Cannot believe I have neglected my blog for so long..... I am sorry. Could it be the Falcon was so overwhelming I didn't think to write again...LOL
Well it's not that I haven't been writing - I contributed to a blog that we call "Metawomen" for the group of awsome women that meet once a month to discuss, dance, shake, meditate, build fires, have fun, and share eats and tea with. All of us around that age... you guessed it... metamorphosis = change.
I also wrote a few articles for Journals and mags, and of course, most time-consuming of all - my training manuals that are always in the process of being up-dated or completely re-written or completely written from scratch, as I download the information so beautifully stored in the RAM of my brain.
Will there be more time to contribute to this blog... always have the intention... we'll see.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
The Falcon
Yesterday (14 Jan 2011) a Peregrine Falcon flew into our plate glass window. By the time we reached him he was lying on his back, wings sprawled, feet curled up, eyes closed and not breathing. I detected a very feint heart-beat that was dwindling fast. I turned him over - his little head lolling to the side, wrapped my hands around him and 'sent' healing energy into his body, with my son assisting and unbeknown to me doing the same. The heart beat became stronger and eventually was pounding in his chest as he briefly opened his eyes and was horrified by these 2 humans glaring and holding him. A little water laced with Rescue Remedy dropped into his beak, and more healing as I used surrogate EFT tapping with his fear, injuries, and 'concussion'.
He again opened his eyes this time the pupil dilated then some sort of focus seemed to happen, it was time to stand back from this strong beak and sharp powerful talons.....wings gave a half-hearted flap and he moved 4 inches, to get away from us. We stood back, giving him his space. Another minute or so and another more vigorous flutter, this time he moved and few feet away, and I was scared he would accidently fly into the pool. So we closed in on him again and 'guided him' towards a safer garden area, only a few feet away. He sat for a few more minutes with wings spread open in the sunlight. Still tapping I could see him looking back at us. Then enough eneegy to fly ... hovering just over the pool, didn't think he would make it but he did and landed on the wall of the pool... that was close. Martin said to tap for the fear of flying after he had sat there for a long time, this I did and continued tapping for the trauma, the fear it may happen again, the hurt, and soreness, feeling stupid for not seeing the glass, etc. He turned and stared straight into my eyes, looking alert, and in one swoop flew up, circled over the pool and through the gap of the trees and away he went!
All three of us felt honoured to have been part of this magnificent bird's healing .....
What a lesson this falcon gives... (from Animal Totems: Dictionary of Birds)
Falcon represents: Power of insight, agility, discernment and how to attach opportunities in life, discern when and how to strike when needed. Falcon teaches swiftness with control and exactness in movement. Timing is everything for falcon. Is it time to take chances? He will teach timing in your spiritual and physical life. Falcon will teach to see your environment with mental and spiritual clarity.
He again opened his eyes this time the pupil dilated then some sort of focus seemed to happen, it was time to stand back from this strong beak and sharp powerful talons.....wings gave a half-hearted flap and he moved 4 inches, to get away from us. We stood back, giving him his space. Another minute or so and another more vigorous flutter, this time he moved and few feet away, and I was scared he would accidently fly into the pool. So we closed in on him again and 'guided him' towards a safer garden area, only a few feet away. He sat for a few more minutes with wings spread open in the sunlight. Still tapping I could see him looking back at us. Then enough eneegy to fly ... hovering just over the pool, didn't think he would make it but he did and landed on the wall of the pool... that was close. Martin said to tap for the fear of flying after he had sat there for a long time, this I did and continued tapping for the trauma, the fear it may happen again, the hurt, and soreness, feeling stupid for not seeing the glass, etc. He turned and stared straight into my eyes, looking alert, and in one swoop flew up, circled over the pool and through the gap of the trees and away he went!
All three of us felt honoured to have been part of this magnificent bird's healing .....
What a lesson this falcon gives... (from Animal Totems: Dictionary of Birds)
Falcon represents: Power of insight, agility, discernment and how to attach opportunities in life, discern when and how to strike when needed. Falcon teaches swiftness with control and exactness in movement. Timing is everything for falcon. Is it time to take chances? He will teach timing in your spiritual and physical life. Falcon will teach to see your environment with mental and spiritual clarity.
Monday, December 13, 2010
End of another year
Well, tomorrow is the last yoga class for this year. It has been a good year, new people joining the yoga classes and the dedicated students continuing on with enthusiasm. Workshops were full and feedback from them was so great. Everyone wants more of those, where we go deeper into different postures and other aspects of yoga. I know that I will thoroughly enjoy teaching them again as I love it when others are keen to learn more about yoga.
