Even if we are not strictly vegan, many of us are conscientious about our diet and spend time reading labels in the supermarket to check for additives, preservatives, and other chemical ingredients. But, are we also doing this with our cosmetic and skin care products? “More and more people are and should be,” says Kate Townshend, owner and founder of Harmless House, an online shop for premium vegan, organic, natural and cruelty-free products.  This is because the substances we put on our bodies, hair, and teeth (products like body lotion, shampoo, and toothpaste), can and do get absorbed through our skin and into our bloodstream. Research is now showing that many of the chemicals in our mainstream skincare and body products can cause dangerous hormone imbalances and, in the long run, can increase the likelihood of cancer. Add this grim fact to the reality of animal testing, and many of the “old faithfuls” we have been buying for years start to look unappealing and potentially dangerous. Time for a re-think, we think!

Dangers of Parabens and Other Chemicals
One of the most common cosmetic ingredients is parabens, an ingredient which has come into the spotlight in the last few years, as research reveals its dangers. Parabens are preservatives used to extend the shelf life of products by prohibiting the growth of mold and bacteria. They fall under many names, but the most common ones are: Methylparaben, Butylparaben, Propylparaben, Ethylparaben and Isobutylparaben. Approximately 75 to 90% of products use parabens.

“But it’s only going on your skin- right? It’s not like we are eating it!” Wrong. The chemicals in the food we eat are filtered through our kidneys and liver, and most end of being excreted from the body. Substances applied to the skin, however, are absorbed straight into the blood stream: this is how and why nicotine patches and birth control/hormone therapy patches work. Chemicals from the daily products we happily rub all over our skin are often deposited and stored in fat around the body. In the case of parabens, research is suggesting that these particular chemicals often accumulate in breast tissue, and are less likely to be flushed from our system. Parabens mimic oestrogen, which is one of the factors in the development of breast cancer. Research is starting to show a frightening link between cancer and the products we use. Recent research published in the Journal of Applied Toxicology in January 2012 found parabens present in 99% of breast cancer tissues tested. In addition, oestrogen mimickers cause our body to produce less of its own natural hormones, which can also lead to fertility problems for both men and women, premature puberty in young girls (early menstruation is linked to a higher chance of breast cancer in later life), and possibly premature menopause. In men, the excess oestrogen can cause abnormally large breasts.

Townshend says, “The reason these ingredients feature in almost all our cosmetic products is that the cosmetic industry is among the least regulated. So many synthetic ingredients are still used in products today because they are the cheapest available option and manufacturers are more concerned with their bottom line than they are with the consumers’ safety.”

Anti-Cruelty Products
In addition to protecting ourselves from harmful chemicals, we should also be aware of how some companies do animal testing with their products. Beauty Without Cruelty (www.bwcsa.co.za) is an animal rights organisation whose primary objective is to educate and inform about the exploitation and abuse of animals. They provide information on animal testing for cosmetics, and advice on what to buy and what not to.  They also have their own cosmetics range.

What Can We do?
A bit of knowledge can go a long way, and almost everything you need to know is on the back of the bottle, including ingredients and certifications. Along with learning what to avoid and watch out for, also learn which ingredients are good. Avoiding parabens is a good first step, but there are many other ingredients to look out for too. A product that says it is “natural” means very little actually, and holds no weight legally.  An organic certification is an excellent way to know that your product contains not only natural ingredients, but organic ingredients too. Anti cruelty certifications, like the one offered by Choose Cruelty Free, will also ensure that animals were not harmed when developing the product.

By Debbie Banda

Some recommended vegan, natural, certified organic and cruelty-free products:

Sanctum Body Balm provides deeply penetrating moisture, which makes it ideal for winter. The scent is subtle and comforting

Eco-Dent Cinnamon Tooth Powder is a natural alternative to conventional toothpastes, which can contain harmful synthetic ingredients.

BWC Creamy Eye Makeup Remover contains gentle organic herbal extracts and rich emollients to remove all types of makeup without irritation.

These products are all available from www.harmlesshouse.co.za

When it comes to massage, most of us have experienced the wonderfully relaxing and releasing effects that the touch of a trained pair of hands can bring. Now imagine the increased sensation of bare, supple feet working their way across the body in long deep strokes, stretching both the mind and the spine into infinity…

Euphoric would be one adjective that a person might use to describe the ancient Indian, deep tissue, hot oil massage called Chavutti Thirumal. And yet, it’s so much more sublime than even that.

