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A MUSHROOM SUPPLEMENT WITH A DIFFERENCE

 

It has been said that bad supplements are like a bad diet and I have to say I agree. Every day I get bombarded by supplement companies with products that promise to be the true elixir for a better life and increased health. The truth is that a good supplement should be supporting a busy lifestyle where someone already has a great diet and way of living.

 

The landscape of supplements is also changing and food supplements are becoming more important. This is because we are calorie laden and nutrient poor. The soil our crops are grown in can be deficient in essential minerals and nutrients and fast food has become a fast way to poor health.

 

Convenience is not convenient if it’s costing you your energy, vitality and essential lifeforce. As we now know nature provides us with everything we need the world of plant based food supplements becomes an area of interest and intrigue. The question is how do we harness the best that nature can provide?

 

For thousands of years mushrooms have been used in healing and medicines and they are being increasingly researched today to assess their importance and health benefits. There are edible, inedible, magic and poisonous mushrooms. Currently there are over 10,000 known types of mushrooms and scientists reckon about 2,000 of these are edible. Although that may seem like a lot, mycologists suspect that this is only a fraction of what’s out there!

For a long time now I have been using mushrooms for medicinal teas and supplementing with good quality supplements that I have found like shitake and reishi in my smoothies. Mushrooms have long been known to boost immunity and overall health. Some of the other benefits that you can expect include increased energy, improved muscle recovery, heart health, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and concentration or cognition. In trials many mushrooms also contain powerful ingredients that have been found to neutralize free radicals.

A new product that I am a proud Brand Ambassador for, Phytality, which means for ‘plants for life’ has a new product called Super Six. It contains six different active extracts from six different types of mushrooms. Each “vegan friendly” capsule contains 300mg of concentrated extracts from the mushrooms, God’s Mushroom (Agaricus brasiliensis), Maitake (Grifola frondosa), Cordyceps militaris, Shiitake (Lentinus edodes), Turkey tail (Trametes Versicolor) and Reishi- “Mushroom of Immortality” (Ganoderma lucidum).

 

All six of these mushrooms and their extracts have been used for 1000’s of years all over the world by traditional herbalists to promote and support good overall health and wellness. Also, within the past several years, these mushrooms have also been of great interest to many research scientists.

 

For example, in a 1995 study,* Reishi showed ‘the greatest antihepatotoxic activity and the greatest free radical scavenging activity.’ In other words it helps to reduce free radical activity. At high levels, free radicals damage various structures in your body’s cells. This cellular damage contributes to an increase in your risk for developing many health problems, including those related to aging. This is why decreasing or inactivating free radicals can lead to huge benefits for your health.Reishi is Known in China as the “spirit plant,” as it is believed to relax and fortify both mind and body.

CORDYCEPS

In a 2012 study (2), Cordyceps have been shown to “improve the antioxidation activity in immunosuppressed mice (and to) significantly increase… total antioxidant capacity.”

The great news is that Cordyceps not only helps to neutralize harmful free radicals, it also enhances the activity of your body’s innate antioxidant systems.

Compounds from Cordyceps have been shown to help support balanced blood sugar levels. For example, a study (4) in the journal Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin found that a Cordyceps polysaccharide showed “potent hypoglycemic (blood sugar lowering) activity in genetic diabetic mice,” while “plasma glucose level was quickly reduced in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice.” The study also found that this same Cordyceps-sourced polysaccharide contributed to lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels.

 

SHITAKE

 

Shiitake is probably one of the best-studied mushrooms in the world today. These mushrooms contain a polysaccharide known as Lentinan, (3) which Cancer Detection and Prevention Journal has described as “a unique class of immunopotentiator” that helps to improve the quality of life and extend survival.

 

TURKEY TAIL

 

Turkey tail contains a wide variety of phenol and flavonoid antioxidants which help promote your immune system health by reducing inflammation and stimulating the release of protective compounds. In fact, one study (5) detected over 35 different phenolic compounds in a sample of turkey tail mushroom extract, along with the flavonoid antioxidants quercetin and baicalein. Reducing stress and inflammation is so important in today’s world. Let’s face it most of us are stressed even when we don’t even feel it.

