Home Retreats are all the Rage

Retreats have traditionally been a way to pause our normal day to day activities, take ourselves off to a beautiful location in the countryside and reset our mind and body. With social distancing and travel restrictions in place, the entire world has had to look for novel ways to go on retreat and discover new ways to get away from it all all the while developing the self. One such way is to undertake an inner journey.

Mindfulness, meditation, yoga and detoxes are on everybody’s lips these days and being housebound is a good excuse to give inner travel a try. You don’t in fact need to go off on a residential retreat to tap into some much-needed tranquility, learn how to practice mindfulness or undertake a juice cleanse. Through an online and distinctly domestic voyage, you can learn to navigate your inner landscape, follow a supported detox program or attend guided yoga and meditation sessions from home, as well as finding comfort in a like-minded contemplative community coming together to journey inwards.

On a residential retreat, we often learn new techniques for self care that are sometimes difficult to integrate into our lives once we return from the retreat. These online practice periods at home are powerful and novel ways to change it up, to develop and integrate our deepest wisdom and strength in our private spaces away from the rest of the world. These retreats meet the need we all have to learn how to bring the benefit of our loving awareness directly into our ordinary lives. While residential retreats and online retreats are different, they can be equally as valuable.

The purpose of a retreat is to follow the guidance of the practices that allow you to center and calm yourself, tend to your physical, mental and emotional body, quiet your mind, see the present circumstances with clarity and freedom, and open your heart. It takes some dedication to do this which is why having a formal rhythm via an online guided retreat is so important in letting go of usual habits of distraction and busyness. An online retreat can be a hugely beneficial and healing time.

Initially a home retreat may feel unfamiliar or difficult but slowly slowly you will find yourself settling in and feeling grateful for the rewards. Now is the perfect time to draw on the tools at our disposal and live the lives that we want for ourselves.

Why not give our beautiful Boost Your Immune System Online Juice Detox Retreat a try and reset your life. You don’t even have to travel to get there.

Strawberry and apple strudel

I haven’t put a dessert recipe out since I put out my sugar free raw chocolate recipe, so it’s about time. And if you’re in Cape Town, you’ll know it’s freezing cold so here is one to suit the weather but doesn’t compromise your health. This really has to be the one of the easiest, truly delicious and healthy dessert recipes around. Prep time is about 5 minutes except for he phyllo pastry which needs about an hour to defrost. Plus, it is sugar free. Many people use sugar in their recipe, but I find that completely unnecessary. I don’t want my dessert to be too sweet, I just want a hint of sweetness from the icing sugar on the top. It is quick to bake too. I’ve had a few apple strudels in my life and most of them are delicious but this one has something special because of the strawberries and the orange. The strawberries lend their juicy pink hue too. I think you’ll love this one.

Strawberry and Apple Strudel Recipe

Ingredients

4 - 5 apples

1 cup of chopped strawberries (can be frozen)

Handful of pecan nuts

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

3 oranges

2 x sheets of phyllo pastry

100g butter (or coconut oil)

1/2 tsp icing sugar for dusting

Yoghurt or fresh cream to serve (can use vegan options)

Method

Before you begin, you must remember to take your phyllo pastry out of the freezer to defrost about an hour before you are ready to use it.

Preheat your oven to 180 degrees.

Roughly slice your apples fairly thinly into apple chips. In a pan, melt a little butter and fry the apples, strawberries and nuts. Add the cinnamon and nutmeg and allow to cook for about 10- 15 minutes until the apples start to soften stirring regularly. I used the juice and pulp of whole oranges but you can use ready made orange juice to save time. Pour the orange juice and pulp into the apple mixture and allow to simmer for about 30 - 40 minutes stirring regularly. When the juice is soaked into the apples, your filling is ready.

Take out two sheets of phyllo pastry, and brush melted butter or coconut oil between them and on top of the second sheet. Return the rest of the phyllo to the freezer. Add the filling into the middle of the phyllo and fold the sides over. Then roll and place on a baking tray with baking paper. Use a pastry brush and brush on some melted butter or coconut oil for a vegan option. Bake for about 30 - 35 minutes or until the phyllo is crispy. Dust with your icing sugar through a tea strainer or a sieve and serve. This goes well with fresh cream or a little yoghurt.

