ever before and there is often little to no time to prepare healthy meals for the family. Moms and dads who work long hours often choose the quickest and most convenient meals for school and home, not realising that bad food choices eventually turn into poor eating habits.

Conscious Life Magazine

“We live in an age of instant gratification: fast food, readymade meals…snacks packed with sugar, sodium and unhealthy fats…

We live in an age of instant gratification: fast food, ready-made meals we can just pop into the microwave, snacks packed with sugar, sodium and unhealthy fats; the list goes on. We need to slow down and take stock of our eating habits for the sake of our kids.

Parents (and moms specifically) are promoting lifestyles, behaviours and eating patterns that their children are modelling. The habits we foster in our children need to change.

When is a Child Considered Obese?

The best indication of child obesity lies in their Body Mass Index (or BMI). This number is related to a child’s weight and height, and whether the two are in proportion.

If this number is higher than 95% of children in the same age and gender category, then the child can be considered obese.

The Causes The number one cause of child obesity in South Africa is overeating (or being overfed by caregivers).

Overeating Obesity is usually the result of excessive calorie intake and low physical activity rates. In the same vein, weight loss happens when the tables turn: increase in exercise and lower intake of calories.

Most people would think that since children are growing at such a rapid rate at their age, dramatic weight gain should be almost unheard of. However, when we look at the frequency at which children consume high-fat and high-sugar foods these days, paired with little to no exercise at all, an increase in child obesity is understandable.

“There are other factors that contribute to child obesity, and a genetic predisposition could be one. “ Genetics There are other factors that contribute to child obesity, and a genetic predisposition could be one. A child is 50% more likely to become obese if obesity runs in the family.

However, this is not guaranteed. Parents who commit to promoting a healthy lifestyle in their kids can turn that statistic around.

The Health Risks The health risks for obese children are significant.

Overweight and obese children are susceptible to a host of health-related problems, such as: • High blood pressure • Heart disease • Diabetes (as a result of impaired glucose tolerance) • Gall bladder problems • High cholesterol levels • Joint problems

“Parents who commit to promoting a healthy lifestyle can turn that statistic around” But it’s not all doom and gloom. There are ways to get it right, and it’s easier than you think…

Promote a Healthy Lifestyle in the Home As with most good things in life, a healthy lifestyle starts at home. Luckily there are easy ways to foster healthy lifestyle habits at home.

Montagu Dried Fruit and Nuts believes and encourages the 1, 2, 3 formula: 1. Eat well 2. Sleep well 3. Stay active

Eat Well What does it mean to eat well?

Be sure to encourage a good breakfast every morning.

Breakfast aids concentration, sustainable energy throughout the day, and decreases the likelihood of binge eating during lunch or supper. The best breakfast foods are ones that release energy slowly: like unrefined oats, whole grain bread or cereals, fruit and unsweetened yoghurt with honey.

During the day, kids should be eating snacks and meals that are low in sugar and fats, and high in essential vitamins, minerals, good carbohydrates and protein - all vital elements for healthy, growing bodies.

A child should never be on a restrictive weight loss diet – only a healthy eating plan. It’s important for parents to first identify what habits, patterns or eating behaviours are causing significant weight gain, and make adjustments from there.

It’s so important to develop healthy relationships with food in our children. Force-feeding could cause poor attitudes towards food, which could lead to eating disorders later on.

“A child should never be on a restrictive weight loss diet – only a healthy eating plan” Food should never be used in the following situations: • As a bribe • As punishment • As a pacifier • As a tool to manipulate behaviour

Sleep Well Enough sleep is essential for early childhood development. Parents, we need to be strict about this. Don’t allow your kids to manipulate you in this area. Stick to a routine wherever possible.

Sleep deprived children often suffer from a number of these symptoms: • Anxiety • Mood swings • ADHD • Impaired ability to concentrate and learn effectively at school • Poor eating habits The Sleep Foundation advises that: Children aged 3 – 5 should get 11 – 13 hours of sleep each night.

Children aged 6 – 13 should get 9 – 11 hours of sleep each night

Conscious Life Magazine

Stay Active The general consensus indicates that children today are far less active than they ought to be.

Media, gaming and entertainment have replaced fun and games outside, as more parents are opting to keep their kids indoors. Aside from the safety aspect of this, it’s simply easier to prop your kids in front of the television for a couple hours of blissful silence.

This in itself is quite normal and easily understandable. The problem comes in when physical activity is replaced altogether.

Unfortunately many schools don’t offer physical education as part of their curriculum, and sports are often only manageable when a parent or caregiver is available to transport them to and from practices or classes.

If extramural activities aren’t possible during the week, try and promote physical activity in the home and as a family: • Go for regular walks together in the evenings or on weekends • Play sports in the backyard in the evenings • Play fun indoor games like Wii Sports or table tennis

Tips to promote healthy eating habits in children: • Avoid issuing tuck shop money regularly.

Make it a rare treat. You can’t control what the tuck shop sells, but you can control when you give them tuck shop money and the kind of snacks you put in their lunchboxes.

Article Courtesy of Montagu Dried Fruit and Nuts

• Always check food packaging.

Avoid snacks that are high in fats and select snacks that are unprocessed where possible. Most fruit juices marketed as “pure” fruit juice often contain added sugars. Default to water, and diluted fruit juices as a second choice.

• Prepare school lunches the night before.

Mornings are usually rushed and unpredictable.

Lunch that is prepped the night before will reduce the chance of you issuing tuck shop money last minute.

• Get your kids to drink more water.

The sensation of thirst is often masked as hunger.

So if your child has eaten recently and still tells you they’re hungry, first try getting them to drink water or diluted fruit juice. If they maintain that they are hungry, only give out healthy snacks like dried fruit, nuts or seeds in small portions.

By fostering healthy lifestyle habits, child obesity in South Africa can be reduced and even avoided.

Hopefully these tips to promote healthy eating habits and physical activities will help you promote a healthy lifestyle for your family.

About Montagu Dried Fruit and Nuts Montagu Dried Fruit and Nuts is a specialist supplier of the widest range of dried fruit and nuts to the South African market. They care about people living a healthier lifestyle and this is why they supply top quality products that supports a healthier lifestyle in a delicious and convenient way.

They have over 140 dedicated stores nationwide, manned by trained sales assistants who provide them with support and valuable information to make their buying decisions. For more information, health tips and lip-smacking recipes visit www.mdfn.co.za.

Conscious Life Magazine

Conscious Life Magazine

Beating Burnout

By Lisa Raleigh

Are you feeling exhausted and overworked? Stress management, work/life balance and lifestyle habits play important structural roles in your life, and will help you maximize productivity without compromising happiness.

Here are a few ways to beat the burnout: Express yourself If the majority of your day is spent tackling noncreative work tasks, troubleshooting or performing under pressure, you need a creative outlet. Exactly what this means is unique to you – it could be playing an instrument, working on a craft project, updating your blog or reading fiction. Anything that demands your full focus without stress is an excellent way to unwind while still stimulating your mind. Determine your favourite creative outlets and make time for them at least a few times a week.

“…you need a creative outlet.”

Build a support system The most effective systems and structures are usually community-based. Whether you need to emotionally offload to a trusted friend, or hand over work to a more capable colleague, understand that asking for appropriate help or support is important. It may mean a few instances of returning the favour, but giving time to your strengths and asking assistance with your weaknesses means more productivity and fewer headaches.

“An increase in positive thoughts has been proven to build resilience and your ability to be solutionfocused” Make ‘happy’ your default setting An increase in positive thoughts has been proven to build resilience and your ability to be solutionfocused. Working to remain positive in stressful situations, to bite your tongue when feeling annoyed, and to mindfully acknowledge each negative thought and follow it immediately with a positive one are all tools to becoming more constructive. This is an important conditioning tool that can take time to implement, but the long-term benefits are worth it.