The experience of Chavutti Thirumal (pronounced cha-voo-tee ti-ru-mal) is unique to Western massage systems in that it is principally applied with the bare foot (Chavutti Thirumal literally means “foot pressure”) with therapeutic benefits extending beyond just its myriad physical applications.

Originating from Kerala, South India, Chavutti Thirumal was developed by practitioners of Kalarippayatu (one of India’s traditional martial and medical arts that dates as far back as the 12^th Century). Kalari, the cultural practice from which it stems, interweaves mental, emotional, physical and spiritual aspects of life and, like the Chavutti Thirumal massage technique it bore hundreds of years ago, embodies elements of Ayurveda, yoga and dance in mystical measures for profound effect.

Covering the length of the body – from the tips of the fingers to the tops of the toes – in long, deep sweeping strokes, the highly skilled barefoot masseuse is supported in their elongating movements by a suspended rope that hangs from the ceiling to aid their balance during massage. You, the recipient, lie flat on a thin mat on the floor, feeling supported and connected with the ground. With each sweeping stroke of the foot, the range and depth of movement (and breath) is deepened as the masseuse moves energy from the central spinal channel outwards to the limbs and extremities and then back inwards towards the spine again in rhythmic motions. Working from the centre of gravity deep within their own core, the barefoot masseuse uses “heaven and earth energy principles” to channel energies downwards and restore harmony and balance and bring a deep sense of wellbeing and nourishment to the recipient.

On a physical level, the treatment focuses precise attention on unknotting tension, maintaining flexibility and suppleness, aligning and strengthening the spine as well as lengthening the intervertebral spaces thereby creating more “breathing space” and “room for flow”. Additionally working to tone and stretch muscle tissue, Chavutti Thirumal is also therefore beneficial in treating and easing back pain, sciatica, muscular spasm and stiffness in the joints as well as any restricted movements that may arise from an imbalance caused by exercise or sport injuries.

Deeper still, it helps relieve deep-seated tensions, cleanses the body of toxins and improves circulation, metabolism and energy flow. Chavutti Thirumal assists the body in initiating its own detoxification process, facilitates the release of emotional and psychological blocks and brings the body back to its natural equilibrium. In returning to its whole and natural state, the body and mind are open and receptive and, it is only then the possibility for change can occur and that is when true healing begins.

It would be almost insulting to call such healing therapy “a massage” and so, in saying, if you have never been touched by the “art of the barefoot massage”, be assured it’s an indelible experience. Your body will remember its imprints and your mind and soul frequent the new spaces and pathways it’s quietly carved for you long after the soft footsteps of the barefoot masseuse are heard, quietly leaving sacred space.

For further information or to book an appointment, please contact Wendy Young who practices Chavutti Thirumal from the ISHTA School of Yoga & Health. Email Wendy on mailto: wendy@wise-living.co.za

Let’s face it, there’s something special about all massage. Spas and beauty salons offer long lists of varieties and styles and, of course, ever-new twists on much-loved traditional massage methods. If used to its full effects, massage can provide truly excellent results, not just for its potent stress-busting release but more specific health and healing where needed.

Very few I have found however offer a tangible spiritual and emotional release like Ka Huna massage, that’s based on the techniques employed by the ancient Hawaiian shamans who used this bodywork method in the temples to restore overall balance and create harmony and flow in the internal energies of the individual.

Energetically, this is a decidedly superior massage as there is no doubt that a well-trained Ka Huna massage therapist is working beyond just technique, moving slowly into the realms of the spiritual and sublime. The training they undergo ensures a vigorous internal processing for the masseuse too who moves and guides the energy release as you are encouraged to breathe with, and move deeper into the energy shifts brought about by the long, fluid, flowing and dynamic movements that, accompanied with specific breathwork, are particular to this massage style.

Known also as Lomi Lomi and Aloha massage, the spirit of respect, honour and sacredness is central to the philosophy behind Ka Huna massage as the immersive process aims to guide you to a destination that is ultimately joy-filled. Therapists often join in this sacred “dance of life” as they perform the massage to uplifting, rhythmic music that further encourages expansion and aids in the recipients ability to “let go”.

Mimicking the ebb and flow of the ocean, the Ka Huna therapist takes you on a journey using elbows, forearms and hands in rhythmic movements along with the positive power of intention to take you where you need to go and help you unravel personal insights along the way. Expressing the truest essence of the self is the path to enlightenment as put down my the ancient shamans who devised these Ka Huna techniques (Kahuna literally means “keeper of the secret”).

Quite simply, there’s nothing quite like Ka Huna massage and the upliftment and euphoria you will undoubtedly feel when you step out from a glorious 90-minute session. Rebalanced, realigned and reconnected, you will certainly feel the marked change in your vibration and energy level. Working through the blockages of your subtle energy system through Ka Huna massage with a qualified therapist is a shape-shifting experience and one you’re not going to forget.

