Ntshebele October 2020

NTSHEBELE MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2020

+ HOW TO START A HOME YOGA PRACTICE

ISSUE

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

SACR CELEBRATES HERITAGE DAY IN Style

Getting to Know

Boitumelo Sehume

C NTENTS

Nomazwe Ntlokwana Editor-in-Chief

Kefilwe Mphake Editor

Vinolia Chere

Creative Director

Lebohang Bell

Graphic Design & Layout

Content Contributors Godfrey Pitje Kefilwe Mphake Lebohang Bell Mpolokeng Moloi Lorato Molepo Nyeleti Shivuri Vinolia Chere

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Fallen or celebrated heroes, both sport and arts

35 29 Lifestyle and Fashion

SACR Events

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35

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SACR celebrates Heritage Day In Style

Getting to Know Boitumelo Sehume

Ishashalazi Writer/Director Wins Big At Naledi Theatre Awards

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Breast Cancer Awareness Month

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https://www.gov.za/TransportMonth2020

MEC HLOPHE AND HOLLARD INSURANCE JOIN HANDS ON A FOOD DRIVE DURING HERITAGE WEEK

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n Tuesday, 22 September 2020, MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation Ms Mbali Hlophe together with officials from Hollard unveiled the distribution of food vouchers to some within sport, the arts and recreation, targeting those at community and development level.

The partnership looks forward to invoking an important part of our heritage, the spirit of care and ubuntu with a food drive initiative.

Watch the live streamed conversation between MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation Ms Mbali Hlophe, Acting Head of Department , Mr Vuyani Mpofu, Director for Communications Management, Ms Nomazwe Ntlokwana and a representative from Hollard Insurance, Ms Londiwe Mkhize published on 30 September 2020 on the @Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation Facebook page.

By Staff Reporter

Despite the gradual easing of the lockdown restrictions, the sport, creative and recreation sectors is still hugely affected and as a result, a lot of people are still economically negatively impacted with limited opportunities.

Over 790 individuals are set to receive the electronic food vouchers.

#gpheritagemonth #GautengCares #hollardcares

Breast CANCER

Awareness Month Source: https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/ 1 to 31 October

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ctober is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease. Join in the cause to help women in need today. The incidence of breast cancer among South African women is increasing and it is one of the most common cancers among women in South Africa. It is the most prevalent cancer amongst white and Asian women and the second most common cancer among black and coloured women.

FACTS ABOUT BREAST CANCER: •

Early detection of the condition can lead to effective treatment and a positive prognosis. About 90% of patients survive for many years after diagnosis when breast cancer is detected at the early stages.

•

Regular self-breast examination and regular mammograms are key to early detection.

•

Presenting yourself early for treatment may result in more effective treatment, leading to a reduction in pain and suffering and a significant decrease in the loss of life.

The designation of October as “Breast Cancer Awareness Month” in South Africa reflects a nationwide drive by public and private healthcare structures to raise awareness of this debilitating disease across all races and class structures.

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www.srsa.gov.za

Department of Sport, Arts and Culture in partnership with the Gauteng Provincial Department, Arts, Culture and Recreation hosted a successful downscaled Big Walk event which was attended by +/- 80 people in line with Disaster Management Regulations

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he downscaled event as per Minister Nathi Mthethwa and Gauteng MEC Mbali Hlophe request was attended by members of the creative industry and sport Legends and personalities.

In attendance to name a few was the likes of PJ Powers, Blondie Makhene, Arthur Mafokate, Cynthia Chaka, Agusto Palacious, Marks Maponyane, Simphiwe Tshabalala, Rhulani Mokoena Tebogo Moloi, Ntando Kunene, Mpho Letsholonyane, Kwena Moabelo, Thabiso Mosia, Kass Naido, Happy Jele to name a few.

