Intention Chocolates

https://ideas.ted.com/the-steep-price-we-pay-for-cheap-chocolate/

The steep price we pay for cheap chocolate Our voracious demand for chocolate is helping fuel the climate crisis and keeping farmers in poverty — but as consumers, we can drive positive change.

N E W M O O N
✨
Time for I N T E N T I O N S.

When last did you write down your intentions? Not for the new year or for 2021, but for your life; for you. Make time.
✨
How do you measure success?

What impact are you having on the planet and the world around you?

How well do you take care of yourself?

How do you show up in relationships?

Reflect, learn, respond, grow. There is a whooooole lot of stuff that we can leave behind. Take responsibility for yours and let it go #2021

Buttercups back in stock ~

A few of our flavors can now be found at Transcendence Cafe in Pringle Bay. For those of you who find yourselves there this weekend 🌞

✨ BLACK FRIDAY SALE ✨.............................................

15% off on all products!

Align heart body and mind and browse our feel good treats.

💛

JOY AND HEART

Our ability to feel and express ✨JOY✨is directly related to the well of joy within us. Joy doesn’t have to be outward and overt, in fact, the most sustainable ‘expression’ of it is quiet contentment.
-
“The heart itself is considered to be our essence, the purity of our selves, recreated and burgeoning in each moment and reflected in the complexion, the eyes and the tongue”
-
How much energy do we put into nurturing our inner essence, emotional regulation, heart coherence or fulfilling our potential and connecting to our purpose? To love, connection and honouring what we feel?
-
✨Joy begins within ✨

💚 HEART FOOD 💚

Your heart is an INCREDIBLE organ which sends more information to your brain than your brain sends to your heart. Think about this for a moment! That’s one reason to look after this amazing part of you.
-
According to Dr Bernard Jensen’s research on the heart: “magnesium is the primary mineral missing when heart problems occur. Magnesium increases the overall vigour of the heart muscle. The heart contains up to ten times more magnesium than any other organ. This mineral also decreases blood coagulation (clotting), thus lowering blood pressure and helping the heart pump more regularly”
-
Pure cacao is extremely high in magnesium. Choose your chocolate wisely 🌱

CHOCOLATE AND HEART SPACE

How do you consume chocolate? Does it make you feel balanced or out of balance? Does it come from a place of guilt? Have you ever taken a moment to identify and figure out your emotional state before you eat it?
-
How we consume anything is a matter of intention and consciousness. When we bring awareness to ourselves we realize how often we tend to eat, do and move around mindlessly.
-
The next time you notice a chocolate craving:
🌞 Sit down
🌞 Put your hands on your heart and ask yourself “what am I feeling?”
🌞 Take 5 deep breaths.
🌞 Eat a piece of chocolate and notice the taste, smell, feel and any other part of your experience.
🌞 Put the chocolate away
🌞 Are there any other behaviors that you can engage in that will help to consciously address what’s going on for you?

September is Heart Awareness Month- so we thought we’d impart a little info on what chocolate can do for this beautiful, intelligent and vital organ in your body 💛
-
We know that you probably love chocolate, but did you know that it loves you too? Dark chocolate is considered to be a superfood! Cacao contains polyphenols which are the active healing ingredients responsible for its antioxidant and anti inflammatory effects (slowing your body’s rate of aging and lowering inflammation)
-
Remember, that unfortunately not all chocolate is created equal. There are multiple brands out there staying true to chocolate without adding unnecessary ingredients so seek them out instead of just buying anything off the shelf. Educate yourself and allow your heart to be nourished while enjoying this decadent food!
-
Do you have a hard time balancing your intake of chocolate? Here’s a simple tip: ask yourself -
“What is my intention behind eating this?” And let your body and heart answer.
-
Stay tuned this month for more bites of wisdom. ✨

WORLD HEART DAY WORKSHOP
Tuesday 29th September
6:30-8:30pm
Live + Virtual spots available

“We are coming to understand health not as the absence of disease, but rather as the process by which individuals maintain their sense of coherence, and ability to function in the face of changes in themselves and their relationships with their environment” - Heart Math Institute
-
Workshop Intention
Most of us are barely aware of, but increasingly affected by the ways in which the brain and heart communicate with one another. Your heart influences brain activity in its functioning of memory, concentration, ability to respond to stress, and emotional resilience.
-
Self love is more than just an unattainable feeling and doesn’t involve only the good parts of ourselves.
Love is in the feeling and the allowing of the feeling experience.
It has emotional, physical, spiritual and mental components to it with corresponding practical tools for healing.
No matter our story, we all have the ability to move towards the most authentic expression of our truest selves.
-
This workshop is for you if you experience:
Emotional numbness
Flooding
A history of heart disease in your family
Heart disorders
Loss of or parent(s) with heart disorders
Self love challenges and confusion
Trouble breathing or shortness of breath
Tight chest or shoulders
Anxiety
-
Structure of Workshop
(Hosted by and myself)
Movement
Breathing techniques
Intentional Cacao ceremony
Yin yoga
Mantra

Please RSVP by 16 September. Contact us for questions 🙏✨

✨ WOMEN’S HEALTH MONTH ✨
WELLNESS + CORE VALUES

Inge( ) is the studio owner of Living Life Pilates ( ) in Sea Point, and faculty for international Pilates education organisation BASI Pilates ( ).
✨
I am passionate about teaching Pilates, that is where my strength lies, the business owner role does not come easily to me, and the balance between passion project and viable business is one I am constantly having to navigate.
✨
For me, becoming more conscious of my core values, values I live by and which ultimately guide the business has been pivotal in cultivating balance. With strong values I have found boundary setting in my personal capacity easier, less self judgement and pressure to compete with what other businesses are doing, and a confidence to move forward with authenticity and integrity.
✨
Second to values, I believe we need to lean on each other more as small business owners. I have the privilege of being part of a messaging group with two incredible studio owners that have been in this game much longer than I have. Their insight and support has on many occasions provided the necessary sounding board through tough decisions. My feeling is why struggle alone, find those that you respect, that share your values and have more experience than you, and reach out.
✨

✨ WOMEN’S HEALTH MONTH ✨
WELLNESS + MAKING CHANGES

I am Olivia. I was born and raised on the coast of Kenya though I now (for the most part!) call Cape Town home. I'm a mother and the founder of ; an ethical clothing and lifestyle brand with consciousness towards our Earth and her inhabitants.
✨
I've worked in the fashion and design industry since 2007. Ever since I began this journey I have felt the importance and need for the outcome; the brand, the products, whatever it is that the brand outlays - to be a vehicle for shifting society towards a more positive approach both socially and environmentally.
✨
I have always viewed the simple notion of what I like to call the 'cycle of inspiration' as a crucial role that is played in our lives; to inspire and be inspired. I feel like this simple movement or shift of energy plays such a big part in encouraging and allowing a greater space for the force for good. Asha Eleven is created from an inspired space and intends to inspire in return.
✨
It can often feel overwhelming this whole 'new world' of eating healthy, buying ethical, putting self love before a job that pays really well - everything is shifting, everything we were conditioned with by society when we were young we are now having to learn to decondition - and of course, change is notoriously daunting. I find one of the simplest (and probably most effective ways) of making change is simply through subtle awareness. Instead of putting huge amounts of pressure on yourself to MAKE CHANGE, rather just bring a gentle and subtle awareness to whatever it is that you're looking to shift. Whenever something surrounding that things comes up, just be aware. The power of subtle awareness is very strong and I assure you that before you know it, without even realising it, you've made that change in your life.
✨
I will end off with a quote that I live by, it's by Lao Tzu and it's simply to say that if you want to make change, be the change - there is no use preaching or trying to change others - if we all just focus on our own inner work, great things will happen.

✨WOMEN’S HEALTH MONTH ✨
SELF AWARENESS WELLNESS

is a full time yoga teacher, mindfulness facilitator and guide. She believes in helping people help themselves through multi-dimensional awareness building practices. Her own journey has taught her about the importance of living a heart centred life, and it is from this space that she holds any person joining her classes, retreats or 1 in 1 sessions.
✨
In order to raise all Women up, it is vital that we not only demonstrate for change on a macro level, but also on an individual level. That each Women be willing to become self-aware in order to shift how we interact with each other on a daily basis. To bravely dismantle within ourselves internalised prejudices against ourselves and how that shows up in our treatment of others. This, I feel, is what lays the foundation for true change to manifest in our systems and society. No-one can give you your power but you. Let your deep dive into awareness and the murky waters of your inherited pain be a silent protest against that which caused it.

✨WOMEN’S HEALTH MONTH ✨
WELLNESS IN YOUNG WOMEN

Hi, I’m Paula the founder of and I am passionate about Guiding, Uplifting and Empowering the youth; I do this through integrative life coaching for children, young adults and their families. Guided Upliftment nurtures the concepts of Conscious Parenting, and works towards deepening and enhancing communication and connection within individuals and their families.
✨
AUTHENTICITY
Many of us grew up feeling confused by being told to be ourselves but not being empowered to do so. As a child it is confusing when we hear and feel different messages. Were the adults who preached this advice to us able to embody it themselves? Young girls need to SEE and FEEL authenticity in the women and adults around them, in order to believe that it is safe to truly be themselves. They need to see real women move away from the need to be perfect; by owning their mistakes, making brave decisions and through showing their vulnerability and their truth.
✨
EXPRESSION
Children need to be taught to freely express themselves and to share what’s on their hearts, without being judged or labeled. They need to learn that they are allowed to share and communicate their thoughts and feelings, because when these remain unexpressed they lead to self-judgement and shame. When parents are able to build a communication channel with their children, they offer them a safe space for self-exploitation, while being held and nurtured through the process.
✨
SELF-WORTH
Children are naturally self-connected, we do not need to teach them how to see themselves or how to be present, we just have to allow them the experience. We can enhance this quality by enabling young women to find their value from within, and not to seek their worth from others. When our sense of self-worth is externalized, it breeds insecurity and feelings of inadequacy. Therein lies an opportunity and a space for parents and adults to facilitate self-connection within the youth; and the most impactful way of doing this is by living it ourselves.

✨WOMEN’S HEALTH MONTH✨
HAPPY EARTH WELLNESS

Hi I’m I am the founder of - a socially and environmentally conscious health food company. I started Happy Earth People because I was tired of feeling totally devastated, coming to terms with our world facing an ecological meltdown and realising that our species, along with most others was on the verge of a mass extinction.I felt compelled to spend my days in service of people and the planet.
✨
One day whilst meditating, a name came to me. Happy. Earth. People. I shot up and Googled the URL, happyearthpeople.com was available and I immediately registered the domain. Now, I spend my time working toward a world in which our farming practices and our food system, restores and regenerates the earth and all its inhabitants. By creating simple, locally made pulse-based food products. Through regenerative farming methods, using only whole-food ingredients, with zero additives and zero-waste packaging.
✨
My greatest advice would be, when you see something that just isn’t right - say something. As women, we so often “let it go” because our voices have been silenced for so long. I truly believe that if we stand together, we are stronger. There has never been a more important time to speak your truth.

✨ WOMEN’S HEALTH MONTH ✨ SPIRITUAL WELLNESS

Meet Christie, the beauty behind . Her healing methodology is holistic in nature in order to consider the whole person’s needs. The Earth-Self, Inner-Self and Higher-Self are acknowledged through various healing tools.
✨
Conscious Counselling, Crystal Healing, Ritual Boxes and Herbal Healing Blends are combined or used in isolation to honour each individuals ideal space to heal.
✨
The Earth-self: As women our bodies are sacred messengers. When we are in tune with the body its wisdom guides us with pain, gut feelings, and pleasure. Embodiment practices such as massage, conscious movement and connecting with nature allows for a grounding back into the body to occur. This creates the atmosphere to shift awareness into a tangible form therefore understanding our physical needs and how they guide our overall wellbeing.
✨
The Inner-self: The Feminine has been repressed on many levels within society. This has impacted on our personal power, expression, and sensuality. Exploration of our childhoods, relationship patterns, thought processes, communication styles and emotional responses through spoken dialogue can assist in understanding our ways of being. Through counselling, women’s circles and journaling, a change of perspective is possible which can allow for transformation to occur.
✨
The Higher-self: The soul’s journey is deeply personal and multi-layered. Women in ancient societies were honoured for their intuition, creativity, and natural healing abilities. This has been lost in many ways in modern culture. Connecting to our Higher Selves allows us to hone into our life purpose and the energetic fields around us. Crystal healing, Oracle Card readings and Ceremonial Rituals create a heightened awareness that allows for the spiritual wisdom and Feminine magic to be awoken within.

Mandisa Nduli, is a 30 year old Durbanite who resides in Cape Town. She is a qualified civil engineer turned holistic engineer who offers personalized touch and healing through; yoga, mindfulness/meditation, access bars ®️, sensual movement and massage.

From a young age, Mandisa has regarded herself as sporty, a free spirit and passionate. She found yoga in 2014 ,whilst working in corporate has fallen in love with life and herself over and over again. She is personally on a mission to get people reconnected to themselves again, to wake up to what keeps them alive, to spark that passion and creativity. The best way she knows how thus far is through her offering. She finds these practices of healing very transformative in her personal life and through others she gets to work with privately and in group classes. She continues to drive that mission, one breathe, one movement, one connection at a time.
✨

I think, First and foremost, it’s very important to expose oneself to various healing modalities and/or experiences. I almost like a process of elimination, until you find what works for you, depending on the season of your life. I think my greatest gift that has aided in my shifts over the years ,has been meditation/yoga. I think using the body to observe my breath both on and off my mat, have been one of the most remarkable tools gifted to me in this lifetime. I would advise anyone to have some form of mediation practice, being still and with yourself gives you the space to reconnect with yourself on a level you might not fully comprehend but will over time. We need to give ourselves a deep sense of love and self compassion without judgement or guilt, that you deserve to live your lifetime your fullest capacity. I think, First and foremost, it’s very important to expose oneself to various healing modalities and/or experiences. It’s almost like a process of elimination, until you find what works for you, depending on the season of your life. I think my greatest gift that has aided in my shifts over the years ,has been meditation/yoga.
CONTINUED IN COMMENTS 👇

✨ Mistakes and learnings ✨

We have unfortunately encountered a bit of a hiccup regarding one of our supplies so please bear with us as we navigate it! Those of you in joburg wanting to order: there will be a slight delay on your delivery!

Small business challenges are real and sting, but the only way is forward and through and we appreciate your support and patience 🙏

Let’s use this an an opportunity- has anyone experienced a setback that worked out for the best in the end?

Delicious, vegan chocolate soon to be incoming again!

✨WOMEN’S HEALTH MONTH✨
INNER WORK + SHADOW WELLNESS

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
I’m Lisa and I am a space holder, I create experiences, so that people can see their own magic & magnificence.
I am a Body, Mind, Heart & Spirit Coach.
I went through my spiritual awakening at 21 and since then I have committed my life to doing the work ( self-love ).
I don’t like to label myself, as what I do is share LOVE and HOLD SPACE.
For over a decade I have immersed myself in studying from teachers, shamans and healers from around the world and spend most of my time working on myself, so that I can hold AUTHENTIC space for others to do their own work.
I specialize in SHADOW WORK, as I believe this is where our biggest GIFTS are hidden.
I hold ceremonial spaces and walk between worlds and take people on magical journeys, so they too can see the wonder of this world & the magic of being a human being.
I work with sacred tools such as ixCacao, energy healing, shamanic tools, body work, journeying, yoga and so much more.
The work I do is not for everyone, as it takes hides COURAGE to truly look at yourself…But when you are ready…. You will hear the call & feel the tugging of your HEART strings.
You are MAGNIFICENT & I will hold the space for you to witness your MAGIC and help you create the life of your dreams and deepest desires and help you create a VISION for yourself that will not only empower shine a light for others.
✨
Do the inner work, when you can love ALL parts of yourself, the good, the bad, the ugly you will become whole.
When you become whole the image that you are projecting onto the world will create the life of your dreams.
✨
Vulnerability is your greatest gift, it gives you the opportunity to see ALL of who you are & allows others to see all of who they are.
✨
Keep coming back home to yourself, don’t try and change anyone else.
✨
Just change yourself and your whole reality will shift.
✨
As a women you are powerful beyond measure. You have a womb that can create LIFE or give birth to extraordinary ideas.
✨
Don’t be afraid to let the old parts of you die, as there is MAGIC waiting to be born.
✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

✨WOMEN’S HEALTH MONTH ✨
MOVEMENT WELLNESS

Tarin is an international Yoga, Meditation and Wellness coach who helps stressed workers on the verge of burnout to boost their energy levels naturally and live lives full of motivation and joy.
✨
Moving our bodies daily is so vital for our overall health, our strength, and to support optimal performance. By getting ourselves moving a little more, we are helping our bodies and minds function at their best.
✨
Commit to moving daily. Even if it's just a few minutes of stretching when you wake up or taking a 10 minute walk on your work break, make an effort to get your body up and moving regularly.
✨
Integrate exercise into your routine so that you don't even notice it! Park your car a little further away from the grocery store and opt to carry your bags if you can manage them. Take the stairs. Do squats when you pick up your kids or pets (or your chocolate on the bottom shelf😉). Never skip a free workout.
✨
Find an exercise that you love and do it regularly. Everyone has their favourite way of moving and if it's not fun for you, it's really not worth it, because you won't stick with it. Connect with a style of movement that brings you joy and do it often!

✨WOMEN’S HEALTH MONTH ✨
TRANSFORMATION + WELLNESS

Anesu Mbizvo is an adventurous, passionate and driven 28 year old young woman and medical doctor currently working as a yoga teacher and yoga studio in Johannesburg South Africa. She is a 500hr qualified yoga teacher in BB vinyasa, hatha, ayurveda and yoga therapy based teacher training.
✨
While 2020 has been a year beyond what I think any of us expected, for me personally it has been a blessing of more time to focus on myself and my self evolution.
✨
A lot has shifted during this time and here is short list of my key learnings of transformation summed up in easy to remember short quotes that you can repeat to yourself whenever you need reminding:
✨
1. Life is happening for you, not to you:
A lot of us have been brought up believing that we are separate to the flow of life. When we choose to believe that we are connected to the energy of life instead and that every moment is happening for us to reach our fullest potential, it becomes easier for us accept times of hardship, struggle or confusion as important parts of our journey, instead of signs/symptoms of failure that we need to try to bypass or avoid.
✨
2. The Universe's first priority is your healing, not necessarily your happiness:
This quote has become one of my favorites. When we see our lives as our souls journey of healing, we are able to let go of the dualistic ideas of right or wrong, good and bad. Everything we experience becomes a moment that serves us on our quest to healing not just our own personal trauma but also that of the generations and ancestors who came before us
✨
3. Choose to see your fear as a friend, not a foe:
COVID has shone the light on all of our fears, and while we have been taught to see fear as a negative emotion, the act of changing our relationship with fear can be life changing. Every time I experience fear now I remind myself that fear is my friend. A friend who quickly lets me know that I’m approaching a moment where I will have the choice to break the cycle of trauma I (and those before me) have been experiencing.
CONTINUED IN COMMENTS 👇

✨WOMEN’S HEALTH MONTH ✨
MINDFULNESS + WELLNESS

Hi I’m Carly. I’m a clinical psychologist and founder of Carly’s Couch - a psychology practice in Cape Town
✨
I started Carly’s Couch because I am passionate about connecting with people and I wanted to break down the misconceptions that all psychologists have to be boring, old and flawless. As I learn to embrace my flaws and human vulnerability I want to encourage others to do the same.
✨
Therapy is about connecting to your self, your emotions, your experiences (both past and present), and exploring the depths of your being.
✨
I find the best starting point is through connecting to the current moment. Mindfulness allows us to focus in this moment and all its wonders. What do our eyes see, our ears hear, our skins feel RIGHT NOW?
✨
Coming into contact with the current moment allows us to tune out the noise of anxiety that asks us to attend to regrets about the past and worries about the future. It allows us to focus on how we are SAFE now, and from there we can start to work on manifesting what we want to attract and turning away from that which doesn’t serve us.

✨ WOMENS HEALTH MONTH ✨
BREATH + WELLNESS

Hello 🌞 my name is Nikita. I’m a Cape Town-based yoga instructor, health coach and the founder of Intention Chocolates. I am passionate about empowering people to heal themselves by connecting and listening to their bodies. In my experience, the greatest shift in health came when i tuned in to what my body wanted and needed. As I continue to do so, I continue to learn and thrive. All your body needs, is to be heard in what it needs to be able to bring itself back into balance.
✨
Your body, mind and heart speak the same language - breath.
✨
Your breath is a direction connection to and reflection of the state of your nervous system.
✨
Your breath is a tool which can mobilize and calm you. You have the ability to choose which one.
✨
Your breath creates space- in your body, between stimulus and reaction, between your external and internal environments.
✨
When you learn to connect and develop control of your breath, you gain control and connection to your life. Learning to speak the language of your body, mind and heart is one of the most simple and accessible paths to healing. A path that leads to many other areas of transformation and growth. (It’s also completely free!)
✨
Fun Fact: Reading the intention (see story highlights) gives you the time to take at least 6 deep breaths. That’s enough time to prepare yourself to eat intuitively, tap into your internal space to consume consciously and bring your nervous system into regulation. Essentially it allows you to remind yourself of your intention for the moment or behavior.
✨
Access your breath, access yourself, access your light.

Photo by Caroline Viitanen

✨WOMEN’S HEALTH MONTH ✨
WORK/LIFE BALANCE

is the founder and designer of Dear Rae Jewellery. She started in 2010 from her parent’s home. It has since grown into a business that employs 16 people who work from the workshop and shop in Bree Street, Cape Town.
✨
Over the last ten years I have learnt many hard lessons around finding a healthy work - life balance. The lessons seem so simple and obvious but are sometimes hard to apply, here are my top 2:
✨
Look after yourself first and then you will have energy to give more to others. This might seem selfish, but it is really not. I find that if I don’t look after myself I end up being resentful and bitter. Taking time away to fill up your cup and find a new perspective is often far more productive than just working harder.
✨
Employ people that are good at your blind spots. It’s unrealistic to think that you will be the master of everything in your business, it is so important to be honest with yourself about what your strengths and weaknesses are. