Looking back at 2024, Hanya House Wellness Collaboration’s second year, I find myself being drawn to the word “collaboration.” We have been energetically attracted to the word as our guiding north star this year and I’m proud to share some of our collaborative successes, achievements, and creations with you here.
A summary of collaborative achievements in 2024:
- After beginning with six health professionals and healers in 2023, Hanya House is now a collaboration of 25 exceptional health professionals and healers
- 267 Strength and fitness classes for women were guided by Bettina Klesse in the Treehouse Studio
- A total of 371 yoga classes were given with Denise Sohandev, Erin Slingerland, Farrah Cruse, Lindsay Harris, BeJay Watson and a handful of guest instructors
- There were 137 high-energy poolside rebound fitness sessions with Verena Wagner
- There were 15 Remedy Bar Wellness Talks covering a range of topics from women’s health to neuroplasticity and concussion. Many of these talks were multi-disciplinary and presented by more than one health professional
- BeJay Watson hosted us for 13 Gong Baths, Denise Sohandev held space for a vision board workshop and a winter equinox, and Denise, BeJay and Claire Takahashi co-hosted the Lion’s Gate gathering in August
As this collaboration has grown, so has our ability to hold a multi-disciplinary and holistic healing space for our community with many regular friends of Hanya House making use of the services of multiple health professionals, giving their permission for a collaborative approach to their healing journey.
A few internal examples of this in 2024 include:
- Dr. Rav James, Dr. Allison van der Riet, Petro Zietsman, Lindsay Harris, and Denise Sohandev working collaboratively on women’s health issues (mind, body and spirit)
- Maxine Lambourn, Jenny Pott, Cathy Flores, and Kelly van Rooyen collaborating on family and children’s health and family systems
- Lindsay Harris, Melissa Appel, Sarah Ferrier, Lauren Jackson, Verena Wagner, Erin Slingerland, Denise Sohandev, BeJay Watson, Farrah Cruse, Andy Parker, Dr. Rav, Petro Zietsman, and Bettina Klesse collaborating in various ways on movement, mobility, and injury
- Denise Sohandev, BeJay Watson, Farrah Cruse, Lindsay Harris, and Erin Slingerland collaborating to guide us through 108 sun salutations on International Yoga Day
Beyond the walls of Hanya House itself, collaborations include:
- Lindsey Hyson, Dr. Caro de Witt, Dr. Rav, and Antoinette Cook working closely to bring a heart-centred and holistic approach to mental health in the Lowveld
- Dr. Rav James forming a Lowveld Women’s Health group with the mission of creating better integrative management of women’s training and nutrition, specifically for perimenopause and menopause. This group includes fitness instructors, physios, nutritionists, and biokineticists from all over the Lowveld
- Lindsay Harris and Dr. Rav collaborating with the Uplands Sport Science department on modules for Grade 10, 11 and 12 Sport Science students
- Dr. Rav collaborating with certified Life Coach, Alison Ward, on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, POTS, and fibromyalgia (conditions that are often lost through the cracks)
A topical conversation this year – around the world – has been the importance of creativity for mental health. I’ve mentioned the work of Martha Beck on a number of occasions citing the quote:
“Calm is not the opposite of anxiety; creativity is.”
Martha Beck
As we move into 2025 we predict a growing resistance to digital interruptions (we note the emergence of digital detox cafés in Amsterdam) and we’ll continue to strive for Hanya House to be a safe space of connection and creativity. To that end one of our most successful collaborations in 2024 has been with Dana MacFarlane and the White River Gallery, with the guiding sentence being: “The Healing Power of Art.”
In 2024 not only has Dana and her team thoughtfully curated exhibitions that are relevant to our changing world (the word ‘eco-feminism’ come to mind) but they have also curated the most beautiful exhibitions at Hanya House, each with a story that inspires us to think about our own aliveness and healing. Exceptional South African artists that visited Hanya House in 2024 as part of this initiative include: Majak Bredell, Griet van der Meulen, Felicity Bell, and Karin Daymond.
As an extension of Dana’s seeds of inspiration and reflection, we’ve collaborated with artists from near (Kerri Dunshea and Moné van Rooyen) and far (Claire Takahashi) to bring creativity as medicine to Hanya House. Earth-artist and writer, Claire, hosted seven Creative Medicine Tables, and Kerri hosted six water-colour workshops. Not only do these activities unleash our creativity, but we tend to disconnect from our phones and our computers and – for a few hours – connect with ourselves and each other.
A collaboration that brings me joy is the special connection we have education non-profit, Good Work Foundation (GWF). Not only did I spend many years as part of the GWF team, but we have been able to partner with GWF to bring work experience opportunities to their graduates. Theodora Mhaule, who was an intern in 2023 began a full-time role as Dr. Rav’s personal assistant in 2024 and has flourished in that role. In 2024, two new interns joined the Hanya House family – Zinzi Masinga and Phumla Mbatha, and both have been a delight to work with, showing their dedication to helping us create a safe and peaceful space.
In addition to GWF, we have collaborated to bring awareness and funds to Screen Her Save Her, an organisation that brings access to breast screening services to women of need in South Africa. Dr. Rav has also delivered a number of free talks in 2024, including to the Lowveld branch of 67 Blankets.
In The Remedy Bar, Zinzi, myself, and Erin have been true to Dr. Rav’s vision and promise of clean health products and cosmetics. We are scrupulous about checking the ingredients of each and every product and from that foundation, we’re slowly building a range of products that you can trust, including our nine medicinal smoothies. We’ve also enjoyed collaborating with local suppliers, like Holly’s free-range farm eggs (Sarah Ferrier’s daughter), Andante Honey (Meg Leslie’s produce), Highwood Orchard Macadamia Nut Butter (thanks Ahmed!), and Green Farm macadamia products (thanks to our friend, Annelle Whyte).
On the subject of promises, Bettina Klesse has promised six fitness classes a week for the last two years and she has never wavered. Farrah Cruse promised to be at Hanya House for the earliest yoga class (sometimes five times per week), and Denise Sohandev has consistently promised to hold a safe and compassionate space for people to personally learn and grow. Both Bettina and Farrah move on to new chapters in their journey next year and we thank them for choosing Hanya House and collaborating with us and the community is such a beautiful way. The majority of Denise’s work is now done online and so she no longer needs a physical space at Hanya House. But, thank goodness, we’re very happy to say that our collaboration with Denise continues, as do Denise’s yoga classes in the Treehouse studio.
And yes, we’re beyond excited to welcome four new health professionals in 2025 who we are already collaborating with and have known for some time. Click here to meet them.
Our greatest compliment in 2024 has been the number of visitors who say that they don’t want to leave the peace and tranquility of Hanya House. Or the number of visitors who say that Hanya House is special because of the unique group of healers who have gathered here. I would add that there is a unique group of friends who have gathered around Hanya House and shown us the most heartfelt love and support as we have grown. Whether patients and clients, our direct physical neighbours, residents of the White River Country Estate, members of Uplands School or people who have traveled from Mbombela, Eswatini, Mozambique or beyond, we are deeply grateful for this community’s support and for the trust you place in our vision for a wellness collaboration. Thank you for believing in us.
From Rav and I, we wish you a safe, peaceful and fun holiday season,
Ryan James