The downscaled Big Walk Event lead by Minister Nathi Mthethwa, MEC Mbali Hlophe, Acting Joburg Mayor Mpho Moerane started with Aerobics session which was then was followed by the 5Km Walk passing through various landmark / Heritage sights alongside Vilakazi Street including Bishop Desmond Tutu house, Nelson Mandela house museum, the exact venue where the June 16, 1976 shooting started ending up at With wreath laying ceremony at The Hector Peterson monument.

In conclusion, the Minister expressed his appreciation to all in attendance and further indicated that he hope that they will maintain the momentum of staying physically active including going back to their communities to spread the gospel of #Ichoose2BActive campaign which will go a long way in assisting the department In getting South Africans physically active.

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#ICHOOSE2BACTIVE, HOW ABOUT YOU ?

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SACR CELEBRATES HERITAGE DAY IN

Style

By Vinolia Chere

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eritage Day on 24 September recognises and celebrates the cultural wealth of our nation. South Africans celebrate the day by remembering the cultural heritage of the many cultures that make up the population of South Africa.

Various events are staged throughout the country to commemorate this day.

Living heritage is the foundation of all communities and an essential source of identity and continuity. Aspects of living heritage include: cultural tradition, oral history, performance, ritual, popular memory, skills and techniques, indigenous knowledge system and the holistic approach to nature, society and social relationships. In South Africa the term “intangible cultural heritage” is used interchangeably with the term “living heritage”.

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Living heritage plays an important role in promoting cultural diversity, social cohesion, reconciliation, peace and economic development. In every community there are living human treasures who possess a high degree of knowledge, skills and history pertaining to different aspects of diverse living heritage. It is therefore important for South Africans to reclaim, restore and preserve these various aspects of living heritage to accelerate the use of living heritage to address challenges communities are facing today.

President Cyril Ramaphosa during his address to the nation on Wednesday evening about the country moving to level one lockdown urged South Africa to celebrate Heritage Day by joining the global phenomenon of the Jerusalema Dance Challenge.

On Wednesday 23rd of September 2020, the Department heeded to this call and employees showed up in numbers wearing their colourful traditional attire to perform their own rendition of the Jerusalema Dance Challenge. As they say “Practice Makes Perfect� but it took officials less than 30 minutes to perfect the dance and make the most out of this auspicious day.

Heritage Day was celebrated throughout the country in various ways to showcase different cultures as well as to perform the dance in all parts of the country to honour South African musician and record producer Master KG who has flown the South African flag high globally.

#HeritageMonth. #MyHeritageYourHeritage

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GAUTENG DJS BOOSTED WITH VIRTUAL SHOWINGS

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he Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation has partnered with Score Energy Drink to present the Score-Antine Energy Live Sessions, a weekly online platform for young emerging DJs to showcase talent and skill.

The Score-Antine Energy Live Sessions on Facebook on Sunday afternoons, featuring sets from burgeoning DJs identified from across the 5 regions of the province, inclusive of female DJs. Screened from backdrop of rooftop venues within Gauteng and accumulating hundreds of views every week, up and coming DJs, including some from the Gauteng Young DJs development programme, were given an online stage to perform, connecting and building their audiences, having not been able to gig due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown regulations. Some of the DJS who have taken to the decks at the sessions are DJ Zwesta, Dj Stabito, Thobee, Ms P, DJ NTK and many more.

The Score-Antine Energy Live Sessions had a special edition celebrating Heritage Month that was staged live from atop the Women’s Living Heritage Monument in the City of Tshwane on Sunday, 20 September 2020, with sets by Sir Blanka, Marvelous DJ and Monde JR.

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Participating DJs from the development programme are workshopped in branding and marketing, performance and the music/ entertainment industry so that, with industry training to add onto their talent and skills, as well as a platform to reach and expand their fan bases, they can create and build a successful career in the field. It is important for young up and coming DJs to be supported to keep them connected to listeners as DJs from a big part of entertainment culture, especially in our townships, contributing towards township tourism and economy.

“Our department this year, trained a number of DJs from the margins of our communities, for them to be self-sustainable. Our economy is directly linked to our entertainment industry.