Dry Skin Brushing

Dry Skin Brushing

The skin is the largest organ in the body and it is the first way that we can tell how healthy a person is but it is also the last organ to receive the benefits of any healthy regime. So, by the time you can see that your skin looks naturally glowing and healthy, you are likely also feeling well. And there is a way to help your skin look and feel its best, especially during the winter months as the skin tends to dry out more easily and become more stagnant. Dry skin brushing is a wonderful natural and easy way to exfoliate dry winter skin. It helps to detoxify your skin and your organs by increasing your blood circulation and promoting lymph flow and drainage and helps to unclog your pores in the exfoliation process. Dry skin brushing also stimulates your nervous system which plays a role in almost every aspect of your health and well-being and is responsible for guiding everyday activities such as breathing, thinking, reading, remembering and feeling your emotions. Your nervous system controls your brain growth and development. Dry skin brushing will make you feel invigorated even before you get in the shower. This is a great practice for all constitutions in Ayurveda but especially for Vata dosha as vata people can tend to dry out. Read more about Ayurvedic Constitutions.

Brushing the skin while it is dry allows you to exfoliate and increase blood circulation without robbing it of moisture, as the hot water in the shower can. Dry skin brushing literally removes the old dead, dry layers of the skin stimulating and increasing your blood circulation. This also gives a wonderful appearance of plumping up your skin from the increased blood flow.

Use a natural quite stiff bristle bath or shower brush. The stiffness depends on your skin’s sensitivity and what your preference is. You could also use a brush with a long handle which would help you to reach your back. I find I just use a hand held brush as it is easier to manage.

Your skin must be dry

It is very important that you brush your skin whilst it is still dry - before you shower. Start at your feet and work your way upwards. Always move your brush towards your heart upwards on your arms and legs and then on your torso and belly, work in circular motions. It can feel sensitive on your tummy, inner thighs and arms so soften the pressure on these delicate areas. You can also bush your breasts but be gentle.

The best time to dry brush is before your bath or your shower. That way you can wash off any dead and flakey skin. I like to dry skin brush about 4 times a week on my body and 1 - 2 times a week on my face.

Moisturise your skin

Don’t forget to moisturise after your shower. I like to use natural oils and natural lotions that are handmade with organic oils and body butters that don't dry my skin out. Being a vata body type this is of immense importance.

Costa Rican Breakfast Burrito

I just got back from a ridiculously fun trip to Costa Rica. And it was fun for many reasons. For one, Anthony, my partner and I have been wanting to go on holiday there for a long time and two, I’ve been wanting to check it out to run a retreat there. It’s been on the radar for a few reasons, not least for its reputation for having pristine nature, eco travel and great beaches. One of the things we really loved about this little beach town we found at the bottom of the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica was the food. Literally every restaurant we ate at had the very best most delicious food. It was clean and nutritious with plenty of options for our healthy plant based lifestyle. I figured that before I forget what was in this burrito that we found at a little restaurant called Earth Cafe in Santa Teresa, I’d better make it. I also promised all of you in an instagram post, plus the boyfriend was pushing for it. He went out and got us some vegetable un-wraps (instead of tortilla) and some fresh avocado. For the rest, these are easy ingredients to be found in your normal day to day life. Nothing more fun than making breakfast burritos on a Sunday morning with your beloved after a beautiful and successful trip. 

Costa Rican Breakfast Burrito Recipe

I used short grain brown rice because it has a high nutritional value and has a beautiful nutty taste.. A typical breakfast in Costa Rica will consist of eggs and gallo pinto which is a rice and bean dish. See Jamie Oliver’s version. The vegetable wrap that my Anthony bought at the local supermarket (Spar) was so perfect because it was light and didn’t contain any nasties. But you can decide, a tortilla or a coconut wrap would work too.