By Angela Myers

For more information on Ka Huna massage and Ka Huna massage courses and training, contact Anthea Hardwick on 073 617 5224 or email morehunamagic@gmail.com

Weighing In
Finding “body balance” is more important and, ultimately more aesthetically pleasing, than the “body beautiful”, says Lorunna Jansen Van Vuuren

In class one morning during Baddha Konasana (the Butterfly Pose) I asked my yoga students to turn their feet up so that they could see the soles of their feet. I then asked them to gently and lovingly stroke their feet, conveying to them (their feet) that they were gratefulto them for carrying their weight around all day, every day.

My students just sat staring at me, with question marks on their faces. Was I serious? Had I finally lost my sanity? To me, it was a pretty normal instruction, but this request puzzled them and some students even started giggling. I reminded everyone that in all the years leading up to that very moment their feet had probably never been thanked. Our feet that offer support, balance and grounding never ever really appreciated or even considered. Our feet that hold our weight, both physically and emotionally, and we walk on them in a state of unawareness of what they do and represent.

The metaphor of feet as an anchor that holds us together and connects us to earth and to life at large can be paralleled to that opposite pole of the body – the mind. The two are inextricably linked. Perhaps it is our reluctance to thank our feet and reflect daily on the burden they carry for us that mirrors our inability to really love and accept our physical form and the physical and emotional “weights” that we carry.

The ongoing illusion fed to us through the media is that we will all be happy when we are thin. Thin is healthy, thin is sexy, the media tells us time and time again, and yet, we do not see the maya or illusion that is well at play here. If you look to nature, certainly all the flowers don’t look the same, it is their individuality that precisely makes each one beautiful. And it is the same with people.

Optimum health exists when the body is in a state of balance and a balanced body is always at the weight it should be. When you look into the mirror, what is it you see? The media’s definition of what thin and sexy is – the typical “body beautiful”? Or perhaps, if you are lucky, the real you looking back at you? When you start seeing the real you, the body literally begins to morph into the image which the self holds to be true – a body that’s balanced and beautiful reflecting right back at you.

This is the healthy, happy view to pursue that is more wholesome, balanced and grounded than those of fad diets, appetite suppressants or plain starvation and something far more uplifting for the feet to bear and carry through.

The wonder of our human differences is found in different measures and pertain to certain tendencies that determine our individual constitutions. Take those of the Ayurvedic Doshas and the air quality of Vatta, the fire quality of Pitta, and water qualities of Khapa that are present in each of us in different degrees. The most beneficial form of Vatta is Prana representing our primal life force, of Pitta is our inner radiance and of Khapa is Ojas, our primal vigour. We naturally strive to have each in the desired quantities for our individual balance and, this balance we seek is also actually for our survival, as seeking balance is an evolutionary trait.

These elements of earth, water, fire and air also rule our emotional lives and can further be seen through the kaleidoscope that is astrology and the planetary influences that affect our make-up. For some it is always easier to let go and shed the emotional baggage we carry than for others. For example a water sign will hold on to things a lot longer than a fire sign will; an earth sign will be more prone to stubborness than an air sign.

Our emotional worlds trigger within us behaviours that try to counter the experience of negative emotion. This affects how we “feed” ourselves both physically and emotionally. Too many people know unhappy over-eaters or equally unhappy under-eaters. Being off balance internally will do this but, when you start to tune into how the body and mind work together through your yoga, it can serve as a motivator and accelerator toward positive action, understanding and finding that healthy, happy weight” where we can finally thank, love and appreciate our feet – bunions, warts and all.

With awareness all negative tendencies and habits that limit our ideas of the self, both outer and inner, can be changed or broken. Success does not lie in denying yourself but in coming to understand your balanced predisposition to weight. Until you have a fundamental knowledge of yourself, not just your likes and dislikes, but the nature of your being, you’ll always be waging a battle against yourself where weight is concerned, and this is not what the gift of life is about.

According to the Tao, “When life is simple – pretences fall away – then our essential nature shines through”. So we see that it is our essential natures that we should rather seek and not an image in the mirror. The benefits of pursuing nobility of character and equipoise far outweighs being thin and sexy. How do I know? My feet told me so.

The Heart Shines Through The Hand

By Nellie Snyders

Take hold of someone’s hand. You feel the beating of their heart, the very substance of their life. The hands have as many expressions as the face and, if you don’t see any reactions from the face, watch the hands… their motion in creating, their movements in happiness, stillness, in idleness or loneliness, covering a face in desperation, reaching out for warmth, caressing with love, clawing to push away death, tension in holding something.