“… waking up at least 45mins before the alarm usually goes off is the key here… when you only have your own needs to meet”

Be a realist

Rise with the birds

Denial, procrastination, or refusing to identify your problems/weaknesses means you’re setting yourself up for failure. Putting off a daunting work task, or not acknowledging why you don’t want to spend time with a family member or friend only leads to ambiguity and little result. Facing problems transparently and without fear may feel difficult, but it’s the fastest and most effective way to overcome them.

If you’re hearing this one often, it’s because it’s true.

Your idea of rising early might be 7am versus someone else’s 5am, but waking up at least 45 minutes before your alarm usually goes off is the key here. The main benefit of this is waking up alone – where you have only your own needs to meet. This allows for more clarity of purpose, as well as productivity, allowing you to focus on what you want to achieve out of your day.

Conscious Life Magazine

“Documenting your to-do list is the best way to make sure it gets done.”

Write it down Documenting your to-do list is the best way to make sure it gets done. This applies to your personal life as well as work. Smart phones make it easy to keep long-running and amendable to-do lists, serving as reminders for everything from groceries you need, errands you have to run and even personal goals to reach. Visual reminders are the most effective ways to remember important tasks.

“…foregoing regular exercise will only exacerbate your stress long-term.”

Exercise for Energy Much of our energy – whilst also influenced by diet, lifestyle and fitness levels – relies heavily on brain function. Exercise plays a huge role in this, from stabilizing your mood and organizing your thoughts to de-stressing and boosting energy levels. However busy you may be, foregoing regular exercise will only exacerbate your stress long-term.

Have a wind-down routine before bed You may feel productive sparing a few extra hours of sleep, but your cognitive functioning, memory and performance are guaranteed to suffer.

“You can absolutely eat your way to lower stress levels and higher energy” Eat consistently You can absolutely eat your way to lower stress levels and higher energy. Low GI meals keep your blood sugar levels moderated, and snacking frequently will keep you energized throughout the day. Juice your veggies each morning if you anticipate not having time to fit in a balanced meal.

For more from Lisa Raleigh go to www.lisaraleigh.co.za

Conscious Life Magazine

NATURE FRESH & CHILD OF THE UNIVERSE PROUDLY SUPPORT

INTIMATE HEALTH THE NATURE FRESH GUIDE TO PERSONAL HYGIENE

By Sue Visser – Nature Fresh

VAGINAL DISORDERS AND NATURAL WAYS TO COPE 1 BURNING, ITCHING, RASHES AND SWELLING OF THE VULVA. First check through the list of common causes and take the appropriate action.

Then use these suggestions for relief: CLEANSING: rinse the area in a weak solution of cider vinegar and salty water. Rooibos, echinachea, hypericum, calendula or suitable herbal teas make excellent rinsing and douching agents, especially when acidified with a few drops of lemon juice, cider vinegar and a spoon or two of salt. Never use bicarb or alkaline soaps as the vagina must remain acidic. Special acidic cleansing solutions are available and Nature Fresh make a herbal vaginal cleanser with Tea tree Oil or a milder Rooibos formulation. It can also be used every day in the bath and shower for general use or diluted to 5ml per cup of warm water if a douche is required. You can buy a special apparatus from the pharmacy called a Whirling Spray, made by the manufacturers of Barium enema’s. If you cannot find one, a baby’s enema or a large syringe without the needle will have to do. Only douche the vagina if your practitioner recommends it. Ladies are often confused about using soap. Keep it away from the vaginal cavity, but it can be used on the vulva or outer region. If you are not sure, use a product that is compatible for both areas.

SOOTHING: Pat yourself dry and apply a natural Calendula or Vitamin E cream to areas that are red and sore. A natural lubricating gel can also be applied frequently to stop itching and chafing. Nature Fresh make a mild gel with Tea Tree oil for infected areas or use their hypoallergenic Natural Personal Lubricant. These gels can be used throughout the day for interim cleansing when applied to cotton wool and used after going to the toilet, especially during menstruation.

REDUCING THE SWELLING: Inflammation can be reduced by taking Cantharis Compound Drops by Weleda. It has an anti-histamine action. Take a few drops directly on the tongue or in a glass of water.

The tissue salt FERRUM PHOS reduces inflammation. You can suck four tablets every half hour until the pain subsides and then take them at longer intervals. Follow the ANTI-INFLAMMATORY PROGRAMME for long term relief.

STOPPING THE PAIN: Some people find that ice packs help reduce the pain and swelling. Try wetting a sanitary pad, wrap it in a waterproof plastic bag and freeze it. If this works, make a few more so you can exchange them. Take a painkiller as a last resort or ask the pharmacy for a topical anesthetic such as Xylitol or Lignocaine.

Conscious Life Magazine

2. ABNORMAL VAGINAL DISCHARGES: The shedding of vaginal tissue produces a residue on underwear. It can appear a few times a month, but if no unusual odour or colour is present and it is not profuse, the discharge is normal. Eating certain foods rich in amino acids can cause a different effect, especially: bean sprouts, alfalfa, garlic, chillies and certain curry spices. If you are eating a lot of these foods and stop for a few days, this unusual odour or discharge will disappear and there should be no more cause for alarm. If no itching, swelling, inflammation or redness of the vulva is present then a discharge is not abnormal or a sign of a serious infection.

The following discharges, accompanied by vaginal irritation indicate the presence of an infection:  Thick white clots that look like cream cheese: A creamy white discharge is known as leucorrhea.

The Candida Albicans fungus is always present in vaginal mucous and if it proliferates, a white curdy type of residue may occur but it usually does not have a bad odour. If large amounts develop it may indicate a Candida infection known as Thrush where yeast like organisms begin to take over. This may happen after a course of antibiotics when friendly bacteria or probiotics have been eradicated. Candida can grow on the sides of the vulva, the vagina and the cervix as well as in other parts of the body like the mouth and digestive tract. Roots of this fungus grow into the upper layers of skin and mucous tissue, causing pain, inflammation and itching.  A profuse discharge: enough to require wearing a sanitary towel between periods. You may also be having griping pains, intermittent fevers, nausea and feel weak, depressed and listless.  An offensive discharge: with a putrefying smell and a change of colour to yellow or a darker colour.

It may become foamy and be streaked with blood and be accompanied by vaginal inflammation, painful intercourse and difficulty in urinating.

These symptoms indicate the need for medical treatment. There may be a uterine infection or the presence of a sexually transmitted disease (STD). A number of tests are available for identification of the organisms that could be a virus, bacteria or protozoa. These infections should be caught in their early stages so that irreversible damage to the reproductive system and the rest of the body does not occur.

Patent drugs and antibiotics are used to eradicate most of these conditions but some of the strains have become resistant to treatment. Special diets, herbal remedies and food supplements can also help.

Many of these diseases can be prevented and a healthy immune system is the best line of defence along with taking precautions when having sex with a number of casual partners. One should not only rely on condoms as the AIDS virus is 70 times smaller than a sperm cell. STD organisms are also transmitted via blood and saliva in many cases and the herpes virus is extremely contagious.

Conscious Life Magazine

3. BREAKTHROUGH BLEEDING AND SPOTTING Should you be alarmed by a discharge of blood between periods?

The release of blood from the uterus into the vagina at an unexpected time is known as spotting or breakthrough bleeding. It is reported that most women immediately think they have cancer but fortunately they can be put at ease. Unless the discharge of blood is accompanied by symptoms such as pain, debility, cramps, inflammation and it also contains cervical tissue, mucous or offensive smelling debris, there is no cause for alarm.

CAUSES: HORMONAL IMBALANCES. The sudden withdrawal of estrogen and progesterone triggers the blood and nutrients in the endometrium or lining of the womb to be released. This happens at the beginning of every menstrual cycle. This process can be set off at other times by too much or too little estrogen or progesterone as the release of blood in the uterine lining is dependent on hormonal instigators. Estrogen contains a blood clotting factor and this is why a menstrual flow will only start when the estrogen level drops.

There are many causes for differing hormonal levels and every time estrogen or progesterone is given as a supplement, breakthrough bleeding may occur if the blending is incorrect.