4 x Vegetable un-wraps (or tortillas)

1/2 Cup short grain brown rice

4 x Tbs basil pesto

12 x Cherry tomatoes - pan roasted

1/2 Punnet portobello mushrooms chopped

1 x Red pepper - oven roasted and sliced

1 x Medium avocado - smashed

3 x Large eggs (scrambled smoked tofu with a little turmeric if you are vegan)

4 x leaves of lettuce

Splash of plant based milk

Tamari - to taste

Blob of butter (coconut oil for vegans)

(makes 4 burritos)

Method

While Anthony went out to get the wraps, I put the rice on the stove to cook and made fresh basil. The basil in the garden had gone to seed while we were away so I decided to use it all up. It’s an easy recipe, fresh basil, a little garlic, sunflower seeds, pecorino cheese, olive oil and salt in a food processor (for vegans you could use nutritional yeast instead of cheese). I also decided to quickly make a fresh batch of almond butter since I was turning the oven on to roast the red pepper anyway. I am good like this, I try to maximise my time in the kitchen so that I have time to make everything from scratch. The almond milk was made yesterday.

Roast the red pepper in the oven for about 20 - 30 minutes on 180. Chop the mushrooms and fry in some of the butter. When the mushrooms are brown, add a splash of tamari, cook for about five minutes and set aside. (This is my secret for great mushrooms every time). Then, pan roast the tomatoes for about five minutes also and set aside. Scramble the eggs with a little plant milk and a bit of salt in the remaining butter. If you are vegan, you can scramble tofu in coconut oil.

Next, heat your tortilla or veggie un-wrap for ten seconds in a hot pan and place the rice, mushrooms, roast cherry tomatoes, roast red pepper, avocado, scrambled egg and lettuce leaf in your wrap. Wrap it up and devour.

It’s really as simple as that.

Suzuki doing quality control

We tucked in right away and were very happy with the taste which was exactly the same taste we had in Costa Rica. The ingredients can also be prepared ahead of time and given to kids for dinner.

Bon Apetit!

How to prepare for your trip to India

Be prepared!

India is one of the most exciting travel destinations in the world and many people want to travel there but feel daunted by the stories of poverty and illness and dirt. While India is changing there are a few fundamental preparations you can do to make your trip just so magical. Be prepared by getting yourself into the right mindset before you go and you will never forget the things you experience there. Knowing a few India travel essentials before hitting the ground will help you adjust more quickly.

Although India can be a challenging place to travel for the uninitiated, fortunately, the reward is well worth the time it takes to adjust to such a vastly busy, exciting place!

India is one of the world's largest, most populated, and most culturally diverse countries, and one that attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year. Preparing for a trip to India involves planning your itinerary and making sure that you have your necessary documents in place. In addition, you'll need to know what to pack, what form of currency to bring, and what precautions you can take in order to travel safely. Here are some basic steps and some more specific tips from us who have been to India many times – and loved it more each time.

• Planning: Your itinerary for the retreat is planned and you will be in the best hands. If you would like to explore parts of India and spend a few days travelling in order to enjoy its beauty and varied cultures, note that its infrastructure isn't of the best quality in all regions, so you should always plan your added itinerary before you leave. Make sure you reserve any flights ahead of time. You can easily taxi around between airports and hotels.

• Apply for your travel documents. You'll need a valid passport to travel, as well as a valid tourist visa for India. Visas to India can be obtained in two ways:

  • eVisa - by far the easiest and quickest method.  Many countries are eligible to use India's e-Tourist Visa facility. As the name suggests, it may only be used if you are applying for a tourist visa, a "casual business visit" or a "short-duration medical procedure". You'll require return tickets, and to have sufficient funds to support you during your stay in India. Your passport should have at least 2 blank pages in it and be valid for at least 6 months after your date of arrival in India. https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html or

  • VFS Global - alternatively, if you don't want to use the online e-Tourist visa, or if you can't because it doesn't cater for your requirements, then you can do it the old fashioned way by applying through VFS Global. https://www.vfsglobal.com/en/individuals/index.html India outsources the administration of its visa application service to VFS Global, to whom all documentation must be submitted. Note that VFS Visa Processing only collects the information, and they then submit it to the Indian Mission, who then decide whether you are accepted or rejected.

• Make a packing list. Though what you need to bring with you will vary greatly depending on the types of activities you plan to do and the areas you plan to visit in addition to the retreat, you should always bring enough clothes, sunscreen, insect repellent, a sunhat, a first aid kit, and a money belt. Of course, you can buy beautiful appropriate clothes, skirts and scarves at bargain prices on all the Indian markets and some stylish boutiques as well.

• Prepare your finances. Though India is very affordable by Western standards, you should also realise that you'll need some cash, as many places don't accept credit cards. Get rupees as soon as you land in India.