The busyness epidemic means that our bodies need better support backed by science and research. We need to understand our needs better and a lot of plants have the intelligence to work synergistically with our bodies to help us navigate the modern world with greater ease and pleasure.

 

We don’t always have to fight life and battle with our health. Knowledge truly is power and when you begin to educate yourself about food and the plant world, you can begin to make smarter choices for yourself.

 

PHYTALITY Super Six stockists https://www.greenlightsupplements.com/

  • Boots Ireland
  • Duggan’s Pharmacy , Renmore , Galway
  • Salthill Pharmacy , Salthill
  • Matt O Flaherty , William Street , Galway
  • Matt O Flaherty , Barna , Galway
  • Matt O Flaherty , Moycullen , Galway
  • Matt O Flaherty , Eyre Square , Galway
  • Matt O Flaherty , NUIG , Galway
  • Matt O Flaherty , Terryland , Galway

 

REFERENCES/STUDIES

Post sponsored by Phytality 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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6 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO GET RID OF OILY SKIN

Oily skin isn’t always a bad thing. It can give you occasional breakouts, but it doesn’t mean that it can’t do anything good for your skin.

Having oily skin can slow down the rate of skin aging. One good reason is the protection the oils provide for your skin.

They form a barrier to combat pollutants, UV rays and other environmental stressors. Apart from that, having oils on your skin can also mean constant moisture.

You’ll look glowing, too.

These benefits, however, are only possible if your skin is well taken cared of. Oily skin can cause mayhem without the right products or proper skin care routine.

When there’s too much oil, your pores can easily get clogged, especially if it gets mixed with dirt, makeup residue and dead skin cells.

So, to make sure that doesn’t happen, you need to cleanse it, preferably twice a day. This is to make sure that there’s no dirt or makeup residues that can clog your pores.

Toning and moisturizing are important as well. These two steps can bring back the moisture your skin loses each time you cleanse.

Although your skin is capable of restoring moisture by itself, it can actually take quite awhile. By toning, you’ll be bringing back that lost moisture quickly.

Sun protection is important, too. A good sunscreen can help you combat excessive oil production while making sure your skin stays protected against the sun’s harmful rays.

And if your skin is already suffering from the consequences of not doing any of these skin care steps, such as acne, acne spots and dull skin, you may need to use something more potent to bring back your skin’s healthy complexion.

This includes investing in the top vitamin c serum for face. Vitamin C serums have the ability to brighten the skin, including any dark spots you may have.

They can also tighten up pores and even out your skin tone. In addition to that, they also have anti-aging benefits by boosting your skin’s collagen production.

The more collagen there is in your skin, the more supple, elastic and younger-looking it will become.

Now, if these steps overwhelmed you- don’t fret. Here’s an infographic to guide you in getting rid of oily skin.

6 Easy Things You Can Do To Get Rid Of Oily SKin

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AN INTRODUCTION TO ESSENTIAL OILS, USES AND BENEFITS

Do you want to learn how to get started with essential oils? in this video Caroline from Honest about Health takes us through the initial steps and explains in detail about essential oils, what they are and their uses

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON BUYING ESSENTIAL OILS CONTACT CAROLINE caroline@honestabouthealth.com

and check out our weekly articles right here on Be Complete every Friday called Essential Health

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TOP 10 USES FOR LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL

essential oils, stress, allergies, headaches, anxiety, natural health, holistic health, essential health, caroline jackman, alison canavan, be complete, lavender essential oilOne of the most popular essential oils used around the world, people often associate Lavender with aiding a good night sleep. A wonderfully calming blend, Lavender’s antidepressant, soothing and antibacterial properties make it an incredibly versatile essential oil with a multitude of practical uses in the home. Here are my top 10 suggestions for using Lavender:

  1. Sleep

Lavender is the first oil I recommend using on children who struggle to wind down or sleep through the night. Diffusing a drop or two of lavender in their room at night is a practical way for them to benefit from the relaxing effects. Diluting lavender and rubbing it on the soles of the feet is another good application method. Add a drop to an adult’s pillow or inhale deeply to promote restful sleep.