It’s through DJs that people are entertained in their social spaces and assist the DJs to generate an income for themselves. I’d like to thank Gauteng DJs for keeping us entertained during the midst of this covid pandemic, and we acknowledge Score Energy Drink, for their support of our young Gauteng DJs initiative.

Our department is readying itself for the postcovid reality and anticipates the normalization of activities again, however, in order to get there again we require everybody to play their part.

Help to continue to flatten the curve, so we can get back to having major events like we used to and be able to showcase the great talents we have in this province.” says MEC Mbali Hhlope

The Score-Antine Energy Live Sessions are broadcast live every Sunday on Facebook at Score-antine Energy Live Session -Energy Edition from 2pm to 5pm.

By Godfrey Pitjie 12

ISHASHALAZI WRITER/ DIRECTOR WINS BIG AT NALEDI THEATRE AWARDS

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ngola Camp 13, a musical theatre production by Sello Maseko, was the biggest winner of the 2020 Naledi Theatre Awards on Sunday, 13 September 2020.

The play’s director, Sello Maseko, is a proud product of the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation’s Ishashalazi theatre development programme.

Angola Camp 13 won in 6 categories at the prestigious Naledi Theatre Awards, including: Best Director in a musical Sello Maseko; Best Choreography Mduduzi Vincent Nhlapo; Best Musical Original Score Cromwell Modungwa; Best Sound Design Blessing Jiyane; Best Musical Original Score and Best Ensemble. The musical about MK soldiers in exile in Angola during the liberation struggle was staged at the National Arts Festival and South African State Theatre in 2019.

Mr Sello Maseko first got involved in the Ishashalazi development programme in 2011, when he participated in the training workshops for writing and directing, where grooming and skills development led to creation of numerous Ishashalazi award winning theatre productions such as A Moment When Love Hurts and Apprehension The Musical. His journey with the progamme elevated when he returned to the Ishashalazi workshops in 2015 as a facilitator to develop new trainees.

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Maseko began writing Angola in 2016 and in 2018 the production was selected to be developed by the State Theatre’s Incubator programme. Following sold out and critically acclaimed performances at several festivals across the country, the musical made it to the mainstream theatre pace with a run at the State Theatre last year.

“A massive congratulations to Mr Maseko and his entire cast and crew for creating an incredible piece of work that has been recognized for its excellence. It is an honour to see a beneficiary of the department’s programme achieve such great success and we hope to see many more of Gauteng’s creative talents continue on this trajectory in the future.”, says Gauteng MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation Mbali Hlophe.

MEC Mbali Hlophe added:� It is a testament to hard work and dedication and with development of talent through training and education, growth to mainstream success within the creative industries is possible�.

The Ishashalazi (the stage) Theatre programme is part of the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation creative arts programme aimed at identifying, nurturing and exposing talent in performance arts within the province by providing community theatre practitioners at grassroots level with training workshops and platforms to exhibit productions. It continues to be an important conveyor-belt in the development of theatre and film talent for the industry. The flagship programme has helped produce artists who have gone on to achieve success on other mediums including television and film. Some of the names that went through the programme include Mduduzi Mabaso, Meshack Mavuso, Terry Pheto and Mpho Malatsi amongst others, which now includes award winning director Sello Maseko.

By Godfrey Pitjie 14

Boxing Extravaganza Launched

By Mpolokeng Moloi

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he annual boxing tournament, dubbed “Still Alive and Punching” presented by the TLB promotions and supported by the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, was launched on Wednesday, 01 October 2020, at the Klipspruit Sport Centre, Soweto.

The Chief Director of Sport and Recreation, Mr Ivor Hoff, giving a message of support, said: “The support given to TLB Promotions is already bearing fruit because this year’s tournament has raised the bar in terms of the quality of boxers participating. It is a marvel to see that South African boxers will go head to head with boxers from the Democratic Republic of Congo. This tournament will serve as an aspiration for developing boxers”.