The shape of the hands follows the structure of the body – heavy, thin, muscular, fragile, strong, smooth, rough. Our mind is the energy; our hands the projection of that energy. Take someone’s hand and you will have, in that moment, begun the awareness of yourself. That moment has the seed of the creation of love, every time it is done. Use your hands in the pursuit of beauty, adding and building life.

The hands are so very sensitive to the elements of nature – feel the bark of a tree; put your hands in a cold stream; run your fingers across the sand; put your hands near a fire; hold your hands up to the rain or the sun or the wind – all different feelings.Touch the coat of a dog, a cat, a snake.

We do not need words. Our eyes speak and our touch reveals. Each new day we discover new beauty in silence, of each other. Live for today, but remember yesterday and think of tomorrow. We should receive love with as much understanding as we give love.

As the years pass, your hands gain knowledge as does your mind, and they grow older as does your body. Your hands carry episodes of your life: scarred, stained, calloused, and scratched. Let your hands become the joining together of you and another human being, the extension of your heart, the merging of two rivers, the grafting of two branches, the birth of new life.

Yoga – your way to youthfulness
Our emotions, including anger, pain and stress, affect how our body functions on all levels, never mind their generous contributions towards wrinkles and sagging skin. Yoga works by relaxing the organs and muscles that carry the weight of these emotions and banishes negative thoughts from our minds before they impact our physical wellbeing.

On a purely biological level, practicing specific yoga facial exercises on a daily basis helps to increase circulation in the facial region so that vital nutrients are carried to your skin cells and toxic wastes are carried away before they can damage the cells.  Facial exercises also help to develop good protein and muscle in the deeper layers of the skin cells, which is where the collagen fibres give the skin its firmness and elasticity – both key factors in maintaining a youthful appearance.

3 Top tips before you start
1. Warm-up exercises To get your circulation going and prepare your face for the exercises that follow, open and close your mouth a few times and smile to each side, while keeping your eyes and forehead relaxed.
2. Do the exercises slowly By controlling your facial movements during each posture, you are working all the muscle fibres, strengthening and toning them. This is equally important when you release the positions. The slower you can do the exercises, the more effective they will be.
3. Don’t forget to breathe Muscles need oxygen to function properly. Breathing also helps to expel wastes and toxins from your body. Inhale before you tense the muscle, exhale slowly as you tense the muscle into position. Breathe slowly and rhythmically as you count for the hold, take a deep breath before you release the position and release while exhaling slowly.

Lion Face
While this classic yoga position (Simhasana) is done sitting on your heels, hands with fingers outstretched on your knees (like the paws of a lion), you can do this just as well sitting up straight in a chair. To start, breathe slowly and hold your breath for as long as you can, then stick your tongue out, open your eyes as wide as you can and maintain this posture for a count of 20 or longer. In order to get the maximum benefit, your tongue should be as close to your chin as possible.

This pose not only increases blood circulation to the face and releases tense muscles around the mouth, but it also exercises your eyes. To exercise your eyes even more, do this exercise first looking up at your eyebrows, and repeat, looking down at the tip of your nose. It may take a good deal of practice, but the results are well worthwhile.

Fish Face

The Pucker: Either standing or sitting erect, tilt your head back as far as possible, so that the back of your head is almost between your shoulder blades and your face is parallel to the ceiling. Take a deep breath and hold it. Pucker up like a fish, suck in your cheeks and purse your lips. Keep breathing through your nose for a count of 10. Now try to smile, that is, stretch your lips. It might feel uncomfortable until you get the hang of it; breathe in and out as slowly as you can.

The Pout: In the same starting position, take a deep breath in and as you exhale, start curling your lower lip over your upper lip, trying to reach your nose with your upper lip. Hold this position for a count of 10 while continuing to breathe through your nose. Take another deep breath and bring your lower lip down to a pout, again holding it there for a count of 10.  Relax your lower lip to a count of 5 and bring your head up slowly.

If performed correctly you should feel the stretch down your throat, under your chin and in the chin itself. These exercises can be done even more effectively if you lie down flat on your bed, with your head hanging down off the edge. You can also do these exercises during your regular yoga practice while remaining in ‘The Bridge’ posture (Urdhva Dhanurasana).