This type of bleeding often occurs when ladies take too much progesterone as it displaces estrogen that contains the clotting factor. Even “natural” progesterone creams are not exempt from causing this alarming condition and the bleeding is an indication that too much progesterone is active. Especially in cases where “natural” is masquerading as a synthesized progesterone supplement .

HOW TO REMEDY THE SITUATION: If the bleeding is heavy and lasts longer than a day, your gynecologist or doctor will have to determine the exact cause of the problem and estrogen (usually PREMARIN: from mares’ urine) is given in high doses every four hours to stop the bleeding. Furthermore, a D & C (womb scraping) and tissue or blood tests may be recommended.

Although estrogen is used to clot the blood, the sudden surge of estrogen may cause the patient to gain weight, have swollen breasts and feel bloated because levels of the hormone prolactin may also be raised. This weight is difficult to remove and does not respond well to diet and exercise. An alternative approach may be to try and balance the hormonal levels in a gentler way, using estrogen active substances like: flax seeds, soya and a hormonal balancer such as agnus castus, which helps to lower levels of prolactin, thus helping to ease the resultant gain in weight. Unfortunately most natural techniques take a long time and often we need a “quick fix.”

For product information on intimate hygiene go to www.naturefresh.co.za

Conscious Life Magazine

NATURE FRESH VAGINAL CLEANSERS FOR TOTAL FRESHNESS , COMFORT AND CONFIDENCE The vaginal pH is acidic at 3,5-4. That’s even more acidic than your skin. After sex, the pH rises to 7, or neutral. It remains at 7 for at least 10 hours, then returns to an acidic level. Bathing before and after sex with very alkaline soaps (pH 9- 11) and coping with sperm (pH 10) causes an alkaline onslaught to the vagina and makes it prone to fungal and bacterial infections, foul discharges and unnatural odours.

Washing, bathing, showering or douching with NATURE FRESH VAGINAL CLEANSERS helps to restore the natural vaginal acidity as soon as possible. They are pH balanced to: between 3,5 and 4. These products are also suitable to use for baths and showers. A mild solution of 5ml cleanser to 1 litre of water can be used in a douche or quick rinse but please consult your health practitioner if you have a serious problem. These products are free from perfume and colouring and contain herbal extracts and rooibos tea.

1 NATURE FRESH ROOIBOS VAGINAL CLEANSER: The Rooibos cleanser is gentle and soothing with herbal infusions of: rooibos, lavender, calendula and witch hazel. It is mild enough to use on sensitive skins and even to use on babies.

NATURE FRESH TEA TREE VAGINAL CLEANSER: Tea tree cleanser helps to deodorize and protect us from fungal and bacterial infections. Herbal extracts of Tea Tree, rooibos, lavender, rosemary, calendula and witch hazel help to purify and tone the mucous membranes of the vaginal cavity. Use regularly in the bath, even as a delightful bubble bath.

The female genital tract is lined with a sensitive mucous lining but the outer regions, known as the labia are not. Although the labial folds have lubricating glands, these secretions are inadequate at certain times of the month or as we get older. Wearing tight synthetic clothing or upsets from hormonal imbalances, contraceptive devices, pH imbalances or fungal(candida) or herpes infestations also cause genital discomfort and unnecessary pain. Burning urine and sensitivity to toilet paper take an additional toll. Vaginal mucous is acidic at a pH 3,5 – 4. When this delicate balance is restored with the use of Nature Fresh vaginal cleansers and lubricants, many of the problems associated with odours and irritations are alleviated. The inner mucous membranes begin to restore their protective lining. A homeostasis is thus achieved and odours, irritations and infections are alleviated. The new NATURE FRESH anti-microbial body wash is for the whole family to deal with tough odours and bacterial, viral and fungal infections.

The new Sensitive Body wash is so gentle it can be used for babies and people with severe skin conditions. All these cleansers contain only herbal extracts and are free of perfume, harsh chemical additives and colouring. NATURE FRESH lubricants are versatile products that can also be used every day by men, women and children who have specific personal hygiene and cleansing problems.

Conscious Life Magazine

Ginseng, Fish, Berries, or Caffeine?

Listen to the buzz about foods and dietary supplements, and you'll believe they can do everything from sharpen focus to enhance memory, attention span, and brain function.

But do they really work? There's no denying that as we age, our body ages right along with us. The good news is that you can improve your chances of maintaining a healthy brain if you add "smart" foods and drinks to your diet.

Caffeine Can Make You More Alert There's no magic bullet to boost IQ or make you smarter -- but certain substances, like caffeine, can energize you and help you concentrate. Found in coffee, chocolate, energy drinks, and some medications, caffeine gives you that unmistakable wake-up buzz, though the effects are short-term.

And more is often less: Overdo it on caffeine and it can make you jittery and uncomfortable.

Sugar Can Enhance Alertness Sugar is your brain's preferred fuel source -- not table sugar, but glucose, which your body processes from the sugars and carbs you eat. That's why a glass of something sweet to drink can offer a short-term boost to memory, thinking, and mental ability.

Have too much, though, and memory can be impaired -- along with the rest of you. Go easy on the sugar so it can enhance memory without packing on the pounds.

Eat Breakfast to Fuel Your Brain Tempted to skip breakfast? Studies have found that eating breakfast may improve short-term memory and attention. Students who eat it tend to perform better than those who don’t. Foods at the top of researchers' brain-fuel list include high-fiber whole grains, dairy, and fruits. Just don't overeat; researchers also found high-calorie breakfasts appear to hinder concentration.

Conscious Life Magazine

Fish Really is Brain Food A protein source linked to a great brain boost is fish - rich in omega-3 fatty acids that are key for brain health. These healthy fats have amazing brain power: A diet with higher levels of them has been linked to lower dementia and stroke risks and slower mental decline; plus, they may play a vital role in enhancing memory, especially as we get older.

For brain and heart health, eat two servings of fish weekly.

Add a Daily Dose of Nuts and Chocolate Nuts and seeds are good sources of the antioxidant vitamin E, which has been linked in some studies to less cognitive decline as you age. Dark chocolate also has other powerful antioxidant properties, and it contains natural stimulants like caffeine, which can enhance focus.

Add Avocados and Whole Grains Every organ in the body depends on blood flow, especially the heart and brain. A diet high in whole grains and fruits like avocados can cut the risk of heart disease and lower bad cholesterol. This reduces your risk of plaque buildup and enhances blood flow, offering a simple, tasty way to fire up brain cells.

Whole grains, contribute dietary fiber and vitamin E. Though avocados have fat, it's the good-for-you, monounsaturated fat that helps with healthy blood flow.

Blueberries Are Super Nutritious Research in animals shows that blueberries may help protect the brain from the damage caused by free radicals and may reduce the effects of age-related conditions such as Alzheimer's disease or dementia.

Studies also show that diets rich in blueberries improved both the learning and muscle function.

Conscious Life Magazine

Benefits of a Healthy Diet It may sound trite but it's true: If your diet lacks essential nutrients, it can hurt your ability to concentrate. Eating too much or too little can also interfere with your focus. A heavy meal may make you feel tired, while too few calories can result in distracting hunger pangs.

Benefit your brain: Strive for a well-balanced diet full of a wide variety of healthy foods.

Vitamins, Minerals, and Supplements?

Store shelves groan with supplements claiming to boost health. Although many of the reports on the brain-boosting power of supplements like vitamins B, C, E, beta-carotene, and magnesium are promising, a supplement is only useful to people whose diets are lacking in that specific nutrient.

Get Ready for a Big Day Want to power up your ability to concentrate? Start with a meal of 100% fruit juice, a whole-grain bagel with salmon, and a cup of coffee. In addition to eating a well-balanced meal, experts also offer this advice:    

Get a good night's sleep.

Stay hydrated.

Exercise to help sharpen thinking.

Meditate to clear thinking and relax.