  1. Allergies

Hay fever and allergies can interfere with everyday life and stop people from taking part in activities outdoors. A natural and effective way to help avoid the irritating symptoms of allergies is to take lavender internally with lemon & peppermint. Add a few drops of each to water or place in a veggie capsule and consume internally. Easy & natural routine to use in the springtime!

  1. Soak away stress

More than ever we’re suffering from high levels of stress and the demands of balancing stressful jobs with busy home lives. Placing a few drops of lavender in the palm of the hands and inhaling deeply, or rubbing some on the back of the neck is a good technique to use to keep stress levels down. For adults in need of a good relaxation routine, mixing a few drops of lavender with Epsom salts and soaking in the bath is a great way to benefit from the relaxing properties of the oil.

  1. Room Freshener

Lavender is a sweet smell that many people have positive associations with. Instead of using chemical air fresheners, freshen up a room by spritzing a mix of lavender & water or adding a few drops to a diffuser. Add lavender to a cotton ball and place it at the bottom of the bin or a jar in the bathroom to get rid of nasty smells.

  1. Burns

Whether it’s a burn from the cooker or from sitting in the sun, Lavenders analgesic & soothing properties can provide a welcome relief. Applying it topically to the area can help the skin to heal and at the same time calm and ease the pain.

  1. Earache

Earache, temperature and sick feelings that often come with them are distressing especially for children. Warming lavender ever so slightly, mixing it with a carrier oil and applying it around the ear (never inside the ear) can help relieve the feelings associated with earache.

  1. Cuts & Scrapes

Create a bottle of ‘magic spray’ as first aid for when children cut or scrape elbows and knees. Mix with some carrier oil in a glass spray bottle for a handy way to apply to grazes in awkward places. Lavenders disinfecting properties will help keep the area clean and soothe the skin.

  1. Headaches & Migraines

Apply some lavender to your temples and the back of your neck for a regenerative effect. Inhale from the bottle or palm of hands at the first sign of a headache.

  1. Insect Bites

Use lavender to repel insects and creepy crawlies by spritzing around windows & doors or diffusing. If you’re unlucky enough to be bitten, applying lavender topically can help to sooth the bite and reduce the inflammation and itchy sensation.

  1. Anxiety

Apply lavender topically on the back of the neck and over your heart before situations that can induce anxiety. Avoid the chemicals in perfume and apply lavender around the neck to smell great and help with emotional balance.

 Lavender protocol, fresh and diffuse lavender, geranium, bergamot, essential oils, stress, allergies, headaches, anxiety, natural health, holistic health, essential health, caroline jackman, alison canavan, be complete, lavender essential oil

When selecting essential oils it’s important to choose 100% pure essential oils for the safest and most effective health benefits. Only certified pure therapeutic grade oils should be taken internally or used neat on the skin. Always dilute essential oils with carrier oil if applying topically to children.

Essential oils can be used aromatically to affect mood and open airways; topically for quick absorption into the body through the skin, and internally for immune & digestive support.

Essential oils are a great way to improve your health easily and quickly. Drop me a line if you’d like to learn more about using essential oils or where to purchase 100% pure oils.…

caroline@honestabouthealth.com

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COULD YOU BE MORE NATURAL?

As we start to lean towards healthier lifestyles I feel it’s important to think about our skincare too, after all the skin is our largest organ and a percentage of what we put on our skin is absorbed into the body. I have seen people turn into freaks about food. They ask a million questions in restaurants and cafes and read every tiny detail of every food label in the supermarket. Then they return home and spray toxic deodorants, shower and lather themselves in perfumed products and as women we use make up with an incredible amount of toxins in them??

Read more

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WHEN AND HOW TO USE ESSENTIAL OILS


Thanks to fix.com for Contributing this article. It helps simplify just what exactly essential oils can be used for and how beneficial they can be. Do you use essential oils and would you like to know more?

If so contact caroline@honestabouthealth.com who is our weekly resident #EssentialHealth writer.