“TLB Promotions will ensure that all systems are in place to comply with the COVID-19 requirements and regulations.” added Ivor Hoff.

The 7-bout tournament will be held on Saturday, 17 October 2020 and will headline boxers from South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

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OUR STAFF

WELCOME Mr China Mashinini Acting Chief Director Corporate Services

Ms Mangi Nkabiti Acting Director Human Capital Management

Ms Sibongile Dhlamini-Moeleso Acting Director Supply Chain Management

Mr Dumisani Nkabinde Acting Director: Security and Facilities Management

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UP CLOSE & PERSONAL WITH

Boitumelo Sehume 17

TELL US ABOUT BOITUMELO I am a spirited liberal feminist driven by social justice and a gender activist against any form of patriarchy.

WHERE ARE YOU FROM? Kagiso, West Rand FAMILY: SINGLE? MARRIED? COMPLICATED? KIDS? YES/NO? No kids, single and definitely not available WHEN DID YOU JOIN THE GAUTENG FILM COMMISSION AND WHAT ARE YOU RESPONSIBLE FOR? I joined GFC in 2020. Responsible for Industry Support under the supervision of Mr. Desmond Mthembu who is has been nothing but the best mentor. Industry Support to the Film Industry is immersed in content development, Project Funding, Pre-production, and Postproduction of television and film productions.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB? Costume and Make-up Student Assistant: TUT WHAT ARE THE TOUGHEST CHALLENGES YOU HAVE HAD AT WORK AND HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THEM? When you do what you love, every challenge is a new high to bring the best out of me. To be more specific, I think the challenge is being over worked and under paid. I will lay a formal concern to HR to re-imagine my remuneration and perks.

WHAT'S YOUR SECRET TALENT THAT NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT? That I am academic and scholarly and not the ideal romantic WHAT'S THE CRAZIEST THING YOU'VE EVER DONE? Joining GFC because its exactly what I wanted when I left Tshwane University of Technology WHAT'S THE BEST ADVICE YOU CAN GIVE TO SOMEONE WHO JUST STARTED THEIR CAREER? What you studied is the foundation towards your journey. Use every opportunity to be the best representative of your aspirations

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WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE TRADITIONAL MEAL? Pork trotters!!

WHICH CULTURE DO YOU ORIGINATE FROM AND WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT IT? Ngwana waMotswana WHAT’IS ONE THING YOU COULD CHANGE ABOUT YOUR WORKPLACE? GFC is a dynamic organisation with the potential to impact the Film industries value chain WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO IN YOUR FREE TIME? WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES? I am a food market junkie. Wine tasting, cheese making and Netflixing

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WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS ABOUT OUR NEW NORMAL? I deserve a mention in the Bible for surviving the year 2020 #SoftLife HOW HAS THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC AFFECTED YOU AS SOMEONE WHO WORKS IN THE FILM INDUSTRY? The film industry just like most the media industries has shown resilience against a tough economic crisis induced by the pandemic. With new shows like ISONO and other telenovelas who continued to film under level regulations, the future of the industry is now more promising than ever before.

ANY FUTURE CAREER PLANS? Media Aggregator in 5 years

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RETURNING TO WORK AFTER THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A 6-STEP PLAN 1.

MAKE THE WORKPLACE SAFE

2.

ENCOURAGE GOOD HYGIENE

First, hire a cleaning service to deep clean the entire office. Their high-grade cleaning solutions will kill more germs than typical products. Upon returning to work after COVID-19, health and safety should be your biggest focus.

The first step is ensuring the physical workplace is safe for employees to work in.

After cleaning the workplace, it’s important to encourage employees to keep it safe and healthy. When everyone does their part, the whole office will feel more at ease.

Begin by asking managers and the whole HR team to lead by example. “You should hold yourself accountable by washing your hands, sneezing into a tissue/your elbow, [and] practicing good.

3.

UPDATE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

The coronavirus pandemic has forever changed the way every industry does business. As a result, you’ll need to look at your current policies and procedures and update them to fit current best practices.