So now planning for next year will go full-steam ahead while on vacation/retreat in the country. Definately going to do another Yoga Teacher training - so many applications from both within South Africa and far away places all over the globe- and with my blood-iron levels normalising, maybe this year I will have the strength to teach it again. It is a wonderfully powerful course and most attendees have a life-changing experience. Always makes me so proud to see how they come in as 'green' yoga practitioners and leave confident & capable to share the yoga teachings with others. They learn so much more than just teaching asanas, they learn a new way of living - the yoga life-style. This is it - live your yoga - it is part of all aspects of everyday life, not only a practice on the mat!
So here's to a wonderful Christmas and a fantastic 2011....
So now planning for next year will go full-steam ahead while on vacation/retreat in the country. Definately going to do another Yoga Teacher training - so many applications from both within South Africa and far away places all over the globe- and with my blood-iron levels normalising, maybe this year I will have the strength to teach it again. It is a wonderfully powerful course and most attendees have a life-changing experience. Always makes me so proud to see how they come in as 'green' yoga practitioners and leave confident & capable to share the yoga teachings with others. They learn so much more than just teaching asanas, they learn a new way of living - the yoga life-style. This is it - live your yoga - it is part of all aspects of everyday life, not only a practice on the mat!
So here's to a wonderful Christmas and a fantastic 2011....
Monday, November 1, 2010
New Year Yoga Retreat
Hi Everyone,
We are going to run a relaxing, beautiful retreat 4 -8 Jan 2011, to start the year on a more spiritual note. Please, forward this on to anyone who may be interested!
Please note: If a non-yoga practising spouse/other wants to join you - they are quite welcome. There is a pool, sauna, games room with TV, etc available for them to relax and enjoy while you're yoga-ing. This is a retreat so nothing is compulsory, however they may join in with anything (maybe a time to be introduced to yoga??)
This will be a luxurious retreat with good food, beautiful sunsets, mountain walks, swimming, yoga-related activities and of course, meditation and yoga.
See advert below and have a look at the web page referred to (costs, dates...).
PS we are only taking 15 people - so book soon!
4-8 January 2011 - a 4-day Yoga Retreat
in the most beautiful part of South Africa, Stellenbosch
* Consider having a spiritual New Year and set the tone for 2011.
* Spend time rejuvenating and re-energising yourself.
* Deepen your yoga practise and re-discover your peaceful centre within.
This New Year Yoga Retreat may be exactly what you need.
This retreat is designed to deepen your yoga practice, re-connect with nature, have some quiet time and enjoy the company of like-minded people.
Run by: Anne & Martin Combrinck (together 38 years experience)
from: Ananda Sanga Yoga Centre
Somerset West, Western Cape, South Africa
Somerset West, Western Cape, South Africa
Tel: +27 21 855-1470
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Iron Deficiency Anaemia in Vegetarians
Long time – no blog! Well I was surprised, with a heavenly holiday away….. but possibly the main reason is exhaustion, all the time, everyday. Not pleasant. Also an array of other symptoms which shall be covered below.
A trip to the local Integrative Medicine doctor and a whole gamut of blood tests revealed among lesser evils “dangerously low” iron and haemoglobin levels, as well as a very low red blood cell count and of those remaining- badly deformed. Well that explained it – no oxygen in the blood = no energy! All the pranayama in the world is of no benefit because there is nothing for the O2 to attach to in the blood. An emergency drip was set up right there in the Dr’s room and a few hours later, I returned home feeling cold but pleased that the cause to all these ‘niggles’ had been found.
Now 3 months later and 5 double-dose Iron drips later, as well as Vitamin B complex and homeopathic injections I am preparing for another blood test on Friday. What will it be – iron up to normal yet – well it doesn’t feel that way, but I suppose it is much better than before. Some noticeable differences for me are reduction of Restless Leg Syndrome, hair not falling out, slightly better memory, nails not so brittle, sleep much improved. Other symptoms comprise dizziness, tinnitus, dull headaches, never mind the pale face and skin lesions – is all this iron deficiency related? – seems so, according to research that I am doing.