Whats your favourite essential oil? Comment below…

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ESSENTIAL OILS FOR FIRST AID

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Essential oils have powerful healing properties and make a great addition to any first aid kit. Plant remedies in the form of essential oils can provide antibiotic properties, sooth burns, reduce nausea or stop bleeding. Essential oils have a much longer shelf life than over the counter medications which makes them ideal to store and have to hand for your family’s minor emergencies.

Top oils for first aid

  • Frankincense

Frankincense, the ‘king of oils’ is restorative and anti-inflammatory. Some of the top uses for Frankincense include seizures and in trauma relief. It is very effective oil for wound healing and when applied topically can reduce the appearance of scars and stretch marks. One of my favourite first aid blends is a combination of frankincense, lavender and melaleuca mixed together to treat burns and cuts.

  • Clove

Clove is a powerful anti-inflammatory and people will be most familiar with its antiseptic properties and use for oral health. Rubbing clove on gums will help numb the pain of a toothache. Clove is a powerful antioxidant and ideal for protecting from illnesses and boosting immunity.

  • Lavender

Lavender is a must have oil in any first aid kit. Ease the pain of a headache or migraine by rubbing some lavender oil on the back of the neck and temples. It has soothing properties making it an ideal oil to apply topically on cuts and wounds. Applying lavender to sunburn will both sooth and assist with healing. If allergies are causing distress then mixing lavender with peppermint & lemon can provide quick and effective relief. It is also a useful oil to rub onto the site of a sprain.

  • Helichrysum

Helichrysum oil is renowned for its healing properties and ability to help stop bleeding. Nose bleeds, cuts and wounds can all benefit from the topical application of this powerful oil. It is often used for shock or trauma as it also helps with emotional balance.

  • Melaleuca

Melaleuca has antiseptic properties that make is a practical and useful addition to any first aid kit. It helps to clean and disinfect wounds as well as being an effective treatment for head lice. Hives, gum disease, athlete’s foot, and eczema are just some of the complaints melaleuca can provide effective relief for.

 

Ouch Spray

-20 drops melaleuca

– 20 drops lavender

-20 drops fractionated coconut oil

Spray on cuts/scrapes/blister/eczema/hives as needed

 

When selecting essential oils it’s important to choose 100% pure essential oils for the safest and most effective health benefits. Only certified pure therapeutic grade oils should be taken internally or used neat on the skin. Always dilute essential oils with carrier oil if applying topically to children.

Essential oils can be used aromatically to affect mood and open airways; topically for quick absorption into the body through the skin, and internally for immune & digestive support.

Essential oils are a great way to improve your health easily and quickly. Drop me a line if you’d like to learn more about using essential oils or where to purchase 100% pure oils.…

caroline@honestabouthealth.com

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ESSENTIALS OILS FOR ANXIETY AND EMOTIONAL WELLBEING

 

Stress or Anxiety crop

Modern living can be chaotic at times and technology, social media and the feeling we need to be constantly available or ‘plugged in’ can raise anxiety levels and leave us feeling emotionally stressed out. A recent study from the University of Glasgow found that social media & the need to be constantly available online can cause depression, anxiety and decrease sleep quality for teenagers.

Nourishing the body with the right foods, taking time away from technology and meditation are just some of the ways we can combat raised anxiety levels. To help experience healthy moods, natural plant remedies can also prove really beneficial as our sense of smell has a strong influence on our emotions. Inhaling essential oils provides the fastest route into the body where they can then have a significant benefit on our mood. Diffusing essential oils (small device that disperses essential oils into the air) is an effective way to inhale them and it is also a chemical free alternative to air using fresheners.

There are so many oils to choose from to help manage mood. The following are a few of the top oils to help with anxiety:

 

Wild Orange

Uplifting and invigorating, wild orange is commonly used for emotional balance. Applying wild orange to pulse points or simply smelling this fresh oil can help with anxiety and nervousness. It also contains powerful antioxidants to support overall health and is an ideal oil to use for energising the mind and body.