4.

SUPPORT EMPLOYEES MENTAL HEALTH

Self-isolation and quarantining during the pandemic may have affected your employees’ mental health. HR teams should be aware of the potential effects and have resources ready to help.

5.

RESTORE PRODUCTIVITY

6.

ENCOURAGE SOCIAL INTERACTION

After a few months of working remotely, employees have likely fallen into a home office routine. However, going back to commuting, earlier alarms and having less flexible work hours might feel jarring.

After so much time apart, socializing can go one of two ways for employees. Some might feel awkward, like they’re meeting their co-workers for the first time all over again.

Others might have missed their colleagues so much that they’ll risk their health and productivity to catch up.

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Source: https://www.brinknews.com/

UNDERSTANDING CREDIT AND PAYMENT HOLIDAYS

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The office of the Credit Ombud urges consumers to apply caution before accepting payment holidays. They should also consider the following questions:

Financial institutions have been calling on consumers to take advantage of payment holidays. It is important to note that these also come at a cost. Consumers who have not been impacted by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are encouraged to continue making payments in terms of their original credit agreement. Those who have been hindered due to salary cuts or other financial constraints should exhaust all channels before accepting payment holidays.

• Can I continue servicing my monthly

commitments on my outstanding debt?

• Do I need a payment holiday because

my finances have been affected by the pandemic?

• For what period do I need the payment holiday?

• How will the payment holiday affect my

credit history, if any, at the credit bureau

and with the credit provider?

• Have I calculated how the interest, fees

and charges will be capitalized? What

effect would this have on the amount I

must pay back?

• Would the payment holiday take the

form of a restructure to the existing

credit agreement or would I

have to pay the full instalment plus a

portion of the arrears

amount once the payment holiday has lapsed?

urchasing on credit comes at a cost – the amount paid back on a credit agreement is not the same as what one pays when buying on cash. Buying on credit attracts interest, fees and charges. With interest being calculated daily on the outstanding balance, the implications are that if a consumer misses a payment or pays a lesser sum than agreed, the balance outstanding would not reduce as scheduled. This also extends the repayment terms. Paying a low monthly installment means that a minimal amount, if any, goes towards the capital, resulting in additional penalty interest accumulating.

A payment holiday may take the form of either delaying the payment date or extending the repayment period. It is important to note that should this be accepted, consumers would have to adhere to the amended terms to ensure that their credit profiles are not negatively impacted. The extension of payment is not seen as a default and a consumer must abide by the terms to maintain a healthy Godfrey Pitjie record. On the other By hand, those who, on their own accord, miss a payment or pay less without prior consent from a service provider are impacted negatively as their credit information status would show that they are in arrears.

While a payment holiday may provide the much needed financial relief for many, it may not be the best solution. Should a payment holiday on a credit agreement be an option, consumers need to understand the consequences.

Consumers are urged to check if the payment holiday would be in the form of a restructured agreement, a vanilla-styled solution where, for the duration of the agreement, no interest and costs are debited to the account, a lower instalment amount is agreed upon, with interest and costs being recapitalized or in the form of an advance on the initial credit extended. While there is no obligation on credit providers to accept repayment requests that deviate from credit agreements, consumers are allowed to negotiate with credit providers. They can also establish whether service providers can defer monthly instalments for a specific period and request a zero rate on their interest and costs for the duration of the payment holiday. All this can provide relief to consumers who would, otherwise, have to fork out more towards the total cost of the credit.

22 Source: Financial Literacy Newsletter

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WILL YOUR CLAIM BE REJECTED IF YOU DRIVE DURING THE CURFEW?

eports issued by the Automobile Association of South Africa over the last two years consistently show that more than 70% of South African car owners do not have car insurance. Reasons include the fact that car insurance is often seen as being too expensive and the settlement of claims being too unpredictable to justify the cost. It seems that most people do not view car insurance as a tool to protect their wealth, resulting in the insurance remaining a grudge purchase.