Conscious Life Magazine

Lemony Broccoli, Chickpea & Avocado Pita Sandwiches Ingredients: • Broccoli chickpea salad • 1 bunch of broccoli, florets removed and sliced thin • 1 can (15 ounces) chickpeas, rinsed and drained, or 1½ cups cooked chickpeas • ⅓ cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes* • ⅓ cup finely chopped red onion • ⅓ cup crumbled feta cheese or thinly sliced Kalamata olives Lemon dressing • ¼ cup olive oil • 2 tablespoons lemon juice, to taste • 1 ½ teaspoons Dijon mustard • 1½ teaspoons honey or maple syrup, to taste • 1 clove garlic, pressed or minced • ¼ teaspoon Himalayan rock salt, to taste • Pinch red pepper flakes Everything else • 2 medium avocados, or about ¾ cup of your favourite hummus • Salt, to taste • 4 whole grain pita breads, or 4 large, thick slices of rye bread

Method: • To prepare the broccoli chickpea salad: In a medium mixing bowl, combine all of the ingredients as listed.

Toss to combine.

• To prepare the lemon dressing: In a small liquid measuring cup or bowl, combine the ingredients as listed.

Whisk the ingredients together until emulsified. Taste, and add additional salt if necessary. The dressing should be a little tart, but if it’s too tart, add a little more sweetener to balance the flavours. If it’s not tart enough for your liking, add a little more lemon juice.

• Pour the dressing over the broccoli chickpea salad and toss to combine. Set the bowl aside to marinate while you work on the rest.

• To make the mashed avocado, halve and pit the avocados, then scoop the flesh of the avocados into a bowl.

Mash them with a pastry cutter or a fork until they are mostly mashed, and spreadable. Season with a pinch of salt, and add more to taste.

• To prepare the pita breads, warm them for a few minutes in the oven, or in a toaster oven, or even in the microwave. (If you’re using slices of bread, pop them in the toaster until golden.)

• Spread mashed avocado (or hummus) over one-half of the top surface of each pita round, and cover the other half with a few generous spoonfuls of broccoli chickpea salad. (If you’re serving on toast, spread avocado over the top surface of each slice, and spoon broccoli chickpea salad on top.) Serve

Conscious Life Magazine

Baked Eggs on a Bed of Roasted Cherry Tomatoes Eggs baked on top of tiny halved tomatoes, topped with a sprinkle of Parmesan and basil, make a simple, delicious summertime breakfast or quick dinner. Recipe as written yields 4 medium servings. I highly recommend serving this with toasted bread (goat cheese on whole grain toast is perfect!) or something similar.

Ingredients: • 3 cups cherry tomatoes, halved • ¼ cup grated Parmesan / finely grated mozzarella • 2 tablespoons olive oil • 2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon chopped fresh basil leaves • 1 garlic clove, pressed or minced • Himalayan rock salt • Freshly ground black pepper • 4 eggs, at room temperature

Instructions: • Preheat oven to 200 degrees Celsius.

• Arrange the halved tomatoes in an even layer in a medium-sized baking dish or oven-proof skillet. Bake the tomatoes for 12 minutes, then remove the dish. If a lot of juice has cooked out of the tomatoes, carefully pour off a little liquid.

• Top the tomatoes with all of the Parmesan, drizzle on the olive oil, sprinkle with 2 tablespoons basil and season with salt and pepper. Stir the garlic into the mixture, if using.

Gently crack an egg over the tomatoes, keeping the yolk intact. Repeat with the remaining eggs, dispersing them somewhat evenly over the dish.

• Return the dish to the oven and bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Check at 8 minutes – you're done when the egg whites have set but the yolks are still soft. They should still jiggle in the centres when you shimmy the pan.

(Keep in mind that they'll continue cooking after you pull the dish out of the oven.)

Sprinkle the cooked eggs with salt, pepper and the remaining 1 teaspoon basil.

• Serve right away in shallow bowls with toast.

Conscious Life Magazine

healing benefits of sunflower sprouts Sunflower Greens (also known as sunflower sprouts) are a great tasting micro-green that are grown from sunflower seeds. Sunflower greens are a complete protein and are considered to be the most balanced of all the sources of essential amino acids. This form of protein is ideal for helping to build the skeletal, muscular, and neurological system in the body.

Sunflower sprouts are a nutritional powerhouse and are packed with vitamins A, E, D, and Bcomplex and are rich in minerals such as calcium, iron, copper, magnesium, and zinc. They are a great source of chlorophyll which helps to nourish the blood, repair cells and tissues, activate every cell in the immune system, and remove toxins from the body.

Sunflower greens contain lecithin which can significantly improve memory and brain function, help to keep the liver and kidneys healthy, aid in vitamin absorption, and can bind fats and cholesterol to water so that they can be removed from the body more easily. Sunflower greens are good for reducing blood pressure, increasing the elasticity of arteries, preventing heart disease, reducing inflammation, and boosting the immune system.

They are also very important for helping to reduce stress damage to the body and to keep the nervous and neurological system strong and stable. Sunflower greens are known to be a great expectorant which can help to relieve congestion from the lungs and sinuses. Sunflower greens are easy and quick to grow in your own home and are an incredible way to include fresh, inexpensive, and highly nutritious greens into your diet.

Learn more about which foods can heal and restore your body in my new book, click here http://bit.ly/MM-book www.medicalmedium.com

Conscious Life Magazine

Just hearing the word 'pizza' can conjure up cravings for this savory comfort food for many people. And it's no surprise, given its widespread popularity.

Most people also know that pizza is far from being a healthy food. Laden down with unhealthy oils, processed cheese, gluten, fatty meats, and much more, it's clear that pizza is low on the healthy foods scale.

But fortunately that doesn't mean you have to always go without. Making a pizza at home with healthy plant foods will give you the comfort and experience of pizza, without the strain on your liver and other vital organs. Not to mention your energy and waistline, which would only inhibit your healing process more.

This recipe is perfect to enjoy with friends or family, and pairs beautifully with a big fresh salad.

Conscious Life Magazine

VEGGIE PIZZA – Wheat free-/Dairy free Ingredients 1 gluten-free/dairy-free pizza crust (Sami’s bakery millet/flax crust) 1 jar marinara/pizza sauce 1-2 cups thinly sliced red, yellow, &/or orange bell peppers 1 cup mushrooms, sliced 1-2 cloves garlic, chopped 1/2 cup olives, chopped 1/2 red onion, sliced 4 basil leaves 1 Tbs olive oil 1/4 tsp fresh dried thyme & oregano, pinch sea salt & pepper

Instructions 1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F & position a rack in the 2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

middle of the oven Bring large skillet to meat heat, add 1 Tbs olive oil, onions, peppers, garlic, dried herbs, salt & pepper & stir.

Cook until soft 10-15 minutes.

Top pizza crust with desired amount of marinara/pizza sauce & top with sautéed veggies Place pizza either directly on oven rack or pizza stone Bake for 15-20 minutes Top with fresh basil & red pepper flakes, if desired

Eat & enjoy!

By Anthony William Learn more about which foods can heal and restore your body in my new book, click here http://bit.ly/MMbook

Conscious Life Magazine

Pulses are the key to environmental sustainability One of the many reasons that the United Nations declared 2016 as the International Year of the Pulses (IYP) is due to their environmental sustainability - to act for a healthy, hunger-free and sustainable world.

Pulses play a vital role in sustainability. They are an important component of crop rotation and require less fertilisers than other crops. Pulses have a positive impact on soil quality because they help fix nitrogen in the soil. This contributes to higher yields in subsequent crop rotations. They also have a direct positive impact on soil quality because they help feed soil microbes. Pulses have also been shown to produce greater amounts and different types of amino acids than non-legumes.

Pulses are also a protein source with a low footprint, in both carbon and water. For example, the water footprint to produce a kilo of beef, pork, chicken and soybeans are 43, 18, 11 and 5 times higher than the water footprint of pulses. Pulses have a lower carbon footprint in production than most animal sources of protein. In fact, one study showed that one kilo of legumes only emits 0.5 kg in CO2 equivalent, whereas 1 kg of beef produces 9.5 kg in CO2 equivalent.

Below is a delicious minestrone soup using the pulse beans.