Bergamot

Bergamot is delicate citrus oil used to reduce tension and stress. One of the top uses for Bergamot is insomnia and using it topically or aromatically can help to balance emotions. Diffusing this elevating oil is ideal way to help the body when feeling anxious or when stress levels are high

Frankincense

Frankincense is often referred to as the ‘King’ of oils and has been used for thousands of years by nearly all ancient cultures. It is renowned for its healing properties and is commonly used to reduce inflammation and to relieve anxiety and chronic stress. Frankincense oil helps to promote feelings of peace which makes it an ideal oil to inhale or diffuse when feeling anxious. Applying some oil topically under the nose and on the back of the neck can help ease tension and bring wonderful focus to meditation.

Lavender

Lavender essential oil is hugely popular and known to help with all things calming. Rubbing lavender over the heart and inhaling it can help with anxiety. It is an ideal oil to use when stress or anxiety are causing sleep problems.

Essential oils can offer practical, effective and powerful benefits for our emotional wellbeing. Using the power of plants to reduce stress, anxiety and tension is a safe and effective way to help safeguard our mental health.

 

When selecting essential oils it’s important to choose 100% pure essential oils for the safest and most effective health benefits. Only certified pure therapeutic grade oils should be taken internally or used neat on the skin. Essential oils can be used aromatically to affect mood and open airways; topically for quick absorption into the body through the skin, and internally for immune & digestive support.

Essential oils are a great way to improve your health easily and quickly. Drop me a line if you’d like to learn more about using essential oils or where to purchase 100% pure oils.…

CONTACT CAROLINE:

Honest About Health

caroline@honestabouthealth.com

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DO ANIMALS HAVE FEELINGS?

Ring of Kerry

I am so pleased to be writing weekly for #BeComplete. It encompasses so much of my life values and beliefs. My articles will be all about our furry friends. My Company, Naturally Animals, empowers owners to understand what their animals (of all species) need to be both physically, emotionally and spiritually healthy.

Do you believe that animals experience the same emotions as humans? If they do, how would this change how you look after them?

We are often taught in school / society and surprisingly in University that animals do not have the same feelings as humans. Anthropomorphism is the attribution of human form or other characteristics to beings other than humans, particularly animals. If we accept that animals do experience the same emotions as humans do you then accept that this renders them worthy of the same levels of moral care as humans?

Did you know that the part of a cetacean (whales, dolphins and porpoises) brain responsible for emotions and memory formation is more complex than that of humans?   Imagine the implications of that! Many other animals, such as elephants and the great apes, also have amazingly developed limbic regions of the brain (the area responsible for emotions and the formation of memories). The scientific evidence is there to suggest cetaceans (and many other species) have the ability to feel emotions, and communicate in ways we humans are unable to imagine (except in Sci-Fi movies) for some reason we humans don’t often value this.

As a Scientist, but more importantly as an animal therapist, animal communicator (more about that in a later blog) and an animal owner, there is NO DOUBT at all in my mind that animals clearly feel the same emotions as humans. So if they do:

  • How do you think animals feel when queuing to go into a slaughterhouse?
  • How does a rabbit feel when it spends its whole life in a cage, often looking out on grass (its natural food) that it can’t reach?
  • How do you think a dog feels when it is left on its own all day, or a horse (a herd animal) locked in a stable all day?
  • How does a dolphin feel living its whole life in a large bathtub being made to do tricks all day for its feed?

So today, I ask you to have a look at any animals in your care / environment and really look at the world through their eyes. You only need to make a simple change today to make their life a little easier. Try it and just see the animal’s response! The great thing is there is lots of help out there, for those wanting to learn more and we are here to help!

Ref:  human-intelligence-versus-whales-and-dolphins

IF YOU WOULD LIKE CATHERINE TO ANSWER A QUESTION ABOUT YOUR PET OR IF YOU HAVE A TOPIC YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE DISCUSSED PLEASE EMAIL ME:

CONTACT ALISON

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ARE SPIRITUAL RETREATS REALLY ANY GOOD?