• While we will look after you while you are at the retreat and on outings with us, do educate yourself about food and drinking safety. The rule of thumb in India is to only drink bottled water, avoid uncooked foods and beverages with ice in them.

• Go to the Incredible India website, it has many useful tips, including an extensive calendar of festivals and information about local customs, such as how to communicate successfully in India. For example, most rickshaw drivers and vendors expect you to haggle over prices, but you should also remember to tip.

What’s more, when you have arrived:

• The Indian Head Wobble

The quirky head wobble is fun but tricky to master for most Westerners. You'll encounter the all-purpose gesture all over India; it can mean "yes" or "OK," it is sometimes used as a greeting, and can be used to acknowledge what you are saying. Don't be surprised if your question is answered with a silent head wobble! Try to take your question into context to understand the meaning of the wobble.

• Learn the right way to pronounce "namaste" in India. (Nah-Man-stay)

• Squat Toilets in India

Although sit-down toilets can now be found in many guesthouses and restaurants, you'll still encounter plenty of these squat toilets in public places. Carrying toilet paper on outings is a very good idea.

• Wandering Cows

Cows are holy in Hindu culture because they give milk which represents the mother. There are a lot of cows wondering around all over India.

• Money

You'll find Western-networked ATMs in all urban and tourist areas around India. Avoid using remote ATMs at night when you may be followed while carrying a large amount of cash. When possible, horde your small change or enter odd amounts in the ATM to receive smaller denominations. Many places will have difficulty making change for 1,000-rupee notes. Oddly, a majority of the 500-rupee notes are written on; unlike other places in Asia that reject damaged or defaced currency even hard currency like dollars and euros, you shouldn't have too much trouble spending them.

• Power Outlets in India

Despite British influence, power outlets in India are of the round, two and three-pronged types (BS-546) used in Europe. Power is 230 volts at 50 Hz. Check the chargers and transformers for your electronic devices to ensure that they work in this range and won't produce fireworks. The power can sometimes be unreliable with surprise outages and surges, just like in South Africa.

• Tipping and Taxes

The prices displayed for items in shops should be inclusive of tax, however, that may not always be the case for restaurants and hotels. Nicer restaurants may itemize additional charges for VAT, service, and alcoholic drinks -- all at different rates. The service charge added in restaurants may go to pay the salary of the staff or just into the owner's pocket. If you want to ensure that your hard-working waiter is rewarded, you'll need to leave them a small tip in addition to what is already added to the bill.

• Time Difference in India

India has an interesting time difference: India Standard Time -- the massive country's only timezone -- is 5.5 hours ahead of GMT/UTC.

• Water in India – again, just because it is so important

Tap water is generally unsafe to drink in India. Even if the piped water is deemed safe by the government, the aged plumbing must also be taken into account. Avoid taking home parasites along with your other souvenirs: stick to drinking bottled water. Check the seals on bottled water before paying; an old scam in India, some bottles may be refilled with unsafe water and then resealed.

• What Is Ghee?

Ghee is a clarified butter made from cow's milk; it turns up nearly everywhere in India. Although ghee is high in fat, it is considered more healthy than oils or regular butter. Unless rejected by particular religious sects, ghee is used in dishes throughout India. If you are vegan or suffer from dairy allergies, you may want to learn how to ask for food without ghee. Interestingly, ghee is considered to be sacred and is used in blessings, as medicine, and to fuel lanterns.

• Hindu Gods

There are many, many Hindu gods and goddesses and it is a good idea to do a little bit of reading before you visit all these beautiful ancient sights and holy temples. It will make your outings so much more rewarding.

Ganesh, remover of obstacles. May your journey be free - flowing and fun and my Ganesh remove any obstacles from your path.

Have an incredible experience in India!

Emotional Release

We all have moments in our lives when we feel overwhelmed, extremely sensitive or suddenly bursting into tears because our emotions get the better of us and we just cannot help it. We have all had moments like this when we cry and cry and cry. Like when a sad movie triggers deepest hurts. We have all had moments when we exploded uncontrollably with rage because we’ve been bottling up our anger for so long that it just comes out. These experiences are part of the phenomenon known as Emotional Catharsis.