Minestrone Soup Ingredients 1 teaspoon (5 ml) olive oil 1 small onion, finely chopped 1 carrot, chopped 2 celery sticks, chopped 1 stalk fresh rosemary, leaves pulled 6 cups (1.5 L) vegetable stock 400 g canned chopped tomatoes Pinch sugar 2 tablespoons (30 ml) tomato paste 1 cup (250 ml) water Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste 100 g shell pasta 1 cup cooked dried bean mix Parmesan cheese, to serve

Method Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan. Add the onion, carrot, celery and rosemary.

Stir and cook for 3 minutes or until the vegetables have started to soften.

Add the vegetable stock, tomatoes, sugar, tomato paste and water to the pot.

Stir and season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper and bring to a boil.

Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.

Add the pasta and beans to the soup and continue to simmer until the pasta is cooked.

To serve, spoon into serving bowls and scatter with parmesan cheese.

Conscious Life Magazine

Understanding Blood Pressure Readings Defining high blood pressure Blood pressure is typically recorded as two numbers, written as a ratio like this: Systolic The top number, which is also the higher of the two numbers, measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats (when the heart muscle contracts).

Diastolic The bottom number, which is also the lower of the two numbers, measures the pressure in the arteries between heartbeats (when the heart muscle is resting between beats and refilling with blood).

This blood pressure chart reflects categories defined by the American Heart Association.

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How is high blood pressure diagnosed?

Your healthcare providers will want to get an accurate picture of your blood pressure and chart what happens over time. Starting at age 20, the American Heart Association recommends a blood pressure screening at your regular healthcare visit or once every 2 years, if your blood pressure is less than 120/80 mm Hg. Your blood pressure rises with each heartbeat and falls when your heart relaxes between beats. While BP can change from minute to minute with changes in posture, exercise, stress or sleep, it should normally be less than 120/80 mm Hg (less than 120 systolic AND less than 80 diastolic) for an adult age 20 or over.

If your blood pressure reading is higher than normal, your doctor may take several readings over time and/or have you monitor your blood pressure at home before diagnosing you with high blood pressure.

A single high reading does not necessarily mean that you have high blood pressure.

However, if readings stay at 140/90 mm Hg or above (systolic 140 or above OR diastolic 90 or above) over time, your doctor will likely want you to begin a treatment program. Such a program almost always includes lifestyle changes and often prescription medication for those with readings of 140/90 or higher.

If, while monitoring your blood pressure, you get a systolic reading of 180 mm Hg or higher OR a diastolic reading of 110 mm HG or higher, wait a couple of minutes and take it again. If the reading is still at or above that level, you should seek immediate emergency medical treatment for a hypertensive crisis. If you can't access the emergency medical services (EMS), have someone drive you to the hospital right away.

Conscious Life Magazine

Even if your blood pressure is normal, you should consider making lifestyle modifications to prevent the development of HBP and improve your heart health.

Which number is more important, top (systolic) or bottom (diastolic)?

Typically more attention is given to the top number (the systolic blood pressure) as a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease for people over 50 years old. In most people, systolic blood pressure rises steadily with age due to increasing stiffness of large arteries, long-term build-up of plaque, and increased incidence of cardiac and vascular disease.

By Body Mind Soul Spirit

If you’ve gone to the dentist recently, you may remember them asking you to rinse with fluoride. Afterwards, you’re asked to avoid eating for a half hour. Have you ever wondered why? Or even what “fluoride” is?

Fluoride is a toxin that naturally occurs in water. When used in dental offices, fluoride can combat some dental diseases. But we’re often told to avoid swallowing it as it can be harmful to the body in large doses.

Of course, the amounts present in water are normally safe.

Increased amounts of fluoride have been added to our drinking water since the 1940s to combat tooth decay. By 2008, more than 72% of the United States received fluoridated water. As great as it may sound, research has found that fluoride has negative effects on your health. Fluoride toxicity has been linked to thyroid disease, brain damage, and arthritis. Notably, fluoride toxicity has negative effects on your pineal gland.

The Pineal Gland Your pineal gland handles many of your body’s health functions. Everything from the health of your heart, your brain, and mood are affected by your pineal gland. One of its most important roles is with your body’s sleep cycle. Found in your brain, this gland produces the hormone melatonin which affects how long and how well you sleep. When fluoride is built-up in the pineal gland, it can disturb your sleep and significantly reduce your thyroid functions. As a result, fluoride build-up can impact your whole body’s health!

Fluoride Build-Up: What To Do The most important step in removing fluoride build-up is watching your iodine levels. Iodine is one of the minerals essential to healthy thyroid functions – and is also one mineral our bodies do not make. Iodine actually helps flush out fluoride in our bodies. Many studies have found that people with healthy iodine levels were at less risk with fluoride. In other words, a healthy thyroid leads to a healthy pineal gland.

According to the World Health Organization, iodine deficiency is one of the main causes of brain damage.

So there’s even more of a reason to keep up with your iodine consumption. The best sources of iodine are sea vegetables like seaweed and fish. One study linking thyroid health and breast cancer found that Japanese women who consumed seaweed daily were at less risk than their western counterparts. Thyroid experts recommend 1-3 mg of iodine daily to keep your pineal and thyroid glands healthy.

Your body is an interconnected whole. When one part of it is unhealthy, you can expect the rest to follow.

Conscious Life Magazine

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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Proud Sponsor of

Contact On the Go Tel: +27 31 569 5424 admin@weronthego.co.za www.weronthego.co.za

bone strengthening exercise

With Lisa Raleigh

Free weights versus gym machines challenge your muscles to stabilize and guide the weights. Working out on BOSU takes this even further, activating your core throughout the entire motion and intensifying simple exercises.

Stand with hands on hips a few feet behind your BOSU. Take a big step onto the ball with one foot and sink down until both knees are bent to 90 degrees. Pause for a moment then rise back up to your starting position.

Aim for 2 sets of 10-15 reps with each leg.

Stand on the BOSU with arms folded in front of you. Keeping your balance, sink into a squat, ensuring that knees don’t extend beyond your toes. Pause for a moment then rise back up to your starting position, aiming for 3 sets of 10-15 reps.

Turn your BOSU soft side down. Hold onto it with both hands and stretch your toes back so your body and arms are both straight. Hold this position for at least a minute, aiming for 3 sets.

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Sit on the BOSU soft side up, with knees drawn up to chest. Using your hands to keep your balance, straighten your legs and draw your torso away from your knees. Pause for a moment then return to your starting position. Aim for 3 sets of 10-15 reps.

Sit on the BOSU. Using your hands to balance you. Lean back and stretch your legs out into a straight line.

Holding your bellybutton in towards your spine, cross one ankle over the other, then swap. Aim for 3 sets of 10-15 reps.

Sit on the BOSU with hands on either side of your hips and feet resting on the ground in front of you. Lift yourself off the ball so you are holding your weight with straight arms. Lower yourself to just above the ground, bending your elbows to 90 degrees. Pause for a moment then rise back up to your starting position.

Aim for 3 sets of 10-15 reps.

TV Personality, Author, Lifestyle & Wellness Expert www.lisaraleigh.co.za lisa@lisaraleigh.co.za LisaRaleighSA – Twitter LisaRaleighTV – YouTube

Conscious Life Magazine

Get Rid of Neck and Shoulder Pain with This 2-Minute Exercise You Can Do at Your Desk!

Do you work in an office setting where you are expected to sit down, glued to your computer for the better part of the day?

Most of you hate to admit that despite the fact that this pays your bills at the end of the day; it can be a bit overwhelming. You end up going home with a stiff neck and probably shoulder pain too.

Sometimes you might even get to a point of contemplating between your job and your health.

Fitband elastic tubing (Thera Band) should be your perfect choice. Wondering why? As an employee, most of the time you are expected to get to work as early as possible and virtually all of this time you won’t have the time to focus on most things, especially your health, which is a very important factor. Fitband elastic tubing will ensure that you get rid of the neck and shoulder pain for as less as 2-minutes of exercise time!

It can only take two minutes of your day to get you back in shape.