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My mum recently sold the house and one day when we were clearing out 36 years of hoarding she handed me a newspaper article from 2012. “I want to go there one day,” she said and just like that she left the room. I looked up the website details and it looked like heaven. It’s a place called Dzogchen Beara in West Cork offering some peace and tranquility away from this sometimes chaotic and crazy world. As I looked at the website I got incredibly excited to see that Sogyal Rinpoche was in Ireland for 10 days and they were offering a weekend retreat in three days time. I called mum and she has absolutely no idea why I was so excited or indeed what the hell I was rambling on about. The book I kept saying to her, the book I read fifteen years ago, he’s here. It was at that point I think she wanted me to go for the weekend in case I was having a mental breakdown.

When I calmed down as I do like a bit of drama, I explained to mum that Sogyal Rinpoche wrote the book, The Tibetan book of living and dying. Its now 20 years old and will still be relevant in another twenty years because the content is timeless. Every one regardless of background and religion should read it. It has many lessons in it relevant to all of us during our lifetime and for me its an incredibly thought provoking book that made me look at meditation in a new light and develop my own compassion for others and to try and look at death differently. The book teaches us that everything in life is transient and if we don’t come to terms with that we will always struggle and hold onto things or indeed people when we should let them go.

This book has taken me on a spiritual journey through some incredibly difficult times and no matter how many times I read it I learn something new.

I headed off to Cork on my own which was exciting as it was the first time I have been away completely on my own since I had James and all I could think about was sleeping without getting kicked in the face by a toddler. I arrived tense and quite stressed as recently a couple of my business ventures were showing signs of failing and I was upset because I had put my heart and soul into them. I was becoming impatient and angry and needed space to think. On Saturday afternoon as the day was progressing I began to feel quite emotional. Listening to the teachings from Rinpoche was stirring a lot of uncomfortable feelings inside me. I thought of my dad, my sometimes pained and fractured family and when I returned to my B&B I sobbed so hard I honestly thought my insides were going to come out. I returned the next day slightly speechless as I began to feel a change within myself. Again I felt emotional but I gave in and allowed myself to actually feel and work through my feelings. We meditated for quite a while and as the day went on I really felt a sense of peace within myself. I also realized how much of my own “stuff” I hadn’t dealt with. Sometimes in life we move on so quickly after traumatic and sad events. We live in the future almost constantly from the minute we get up till the minute we go to bed. When we go to bed we worry about the next day and all day the next day we worry about next week or even next month.

This was the first retreat that I had been on where I was introduced to meditation with my eyes open. This made me quite uncomfortable in the beginning but made so much sense towards the end. Tibetan Buddhist Meditation is about being present in the moment and having your eyes open ensures you are present. You don’t look at any one thing, you look or gaze but without focus. You see things but you are not really involved. I learnt a few key simple steps, which are that during meditation you need to sit still, speech silent, have the natural flow of the breath and the mind at ease. You should also keep your mouth slightly open as if you are about to say Ahhh. The main thing during meditation is to not block your thoughts. Acknowledge them but don’t follow them. Think of it like watching traffic and then all of a sudden you see a Ferrari and are tempted to follow it, don’t, let it go by!

The biggest addiction we have in modern society is negative thinking and meditation can help with this. It has been scientifically proven that meditation can alter the structure and function of the brain, which is called neuroplasticity. It activates a part of the brain associated with positive emotions. Even when you are not practicing these areas are sill lit up proving that mental training does affect the mind.

The mind really is the root of everything. It’s the creator of both happiness and suffering. Buddha says that all our fear and anxiety comes from a mind that’s untamed leaving me with one thought. Why not try meditation? Its free and just 10 minutes a day can transform your life. Driving back from Dozgchen Beara I felt different like my energy center had changed. I felt emotional but calm as I reflected on a three-day retreat that has probably changed my life forever and for that I will always be grateful. #meditatewithali
Over three million copies of the Tibetan book of living and dying have been printed in thirty-four languages, and the book is available in eighty countries.  It has been adopted by colleges, groups and institutions, both medical and religious, and is used extensively by nurses, doctors and healthcare professionals. For more information on retreats www.dzogchenbeara.org

AS PRINTED IN THE DAILY MAIL 30TH JULY 2014

 

 

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