What is the cause I ask myself and the doc? All the other tests have revealed no loss of internal blood, menstruation has been over for about a year and half (menopaused!), so why the low iron? He says it can only be accumulative over years of being a woman and vegetarian! I think it is because I am not assimilating iron well, as I have always eaten pretty healthily as a veg! So a whole new avenue of research opens up…
A friend suggests allowing the villi in the small intestine time to recover from any damage by going Gluten-free. That is: give up wheat, barley, rye and oats. I have never been a big bread eater, so I go for it – not so easy – I discover there are very few days that our daily diet is free of these ingredients. That muffin, croissant or even granola for breakfast; chapattis that I have expertly learned to roll and cook; barley soup (so good for the kidneys); oatmeal –cookies/crunchies/ snack bars; cous cous; pasta; etc – guess what all have gluten. What is left – rice, brown rice, millet, corn/maize (mealies we call it in South Africa) and rice cakes and corn cakes… and more rice. But rice and corn are constipating aren’t they? Never having suffered from this new malady – now I count myself in. On top of that Iron supplements are also contributing – for 10 days after each drip I cannot go! Pain and suffering – these add to the exhaustion! Tried every iron supplement available – this week I’m on Pregnancy Vitamins (they are high in iron, and surely pregnant women must be able to evacuate). Eat some meat, someone else and the doctor says…. That doesn’t work either as my digestive system cannot tolerate meat after thirty years of being vegetarian, so gave up on that one too.
Ayurveda suggests a variety of herbs – none of which are available here; Chinese Medicine suggests low blood chi (energy) – and once again meat and grain products; herbal medicine lists many herbs and vegetables which I luckily have growing in my garden so include more of these into meals and drinks. Someone says spirulina is the miracle food (algae) – and as this is in a product that I manufacture, I take some of the raw ingredient and make it into a drink with molasses and orange juice (for Vit C) every morning. Barley green is another suggestions – only the kernel contains gluten – so I incorporate some of that too.
What more can a girl do? We will see the results next week when the blood tests are analysed.
A trip to the local Integrative Medicine doctor and a whole gamut of blood tests revealed among lesser evils “dangerously low” iron and haemoglobin levels, as well as a very low red blood cell count and of those remaining- badly deformed. Well that explained it – no oxygen in the blood = no energy! All the pranayama in the world is of no benefit because there is nothing for the O2 to attach to in the blood. An emergency drip was set up right there in the Dr’s room and a few hours later, I returned home feeling cold but pleased that the cause to all these ‘niggles’ had been found.
Now 3 months later and 5 double-dose Iron drips later, as well as Vitamin B complex and homeopathic injections I am preparing for another blood test on Friday. What will it be – iron up to normal yet – well it doesn’t feel that way, but I suppose it is much better than before. Some noticeable differences for me are reduction of Restless Leg Syndrome, hair not falling out, slightly better memory, nails not so brittle, sleep much improved. Other symptoms comprise dizziness, tinnitus, dull headaches, never mind the pale face and skin lesions – is all this iron deficiency related? – seems so, according to research that I am doing.
What is the cause I ask myself and the doc? All the other tests have revealed no loss of internal blood, menstruation has been over for about a year and half (menopaused!), so why the low iron? He says it can only be accumulative over years of being a woman and vegetarian! I think it is because I am not assimilating iron well, as I have always eaten pretty healthily as a veg! So a whole new avenue of research opens up…
A friend suggests allowing the villi in the small intestine time to recover from any damage by going Gluten-free. That is: give up wheat, barley, rye and oats. I have never been a big bread eater, so I go for it – not so easy – I discover there are very few days that our daily diet is free of these ingredients. That muffin, croissant or even granola for breakfast; chapattis that I have expertly learned to roll and cook; barley soup (so good for the kidneys); oatmeal –cookies/crunchies/ snack bars; cous cous; pasta; etc – guess what all have gluten. What is left – rice, brown rice, millet, corn/maize (mealies we call it in South Africa) and rice cakes and corn cakes… and more rice. But rice and corn are constipating aren’t they? Never having suffered from this new malady – now I count myself in. On top of that Iron supplements are also contributing – for 10 days after each drip I cannot go! Pain and suffering – these add to the exhaustion! Tried every iron supplement available – this week I’m on Pregnancy Vitamins (they are high in iron, and surely pregnant women must be able to evacuate). Eat some meat, someone else and the doctor says…. That doesn’t work either as my digestive system cannot tolerate meat after thirty years of being vegetarian, so gave up on that one too.