It benefits both your job in terms of productivity and your body healthwise. This has a significant effect on both the employees and the employers. Thera-Band is best acquired by employers at workplaces too. It will help the employees be more productive thus reducing the health costs incurred by the employers.

Conscious Life Magazine

Fortunately, with the current modern world, there seems to be a solution for ‘almost’ every problem including this kind of neck and shoulder pain.

In conclusion, Fitband is the ultimate choice; it is a necessity. It does not only relieve the neck and shoulder pain but also reduce headaches significantly. You can get Fitband elastic tubing by contacting Thera Med on the details below. It will never disappoint you and most importantly, save you both your health and time.

CONTACT

Daniella dhtgo@global.co.za Tel: (011) 804-6746 (011) 802-1908 Fax:(011) 802-1908 www.theramed.co.za

Ways to Manage Eczema Eczema is that red, itchy, rash-like skin condition that affects so many of us. It causes the skin to become inflamed, irritated and dry. The uncomfortable ailment is not age specific and can develop in babies, children and adults on just about any part of the body at any time during the course of a lifetime.

Although the exact cause of eczema is unknown, the condition is linked to an overactive immune response to irritants and is commonly found in people with a history of asthma or allergies. Some may experience flare-ups if the skin comes into contact with certain materials, for others soaps can trigger a response. Many are affected by pet hair, hormonal changes or extreme weather conditions. Stress can aggravate the condition.

There is no cure for eczema, but it is manageable. Here are some natural ways to support your skin health and alleviate symptoms: • Bath or shower in lukewarm water and use mild or non-soap cleansers • Gently pat the skin dry with a towel instead of rubbing • Moisturise your skin daily to alleviate itchiness and inflammation using a product like African Potato Cream • Wear loose fitting, soft fabrics that won’t scratch the skin • Avoid extreme changes in temperature and if possible, avoid sweating • Monitor your response to certain foods and avoid those foods that may cause flare-ups • Vacuum carpets regularly to avoid allergic responses, especially if you have pets • Be aware of your hormonal cycles and take special care of your skin during those times • Reduce your stress There are many varying types of eczema and degrees of severity. If you are unable to manage your eczema, see a doctor for a diagnosis and treatment.

FULL BODY SCRUB Treat yourself to a cleansing and invigorating full body scrub at home INGREDIENTS 750g Course Salt 3 Eggs 1 Lemon 200ml Olive Oil 1 Litre Fresh Milk

METHOD Place salt and eggs into a mixing bowl.

Squeeze the lemon and add the juice. Add in Olive Oil to make a thick paste.

The best place to treat yourself is in a warm bathroom. Stand in the bath or shower to avoid mess. Cover your body with the paste and use a bath—glove to rub the mixture all over your body – literally from head to toe.

Leave on for 5 minutes and then pour the milk over your body, stating from your head.

Now hope into a warm shower for 5 minutes, and then cover your body with your favourite organic lotion. Coconut oil is perfect and will be absorbed fast for a smooth soft skin.

’

Should you insure your handbag?

For many women a handbag is one of those items they can’t leave home without.

It’s the accessory that gets carried around every day, but many owners don’t insure their handbags even though the contents could be valued at thousands of Rands.

If the actual handbag is a designer brand, it alone can be worth a small fortune, and that isn’t taking into account what is kept inside. From designer purses and money, to gadgets like cellphones and tablets, and other items such as perfume, sunglasses, make-up and jewellery.

Then there are other less expensive but arguably more important objects including an ID, driver’s licence, keys and remote controls. The value of the items in a handbag can quickly add up, which is why it’s important to look at insurance in case the bag is damaged, lost or stolen.

To get the right cover you first need to check your household insurance policy, as this will likely only protect you when you are at home, not once you have left your house. This insurance cover may also place a limit on the amount you’ll be paid out for individual items, which is why it’s important that you know the details of the policy. You do also have the option of applying for cover for specific items that have a high value.

Of course you don’t want to think about something happening to your handbag, but in the event that it is lost or stolen, it’s usually a long, costly and stressful process to make a claim to replace the bag and its contents. As many women underestimate the value of their handbag, we recommend that you write a list of contents and that you know their approximate value.

This will help you to check that your insurance is adequate and it will help you to claim quickly and correctly for missing items.

Conscious Life Magazine

OUR VALUES REVIEW BY LINDA NAVON Editor How often do you receive phone calls from eager sales people who are convinced you need to buy their product or service? They launch into their pre-scripted sales pitch before you can take a breath to say “NO… not interested”. They tell you what they want to sell you before asking the important questions of: a) b)

Is this a good time to talk?

May I introduce you to our product range and establish if there is anything that we can do to ensure that you have all the cover you need?

From personal experience I know how annoying these call can be, and usually hang up with a hasty denial that I may need any information.

Why? Because I did not initiate the call and my mind is not on the topic when the unexpected call comes through.. This is typical human nature. Or hackles rise with these invasive calls.

My preference is to do some research and make the initial contact myself – then I know what questions I want answers to and ask for the information that suits my needs.

This is the reason I am more than happy to be featuring Indwe Risk Services. Their approach is professional, pro-active and pleasant. In fact, it feels like you have had a cup of tea with an old friend when you get off the line with their consultants.

Conscious Life Magazine

Whilst integrity and honesty are inherent in our philosophy, we have specifically chosen values which reflect our commitment to our clients.

INNOVATION We constantly look for more effective ways to provide risk and insurance solutions to our clients.

NURTURING Our trained, qualified and professional advisors always put the needs of our clients first.

DRIVEN We are focused on delivering a high-quality, cost-effective service to all our clients.

WILLINGNESS To be the best we strive to learn and grown, to improve our knowledge and expertise.

EAGER We are committed to customer satisfaction and use our initiative to honour that promise.

MEET SOME OF THE TEAM AT INDWE RISK MANAGEMENT

JABU SIBISI JOE SZEMEREI – Executive Director, Volume Business and Individual Insurance Joe joined the insurance industry in 1990. He has extensive insurance and insurance broking experience and has occupied various senior/executive roles.

Joe has an MBA and has specific expertise in: - Personal lines affinity and group schemes - Distribution and operations management (including call centres) - Portfolio management - Technology - Marketing.

– Director: Human Resources and Strategy Jabu has more than 28 years of experience in Human Resources Management as well as strategy development and review.

Jabu holds a BA degree (University of Fort Hare), a higher diploma in Personnel Management and a MBA (both Wits). He completed a Senior Executive Development Programme through Harvard University.

YOLANDÉ VAN ESCH – Financial Director

JAN DRAHOTA – Executive Director, Business Risk and Insurance Jan has many years of local and international insurance broking experience. His areas of expertise include insurance programme design, structuring, placement, as well as co-ordinating specialist resources in support of the risk and insurance programmes.

Jan has a B.Com degree (Wits), a FIISA, a diploma in advanced marketing and is a fellow of the Insurance Institute of South Africa.

Yolandé has extensive experience in accounting and financial management, serves on the Executive Committee and is a member of the Provident Fund Management Committee. Her areas of expertise include corporate governance, financial management and risk management.

Yolandé has a B.Compt degree (Unisa), a certificate in the Basics of Business as well as an advanced certificate in Leadership (UCT).

Yolandé is member of the South African Institute of Professional Accountants (SAIPA), a member of the Stride Board and a member of the FIA Financial and Risk Committee.

SUJEETH BISHOON – Executive Head: Market Development

Sujeeth started his career in healthcare funding across Africa, before moving into the local short term insurance industry. Sujeeth has consulting experience at Accenture and has served on the Board of Trustees at Cape Medical Plan (2007 to 2011). Sujeeth’s work experience spans across the insurance supply chain where he has occupied various senior management positions at leading Insurance companies, including the role of Executive Director of FNB Insurer Processing Services. Sujeeth has a B.Com, B.Com Honours Degree from the University of Natal, and a Masters & Business Leadership from the Unisa School of Business Leadership. Sujeeth’s areas of expertise include key account management, project management, consulting, marketing strategy, bancassurance, and developing and implementing integrated customer value propositions.

Conscious Life Magazine

The planet is in danger of being destroyed by our greatest threat, ourselves!!!! It’s up to all of us to ensure we do not destroy the environment in which we live and the future environment in which our children will live.

Recycling is as simple as separating home waste and educating our children to do the same.

If we all take this step, it will make a huge difference to our environment and ensure that the various recyclables are recycled and disposed of in the correct manner or sent to the correct facilities for re-use.

Recycling is a great way to save our natural resources and even generate energy.

At ECOmonkey they are taking the first important step to try and minimise harmful waste left in our environment, by working with communities to clean up our surroundings, namely local parks and streams to create a clean environment and further creating employment opportunities through this initiative.

Earth Probiotic help you to recycle your food waste into food for the soil with their Bokashi Recycling Kits.

Working together, these two companies do a great job in helping to ensure the health of the planet. Let them help you do the same…

We make a difference…

Do you???

Let's take the 1st step in creating a cleaner environment & ensuring our children have a brighter, cleaner future...

We collect your recycling & create employment: We collect & deliver the materials to various, community recycling projects we support, the materials are sorted & the income goes directly to the community members involved.

Who do we service?

Households, flats, townhouse complexes, estates, office complexes, industrial companies & shopping centres.

Ensuring recyclables are processed correctly & don’t end up on unsightly, dirty & negatively impacting land fill sites.

www.ecomonkey.co.za

Medical Medium: Secrets Behind Chronic and Mystery Illness and How to Finally Heal

by Anthony William Anthony William, Medical Medium, has helped tens of thousands of people heal from ailments that have been misdiagnosed or ineffectively treated or that doctors can’t resolve.

He’s done this by listening to a divine voice that literally speaks into his ear, telling him what lies at the root of people’s pain or illness, and what they need to do to restore their health.

His methods achieve spectacular results, even for those who have spent years and many thousands of dollars on all forms of medicine before turning to him. Now, in this revolutionary book, he opens the door to all he has learned over his 25 years of bringing people’s lives back: a massive amount of healing information, much of which science won’t discover for decades and most of which has never appeared anywhere before.

Medical Medium reveals the root causes of diseases and conditions that medical communities either misunderstand or struggle to understand at all. It explores all-natural solutions for dozens of the illnesses that plague us, including Lyme disease, fibromyalgia, adrenal fatigue, chronic fatigue syndrome, hormonal imbalances, Hashimoto’s disease, multiple sclerosis, depression, neurological conditions, chronic inflammation, autoimmune disease, blood-sugar imbalances, colitis and other digestive disorders, and more. It also offers solutions for restoring the soul and spirit after illness has torn at our emotional fabric. Whether you’ve been given a diagnosis you don’t understand, or you have symptoms you don’t know how to name, or someone you love is sick, or you want to care for your own patients better, Medical Medium offers the answers you need. It’s also a guidebook for everyone seeking the secrets to living longer, healthier lives.

“The truth about the world, ourselves, life, purpose—it all comes down to healing,” Anthony William writes. “And the truth about healing is now in your hands.”

Conscious Life Magazine

24 June, 2016 to 18 July, 2016

Calling all music fundies, lovers of art, movie zealots, drama queens and gastronomists!

Plett MAD Festival – the Music, Arts and Drama Festival, is best described by many as an unforgettable experience of all things music, arts and drama – all things MAD!

What’s on during MAD?

From 3 to 5 July, Hilltop Live and Dullstroom’s local businesses will be adding some spark to the chilly winter spirit. This annual festival gets families and friends together to experience some much-needed warmth and wonder in winter.

With its variety of shops and eateries, welcoming people and wide range of activities, Dullstroom deserves its status as one of the top 10 Best Small Towns in South Africa. The Winter Festival is a favourite on the South African yearly event calendar.

Held annually in July, the Dullstroom Winter Festival is historically themed as Christmas in Winter. Activities during the festival include a golf day, a tagged trout event – Dullstroom is a fly-fishing hotspot – chocolate and wine tastings, art exhibitions, whiskey tastings and themed restaurant evenings. Live music shows showcasing roots, blues and folk music from top South African performers take place at various venues around town.

24 June, 2016 to 18 July, 2016

Arno Carstens live Event Date: 10 October, 2015 Arno Carstens will be performing LIVE at the Sasfin Plett Wine and Bubbly Festival on Sat 10th October at Plett Central Beach.

Date: Sat 10th Oct 2015 Time: TBA Venue: Central Beach - Plett Cost: R200 includes entry to Wine Festival and more Friday and Saturday festival goers will also enjoy the cheerful music of “The Sounds of Joy”, Plett’s popular Tigger Reunert, legendary Wendy Oldfield and Stellenbosch muso, Gerald Clark.

Friday’s performance will also include SAMA award-nominated Josie Field. The musicians will be complemented by the sounds of the surf on Central Beach during the 2nd annual Sasfin Plett Wine & Bubbly Festival on 9-10 October.

Click here to Book Tickets to Arno’s performance on the Saturday night

Rocking the Daisies Music and Lifestyle Festival is South Africa’s award-winning premier, eco friendly music festival. Marked on the South African calendar as the go-to weekend event to officially kick off the summer season, with a massive lineup that includes some of the best artists in South Africa and from around the world.

Incorporating comedy, art, film and a variety of multi-faceted and multi-sensory experiences, festival goers can expect an action-packed weekend of camping, good times, making incredible memories and jamming from dusk till dawn.

From 6-9 October at Cloof Wine Estate in Darling, make sure you join us for one of the biggest and best Daisies yet. With entertainment being our key focus this year, expect 4 action packed days and an adventure of a life time.

Aging is an on-going process from the day we are born. Our bodies change, our hormones change and our outlook on life changes. Senior pets, just like senior humans have different requirements when it comes to nutrition, exercise and supplementation.

When is a pet considered a senior, or geriatric pet?

HORSES are considered ‘senior’ when their age is greater than 20-years, but with changes in care and nutrition we are seeing an increase in longevity with many reaching their upper 20’s and even 30’s.

BIRDS have a large variation in longevity, varying from 4-7 years for the Zebra finch, to 60 years for a large Macaw (in captivity).

As pets mature and move into their senior and geriatric years, they become less physically active.

Regular exercise is still of utmost importance, but you should take your dog for shorter walks or a shorter swim more frequently, or let your horse do a lighter work-out. You need to keep their weight stable as the extra weight they now may gain so easily will only put additional stress on their feet and joints.

Once CATS celebrate their 11th birthday, they are considered senior cats, and geriatric, when they reach 15+ years.

“…your dog’s age does not follow a linear aging curve as with humans”

Ensure that you change your horse, cat, or dog’s food portion to reflect his reduced energy need, his lifestyle and age. If you do not follow a natural or semi-natural diet for your pet, but use commercially packaged pet food, now may be the time to change to something that has been specially designed with the older pet in mind.

DOGS on average are considered senior at the age of 7. Small dogs and toy breeds tend to live longer than big breeds, but they tend to mature more quickly in the first few years. A big breed pup may mature slower, yet reaches senior status at around 5-years, while tiny and toy breeds only become classified as seniors at the 10-year mark.

“Ensure that you change your pet’s food to reflect their reduced energy need”

Calculating your dog’s age in human years is a bit complicated, as it does not follow a linear aging curve as with humans. Dogs actually grow five times faster than humans in their first year, and therefore adolescence and maturity occur much faster in animals.

Senior pets will also have worn teeth by now, or they may even have some missing teeth or teeth that had worn unevenly. Regular dental checks becomes even more crucial to ensure they stay in good health and can feed without pain.

Here is a veterinarian established correlation table to see your dog’s equivalent age in human years.

H u m a n

y e a r s

Your Dog's Age

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

Small dog age

20

28

32

36

40

44

48

52

56

60

64

68

72

76

80

84

88

94

Average dog

18

27

33

39

45

51

57

63

69

75

81

87

93

100

Big dog age

16

22

31

40

49

58

67

76

85

96

105

Conscious Life Magazine

“Elderly cats are less able to retract their claws. Regular trimming will ensure that they do not overgrow and stick in their pads…”

Regular hoof care for your horse becomes as important as regular dental care. Check your cat’s nails and trim them regularly. Elderly cats are less able to retract their claws. Regular trimming will ensure that they do not overgrow and stick in their pads, or get caught on their scratch pole or your carpet.

Your cat and dog will take longer naps and thus have greater periods of inactivity. Your dog may develop calluses on his elbows due to laying down for longer periods on hard surfaces. Calluses can be avoided by providing a dog bed, especially an orthopaedic one.

In toy breeds heart problems is common in the aging dog, whilst in cats the kidneys are often the first organ to show signs of aging. One of the most common and visible signs of aging may be the stiffening of joints and in some sad cases, debilitating arthritis and lameness occurs. A bird suffering from arthritis may struggle to preen himself, and you will see that his feathers remain out of place, and not kept clean.

“…supplementing with a natural ‘tonic’ created especially with the aging pet in mind.”

Your senior and geriatric pet will do well by supplementing with a natural ‘tonic’ created especially with the aging pet in mind. Something that will support the functioning of their organs as well as their musculo-skeletal system. You can assist them to grow old gracefully by ensuring that their changing needs are met.

Grooming your senior pet is an ideal way of spending quality time with him. Ensure that you have enough toys to keep him stimulated and encourage activity.

Just like humans, senior pets have an important role to play in the family, e.g. it’s the senior horse that is ideal for teaching your young children (or grandchildren) to ride. Let them grow old in the best possible way by loving them NATURALLY!!

Erika Bornman CEO Eco-Vet www.ecovet.co.za

Conscious Life Magazine

MY FUR COAT, DARLING!

By Sue & Jim Visser – Nature Fresh Yindee’s Story Yindee is a lilac Siamese gentleman, with a passion for interfering with my sewing, writing, handicrafts, research and especially photography. As such, he insists on being photographed or ambushing pieces of paper, fabric, and in this case, some cultured pearls. So I draped them around his neck, much to his delight and took some pictures.

Culture? Yes, "come alive with culture!" Cultured strains of probiotics. We had been developing as well as testing out a unique self-culturing blend of beneficial gut flora as well as other probiotic strains.

Yindee too, was offered some of the PROBIOTIC-15 culture in a separate glass of water to drink. Did you say glass? Yes, darling. He drank it dry.

I noticed his coat became glossier and he was not itchy and scratchy from fleas. I grabbed the spray bottle of PROBIOTIC-15 that also contains the colloidal silver. "Let's go topical!" I said, and gently misted some of it onto the back of his neck. I rubbed it in convincingly and sprayed his paws and itchy spots. Not appreciated, darling. Lick lick. But no more itching.

The next day, a shiny coat. He was due for another deworming treatment. Oh, how I hate to rub a toxic substance onto the back of his neck, so it can be absorbed into his blood stream and thus eliminate parasites, but leave a poisonous residue. So I gave him more of the spray and decided that was that. To my delight, he stopped the tell-tale bout of vomiting that always announced the presence of worms.

Yindee gained weight and his fur coat, darling, became ravishing. Every night at bed time he jumps up onto his cat stand and begs for more and more grooming. Worms continue to hatch out every 3 weeks and take their toll on our pets. Every few weeks we have noticed he makes a B-line for the glass of water that is treated with PROBIOTIC-15.

How does he know this? So now we give him the spray on treatment and no longer need to use toxic deworming products.

We too, can benefit in so many ways from using live probiotic cultures. The reason we put it in drinking water is because overnight, the microbial action doubles. It truly does "come alive with culture." So now you know, we have let the cat out of the bag!

Regards, Jim, Sue and Yindee Read more about Pro Biotic 15

Enter and WIN!!

ENTER NOW: Send us an email with your phone number, and the email addresses of 5 friends who will receive free subscriptions to our magazines: hayhouse@childoftheuniverse.co.za Subject: Hay House Book Hamper

What did Loki say to Mowgli that made her laugh?

The best/funniest captions for the 3 pictures in the series, will win this awesome Eco Vet hamper valued at R1270!!

In the Hamper: Eco-Geriat 50ml, Eco-Teeth 50ml, Eco-Hair 50ml, Eco-Joint 200ml, and a Surprise product.

To enter email your captions for each of the 3 pictures, your full name and contact details to: ecovetcompetition@childoftheuniverse.co.za Subject line: Subscribe. Judges decision will take place on the 1st July 2016

WINNER OF THE MAY USN COMPETITION: TANYA VILJOEN

HOPE BEGINS WITH YOU The diagnosis of a dread disease like leukaemia is devastating, not only to the individual, but also for their family, friends and colleagues – especially when the only treatment option is a stem cell transplant.

News like this leaves no-one untouched, but the role of The Sunflower Fund is to reach out to this community, supporting both patients and their loved ones in their search for a stem cell match through the Fund’s expertise in increasing donor numbers for the South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR).

“One of our very important jobs,” says Alana James, CEO of The Sunflower Fund, “is to ensure that we have an ethnically diverse source of wellinformed potential stem cell donors, who are committed to helping others and willing to undergo a relatively painless procedure – not unlike an extended blood donation – to help save lives”.

A patient is only able to search for a match within their own ethnic group, as a stem cell donor needs to be a genetic or DNA match, and not a blood group match. With the odds of patients finding a suitable person being 1:100 000, it is imperative that The Sunflower Fund grows the registry in order to offer hope for these patients.

“Imagine that you are a patient awaiting a lifesaving stem cell transplant – how you would feel if a match were found and the donor said that he or she ‘didn’t feel like donating today’, or no longer wished to be a part of the Registry?

This is a serious commitment and one should consider the full implications for both the donor and the patient when completing the consent form and providing a blood sample for testing,” she adds.

Education, awareness, recruitment and testing of donors are inextricably linked. The one activity cannot happen in isolation of the other. In order to continue this valuable work, The Sunflower Fund seeks ongoing assistance from the general public and corporate SA. It takes just two test tubes of blood to become registered as a stem cell donor but it costs The Sunflower Fund R2,000 to tissue type that sample at the required molecular (DNA) level.

The blood samples are analysed and the individuals’ data is then stored on the SABMR until the age of 60 years old.

There are currently approximately 71 000 people registered on the SABMR (South African Bone Marrow Registry), and the Fund’s aim is to achieve their goal of 400 000. In order to ensure that cost is not a limiting factor for a prospective donor, The Sunflower Fund bears the costs of the initial test. It is greatly appreciated when a prospective donor makes a voluntary contribution towards the test cost to allow the organisation to reach more potential donors.

James concludes by saying that even if you are not able to be a stem cell donor yourself, you can still be a lifesaver by donating the funds that make the organisation’s work possible.

ALANA JAMES CEO: The Sunflower Fund

HOPE BEGINS WITH YOU About The Sunflower Fund The Sunflower Fund, a South African NonProfit Company (NPC), is dedicated to creating awareness, educating the public and handling the registration process for people to join the South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR).

The Sunflower Fund pays for the test cost of people joining the SABMR. This is fundamental to saving the lives of thousands of South Africans each year. The chance of finding a matching donor is 1 in 100,000 – and as ethnic origin plays a significant role in the search for a donor, South Africa’s rainbow nation is at a distinct disadvantage, requiring a large pool of prospective donors.

The aim of The Sunflower Fund is to increase the number of donors on the current registry to at least 400,000 with proportionate representation of the four main ethnic groups in South Africa.

Should you wish to become a donor, support one of the fundraising projects or make a financial contribution, please contact The Sunflower Fund on toll-free number: 0800 12 10 82.

Visit www.sunflowerfund.org.za to learn more or look out for the DONATE button to make a cash donation via the website.

Media contact: Lauren Corlett Tel: (021) 701-0661 / Cell: 082 688 4788 Email: lauren@sunflowerfund.org.za

with much appreciation to our advertisers, contributors, endorsers and our readers namaste