Emotional catharsis is an unconscious emotional reaction in which our suppressed emotions are displayed in all their rawness. It is often associated with situations where we’re feeling vulnerable or triggered.  Because it is such an intense expression of emotion there is a great possibility this might spoil our relationships and leave us feeling regret or remorse.

However, it is possible to release emotions consciously with awareness and in a safe and secure environment. Many people wonder whether this conscious catharsis is dangerous, but although it is often quite dramatic, the conscious process of releasing emotion is never dangerous. It’s actually very liberating as it takes us beyond the intellectual assessment of difficult situations we are in. Instead, we learn not to suppress our emotions as we release the turmoil that we are keeping hidden deep down inside us. Ultimately, it helps us to understand and express what we are truly feeling.

Transformational Retreats

On our Deep Cleansing Juice Detox Retreats we offer an holistic experience: cleansing of body and mind through detoxification with a juice fast, insights into the Ayurvedic lifestyle and nutrition, cleansing yogic techniques, body work and healing which will gently guide you towards accessing the deeper levels of transformation. Transformation is a life-long process, it is a journey from head to heart to being; from physical body to emotional body to spiritual well-being. Conscious emotional catharsis, eventually leads to connecting with one’s essence, with being human, with being simple and uncomplicated.

Many of us today whether we work in highly stressful jobs, or keep our families together, simply cannot relax because of unavoidable stress situations we experience through the day. We cannot buy relaxation. Difficult situations, stress and negativity are emotions that get bottled up over time. And if these emotions are suppressed, kept underground, if they are not opened up, they cause illnesses and emotional disturbances.

Even the most balanced and healthy people need to relax. All of us have shadows and light – this is natural and there is an art to learn how to deal with our shadows.

It’s a calling

Releasing these emotions, taking off layers of conditioning is not easy, however, people know when to listen to their inner voice, when the time has come to work on themselves, to dive deeper and come out lighter with renewed creativity and energy flow. It is a calling that you will hear in your heart of hearts.

Sabbatical for the mind

In the old days people went on pilgrimages to holy sites to find their inner self. Our retreats offer modern day arrangements with the best facilities and amazing results in a relatively short space of time.

Over six days we can achieve a lot together to open new pathways towards mindfulness and set you on a new path. Change is not easy, particularly a change which affects your mental, emotional and spiritual levels but by taking it step-by-step, we guide you on a journey to hear your own heart. In this way, we empower you to move forward in your own life.

Almond Nut Butter

Almond nut butter is probably the easiest thing that you will ever make in your kitchen. There is nothing to it. And there is no reason why you shouldn’t be making it yourself. Store bought almond nut butter is pricy and this is a way to keep the costs down especially if you use it as much as I do. It goes into all my smoothies, on fruit bowls and on oats. I even put it on crackers as a snack. It’s super nutritious too. Check out the numerous benefits of almond nuts.

If you, like me, love almonds and would like to grow your own tree, then check out happydiyhome who has laid out in detail exactly how to do that.

This really isn't a recipe because this recipe only has one ingredient. Raw almond nuts.

Almond Nut Butter Recipe

You will need 1kg of raw almond nuts because making any less just isn’t worth it (for me) but you can make as much as works for you, bearing in mind the size of your food processor and how many nuts you can process at one time. You will need a food processor. A blender does work but it makes the nut butter more chunky whereas your food processor will process it until it is smooth and shiny. Check out the magimix which is the kitchen goddess (or god) ultimate! You will need an oven for roasting.

Bake your nuts in the oven at 180 degrees Celcius for 20 minutes, turning your nuts every 5 minutes to make sure that they roast evenly. Remove from the oven and allow to cool.

Ducati doing quality control.

Place in the food processor and process for at least 10 minutes. The amount of time will depend on how strong your processor is. You can add a pinch of salt if you wish.

Keep going. Sometimes you feel like it’s never going to happen, but be patient, it will. You can go play with your cat while you wait.

Ducati is taking a nap in the garden while we wait for the nut butter.

Still not ready.

Once it has a shine on it and is quite smooth, your nut butter is ready.

Pour into a jar and store for later. The nut butter will become quite warm in the processor so allow to cool before putting the lid on the jar. In my house, the nut butter gets attacked by the boyfriend, before its even cooled properly.