Ayurveda suggests a variety of herbs – none of which are available here; Chinese Medicine suggests low blood chi (energy) – and once again meat and grain products; herbal medicine lists many herbs and vegetables which I luckily have growing in my garden so include more of these into meals and drinks. Someone says spirulina is the miracle food (algae) – and as this is in a product that I manufacture, I take some of the raw ingredient and make it into a drink with molasses and orange juice (for Vit C) every morning. Barley green is another suggestions – only the kernel contains gluten – so I incorporate some of that too.
What more can a girl do? We will see the results next week when the blood tests are analysed.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Yoga Meditation
On Monday 19 april 2010, we started a new Meditation 4-week Course. A group of dedicated people from all walks of life got together, for the first meeting. We had introductions and some sharing, to get to know one another better. Then launched straight into the first lesson
What is Meditation?
Meditation is the final goal of yoga practitioners - a state of inner joy and peace. It is the ultimate on the ashtanga yoga path. Patanjali, the ancient sage, writes about this in the 'Yoga Sutra' a book, which is the guide to most serious yoga practitioners.
Meditation is a most natural and rewarding human activity, but the practice has been 'forgotten' by most adults. Practised on a daily basis it produces astonishing results on all levels of your being: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. It connects you with your inner powers of vitality, clarity and love.
Although the process of meditation can be stated simply, the actual attainment of the deepest states requires dedication and discipline. However, even a little practise of meditation will give immediate results.
Meditation is not:
- a mental escape into a state of passivity;
- a form of mental speculation;
- sluggish day dreaming.
Meditation is directing your consciousness inward - to find the source of all life's manifestations. Meditation can be seen as a tool to attain your goal. This goal can be anything worthwhile you wish to achieve or obtain. It is a goal for progress towards which body, mind and spirit are disciplined, refined, and perfected by psycho-physiological techniques, many of which provide health, relaxation, and self-mastery, quite apart from the mystical end-goal for which they are a preparation.
What is Meditation?
Meditation is the final goal of yoga practitioners - a state of inner joy and peace. It is the ultimate on the ashtanga yoga path. Patanjali, the ancient sage, writes about this in the 'Yoga Sutra' a book, which is the guide to most serious yoga practitioners.
Meditation is a most natural and rewarding human activity, but the practice has been 'forgotten' by most adults. Practised on a daily basis it produces astonishing results on all levels of your being: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. It connects you with your inner powers of vitality, clarity and love.
Although the process of meditation can be stated simply, the actual attainment of the deepest states requires dedication and discipline. However, even a little practise of meditation will give immediate results.
Meditation is not:
- a mental escape into a state of passivity;
- a form of mental speculation;
- sluggish day dreaming.
Meditation is directing your consciousness inward - to find the source of all life's manifestations. Meditation can be seen as a tool to attain your goal. This goal can be anything worthwhile you wish to achieve or obtain. It is a goal for progress towards which body, mind and spirit are disciplined, refined, and perfected by psycho-physiological techniques, many of which provide health, relaxation, and self-mastery, quite apart from the mystical end-goal for which they are a preparation.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Rain Dance or Rain Prayer ?
Experiencing a heat wave is no fun when it has gone on for so long.... everything so dry, dusty and parched. Plants and veges dying and scorched from the hot sun - a result of global warming - who knows?? I remember reading a book a long, long time ago ....
In ‘Lost Mode of Prayer’, Gregg Braden describes an ancient form of prayer that has no words or outward expressions, which he got from the indigenous people of South America: When praying for rain – become the rain, feel it, experience it and become it….. This is what we did in Yoga classes the last few days and woohoo it WORKS!
In the relaxation (Savasana) after relaxing through the body, I got them to visualise themselves lying on a lush, green lawn looking up into the blue sky. Clouds began to gather and soon rain drizzled down, we felt it and enjoyed it. The rain got harder and it almost went through us filling us and we became rain....
12 hours later a soaking rain which is still pouring down (hours & hours) - so grateful, thanks, thank you Universe, deep appreciation!
In ‘Lost Mode of Prayer’, Gregg Braden describes an ancient form of prayer that has no words or outward expressions, which he got from the indigenous people of South America: When praying for rain – become the rain, feel it, experience it and become it….. This is what we did in Yoga classes the last few days and woohoo it WORKS!
In the relaxation (Savasana) after relaxing through the body, I got them to visualise themselves lying on a lush, green lawn looking up into the blue sky. Clouds began to gather and soon rain drizzled down, we felt it and enjoyed it. The rain got harder and it almost went through us filling us and we became rain....
12 hours later a soaking rain which is still pouring down (hours & hours) - so grateful, thanks, thank you Universe, deep appreciation!
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