‘QE’
Sitting up straight while keeping your face as relaxed as possible, say ‘Q’ and hold your mouth in an exaggerated pucker for a count of 5. Release slowly and grit your teeth hard, while saying an exaggerated ‘eee’, until your lips are stretched as wide as possible, and hold for a count of 5, before slowly releasing and bringing your mouth back to a relaxed position. This is an excellent exercise for the lips, lower cheeks and laugh lines.

Neck Rolls
Sitting erect, lengthen your neck and drop your shoulders, then drop your head forward so that your chin is on your chest. Feel the stretch at the back of your neck. Slowly rotate your head so that you are looking over your right shoulder. Gently drop your head back, open your mouth wide and feel the stretch under your chin and down your throat, then slowly rotate your head to the left shoulder.

Scrunches
Sitting erect, breathe in, close your eyes tight and purse the lips together as tightly as possible. Bunch up your fists and make a face as if you were scrunching your face to stop from crying. Release the pose when you need to take a breath. This relaxes the whole face and relieves any residual tension in the body. Once you’ve repeated five times, relax the face and allow the cheeks, forehead and whole face to soften.

Does facial yoga really work?
With regular practice most people will begin to see results within the first month or so. If your face muscles are really sagging and out of tone, you will probably see the difference within a few weeks. Doing these exercises won’t make you look as if you’ve had a face lift, but they will transform your face so you won’t look as though you need one.
Nip Tuck vs. No to Surgery
When it comes to cosmetic surgery, here’s what the yogi’s have to say…
Wendy (Nandiva) Wood: Plastic surgery is a personal choice. We grow to realise that there is no wrong or right at the end of the day, and who’s to judge anyway. If having plastic surgery makes one feel better about oneself, then go for it, but never feel guilty for having done it. There are no rules or laws in Yoga. Let our Yoga release us and set us free from other people’s opinions and judgements and move into our own inner harmony and beauty. We are here to create beauty, which is harmony – mentally, physically and spiritually.

Wendy is an initiate of Kavi Yogiraj Mani Finger and has been practicing yoga for over twenty years. She has continued the tradition of ISHTA teachings by creating the ISHTA Yoga Studio in Athol, Johannesburg.

Ashleigh Caradas: I am very much pro-choice, and if plastic surgery is going to bring you joy – then do it. However, the underlying dissatisfaction and low self-esteem that may accompany the choice to undergo plastic surgery should be looked at first, as I believe the problem is often not as “bad” as the person perceives it to be. There are also amazing non-surgical options out there, which include dietary modifications, supplements, creams, peels and oxygen treatments. And of course, a regular yoga practice modified to help mould the body part in question can also work wonders.

Ashleigh Caradas is a registered dietician in private practice. She has recently completed her yoga teacher training in India and practices Ashtanga Vinyasa. Ashleigh is also offering children’s yoga classes in Norwood Johannesburg.

By Hayley Alexander

FACE MASKS

AVOCADO PEAR SKIN MASKS
Long esteemed as a beauty aid, the avocado pear is not only a remarkably nutritious food, its flesh is rich in oil and it contains no less than eleven vitamins, fourteen minerals, and a good dose of protein.
For Oily Skin
Mash together into a smooth paste – half an avo, one well beaten egg white, 1 teaspoon juice (any fruit juice will do). Thoroughly cleanse the face and neck and apply mask, paying particular attention to oily areas, such as the nose, cheekbones and chin. Leave for 20 minutes and then remove with cotton wool and warm water. Pat dry.
For Dry Skin
Mash half an avo and gradually beat in an egg yolk and 1 teaspoon of rose water to form a smooth paste. Apply the mask to the cleansed face and neck, this time paying special attention to dry areas, such as the forehead, under the eyes and neck. Leave for twenty minutes and remove as above.

EYE MASKS

AVO
The avocado pear is also a wonderful treatment for bags under the eyes. Simply place two or three slices under each eye for approximately 20 minutes.

CUCUMBER
“Cool as a cucumber” takes on real meaning when applied to red, tired eyes. Merely place a slice over each closed eyelid and rest for as long as possible.

DRY PATCH REMEDIES

BANANAS
To correct dry patches on the face – puree 1 peeled banana and 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Allow to remain on extra dry, scaly patches for 20 – 30 minutes.

CLEANSERS AND MAKE-UP REMOVERS

YOGHURT & OIL
Any thin, cold-pressed oil, such as avocado, olive and safflower may be used to remove make-up. Simply apply oil lightly over the face and throat, removing it with pads of damp cotton wool. To finish off with a thorough cleansing, use two to three tablespoons of plain, natural yoghurt (very soothing) to damp skin and massage well over entire face and throat area. Finish with a warm water rinse, followed by a cool splash of water.

By Arleen Francois