For those who, however, see the value of insuring their cars or those who insure their vehicles because they are compelled to do so through their finance agreements, there is still apprehension about whether their chosen insurer is the right one or if they would successfully claim against loss. People also question if insurance companies disclose all the terms or only do so when it’s time for claims. There are longstanding claims of insurers not disclosing all the conditions that apply to insurance policies, resulting in customers suffering major financial blows after covering claims they thought were covered by their policies.

Source: Financial Literacy Newsletter

Insurers have an obligation in terms of the law, and more specifically, the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act, 2002 (Act 37 of 2002) , to disclose certain information to clients and ensure that they know enough about the product prior to applying for or accepting it. This gives clients the opportunity to make informed decisions. The information that should be given to clients before accepting insurance products include, special terms or conditions that apply to the policy, whether there are any exclusions of liability applicable to the product, what the excess on the policy is and if there are restrictions or circumstances that would result in benefits not being paid. Clients also have obligations in terms of insurance contracts. These include the obligation to pay premiums for the policy in exchange for the insurer’s undertaking to provide coverage. Clients are also required to comply with the law, for example, when driving and maintaining cars.

When the country was declared to be in a national state of disaster in March 2020, there were a number of regulations passed by the government under the Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act 57 of 2002) in order to effectively respond to the pandemic and curb the spread of the virus. One of the regulations was the imposition of a curfew that limits the times that citizens may be outdoors. This has raised a question of whether an insurance company can reject a claim for an accident that happens during the curfew.

It is important to note that all insurance claims should be assessed on their merits. For instance, the regulations do make provision for when citizens may be on the roads after the curfew and if these circumstances are applicable to any claim, the insurer should take them into account when assessing whether or not to accept a claim.

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But what happens if these exceptions are not applicable? Does that give the insurer the automatic right to dismiss the claim?

Technically, driving while the curfew is in force, without the cause provided for by the exceptions in the regulations, would mean that one is contravening the law but even then, insurers consider the facts of each case on its own merits when deciding how to respond to a claim. This means that even if a client was not authorized by the law to be on the road when they got involved in an accident, the insurer would still need to collect all the facts relevant to the claim and assess them before making a decision. This does not give an insured person the right to deliberately break the law, knowing that the claim may not be rejected.

Please contact your insurance company, if you are not certain about the status of your policy and how it would respond to a claim that arises from an accident that occurs during the curfew hours.

Technically, driving while the curfew is in force, without the cause provided for by the exceptions in the regulations, would mean that one is contravening the law but even then, insurers consider the facts of each case on its own merits when deciding how to respond to a claim.

Technically, driving while the curfew is in force, without the cause provided for by the exceptions in the regulations, would mean that one is contravening the law but even then, insurers consider the facts of each case on its own merits when deciding how to respond to a claim.

But what happens if these exceptions are not applicable? Does that give the insurer the automatic right to dismiss the claim?

Technically, driving while the curfew is in force, without the cause provided for by the exceptions in the regulations, would mean that one is contravening the law but even then, insurers consider the facts of each case on its own merits when deciding how to respond to a claim. This means that even if a client was not authorized by the law to be on the road when they got involved in an accident, the insurer would still need to collect all the facts relevant to the claim and assess them before making a decision. This does not give an insured person the right to deliberately break the law, knowing that the claim may not be rejected.

Please contact your insurance company, if you are not certain about the status of your policy and how it would respond to a claim that arises from an accident that occurs during the curfew hours.

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LIFESYLE CAN I MAKE A MASK OUT OF JEANS?

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new study has found that denim and canvas are the best materials for making DIY masks. So, think old jeans and all those tote bags that you never use.

The researchers discovered that denim and canvas are the fabrics best suited to blocking out the germs while still being breathable enough for consistent wear.

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DIY FACE MASK

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SUPER

EASY

Smoothies

GREEN DREAM

PINA COLADA

SUPERFRUIT

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HOW TO START A HOME YOGA PRACTICE Source: www.self.com If you’d like to complement your studio classes with a home yoga practice, here’s how.

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ractising yoga at home has loads of benefits – it’s a great complement to studio classes,you can practice anywhere (within reason!), day or night, wear what you like and you don’t need much in the way of equipment. It’s also pretty inexpensive – free if you do a self-guided practice – and there’s no travel required.

Best of all, yoga at home teaches you to pay attention to your own body, to understand what it needs on any given day and practice in a way that supports you both physically, mentally and emotionally.

HERE ARE SOME TIPS TO GET YOU STARTED:

1. GET A MAT AND GRAB SOME PROPS

One of the best things about yoga is that you don’t need much equipment. However, a mat and props can help your alignment and make some poses more comfortable. When yoga first became prevalent in the West, yogis practiced on towels or cotton mats; it wasn’t until around the 1980s that ‘sticky mats’ became more widely used. Nowadays, the yoga mat and accessories industry is a booming business, with a huge array of choice to suit almost every requirement. To help you choose the best mat for you, read our Best yoga mat review. Yoga accessories can take up a bit of space (and cash) but you can easily substitute the real thing with common household items.

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2. MAKE SOME SPACE

If possible, try and find a place to practice that’s peaceful and quiet. Having a wall nearby might be helpful too but it’s not essential.

Some people like to decorate their practice space with things like candles and incense, a photograph that inspires them or a quote, but the most important thing is that you have enough space to stretch out without bumping into tables, chairs, shelves etc. Also, you’re more likely to declutter your mind if the space you are practising in is also clutter-free.

3. COMMIT TO A TIME AND MAKE IT ACHIEVABLE Consider what works best for you – are you a morning person or an evening person? Could you squeeze in some yoga on your lunch break?

As for the ‘ideal’ length of time to practice, forget about whether your friend practices for an hour each day or what you think constitutes a ‘proper’ yoga practice and go with what works best for you. Perhaps start by making a commitment to practice for 10 minutes a day. Alternatively, you could try blocking out a particular time on a certain day if that works better. The key is, it has to fit in with your life – if it doesn’t you won’t keep maintain it.

https://www.pexels.com/

4. WATCH OUT FOR THE 3 PS

Always honour your body’s boundaries and avoid pain, pinching and pushing. If you’re new to yoga it might be difficult to distinguish between pain and discomfort. Pain feels hot and sharp, whereas discomfort is more of a dull, nagging sensation. Generally speaking, STOP if it’s inside the joint structure (knees, spine, hips, neck, etc.) If you do feel pain, move gently rather than suddenly out of the pose. If you feel discomfort, perhaps you can soften or adjust or even use props to assist you.

It’s always advisable to warm up properly before attempting advanced poses and be especially mindful of the transitions between poses.

5. PLAN AND PLAY

Another advantage of doing a home yoga practice, particularly if you’re doing an online class and your time is really stretched, is you can decide which class you’re going to do the day before so there’s no decision-making when you get on your mat. Set up the class on your laptop the night before, then all you have to do is hit Play.

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6. FOLLOW YOUR BODY’S LEAD

If you’re used to following a particular sequence or type of class, just once a week close your laptop or book, get on your mat and do your own thing. This can feel really daunting at first but ignore that nagging worry that you won’t know what to do; yoga doesn’t need to be a seamlessly structured series of poses. Just get on your mat and wriggle around for five minutes doing what feels nice for your body, or perhaps just sit quietly.

Build up to it by adding your ‘freeform’ practice at the end of a shorter online class or sequence.

Just pause the video before Savasana and restart it when you’re done if you prefer to be guided. Any time that you take to tune in to truly listen to your body and let it lead the way, rather than your mind, is yoga.

“Any time that you take to tune in to truly listen to your body and let it lead the way, rather than your mind, is yoga.”

7. MAKE IT FUN!

When you’re starting out, practice a class or sequence that you enjoy so you’ll have an incentive to roll out your mat. What about putting some music on or practising with friends? You could decide to do this physically and go to one another’s houses – or commit to doing an online class at the same time / day each week. This helps to keep you motivated and you can share your experiences.

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8. DON’T FORGET ABOUT MEDITATION AND PRANAYAMA

A home practice can be a great opportunity to build a meditation and pranayama practice – especially if your studio class doesn’t usually include time for it. Even five minutes of ujjayi breathing incorporated into your asana practice will leave you feeling more centered and relaxed. If you think you’re not a ‘meditation person’, this article may change your mind.

9. SEE IT THROUGH

If you’re one of those people who seeks the “perfect” practice, know that it doesn’t exist!

In practical terms, try not to spend the time you’ve allocated to yoga procrastinating (i.e. reading hundreds of class descriptions if you’re doing an online class, or flicking through sequences in a book). When you do finally decide on a class or sequence, unless there’s a genuine reason to stop practising, try and see it through. It’s the nature of the monkey mind to keep searching for “perfection” but whatever unfolds you will learn something (whether about yoga or yourself). Know too that the biggest lessons are usually learned from doing what you find challenging – be this physically or mentally.

10. …BUT AT THE SAME TIME, CUT YOURSELF SOME SLACK

For all its benefits, practising at home can, of course, sometimes be more challenging than going to a studio. If finding time to squeeze your yoga practice in between work and family commitments causes you more stress than going to an external class, then that’s fine too.

The key thing is that you just show up on your mat open, present, accepting and curious – wherever it happens to be.

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Local Reads, & Movies THE LAZY MAKOTI'S GUIDE TO THE KITCHEN

by Mogau Seshoene Mogau takes into consideration all the different occasions a South African kitchen might have to cater for. The recipes use simple ingredients that are probably already in your pantry or fridge, and if not, they’re readily available at the grocery.

No more excuses – it’s time to step into those domestic goddess stilettos.

VUSI: BUSINESS AND LIFE LESSONS FROM A BLACK DRAGON

By Vusi Thembekwayo Maverick. Leadership genius. Self-made millionaire.

Dragon. The rock star of public speaking. Vusi Thembekwayo has been called many things.

Join him in his inspiring journey from the township to the top echelons of South African business, to becoming one of the youngest directors of a listed company and CEO of a boutique investment firm. As a Dragons' Den judge and a sought- after public speaker across the globe, Vusi doesn't just talk business – he lives it.

Now you can learn the secret of his success and how to shape your own destiny.

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SYNOPSIS 1h15 | Drama | 10 – 12 PG V Amongst the pythonic mountains of landlocked Lesotho, an 80-year-old widow winds up her earthly affairs make arrangements for her burial and prepares to die. But when her village is threatened with forced resettlement due to the construction of a reservoir, she finds a new will to live and ignites a collective spirit of defiance within her community.

In the final dramatic moments of her life, Mantoa’s legend is forged and made eternal.

DIRECTOR: Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese WRITERS: Nadja Dumouchel (story editor), Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese STARS: Jerry Mofokeng, Tseko Monaheng, Makhaola Ndebele

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EKANGALA ARTS AND CRAFT Bead work Production Ekangala Centre 1484 Section F, Ekangala 1020 Busi Mahlangu: 072 226 0035 33 35

DID YOU KNOW

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

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Fallen Heroes/Heroines

GEORGE BIZOS George Bizos was a Greek-South African human rights lawyer who campaigned against apartheid in South Africa. He was noted for representing Nelson Mandela during the Rivonia Trial Bizos died of natural causes at home on 9th September 2020 at the age of 92.

He was given a special state funeral on 17th September 2020 and was buried at Westpark Cemetery next to his wife Rita.

May Your Soul Rest In Peace...

#GrowingGautengTogether @GautengSACR

Tel: 011 355 2534/2814/ 2766 SACR.communications@gauteng.gov.za www.gauteng.gov.za Surrey House, 35 Rissik St, Marshalltown, Johannesburg, 2001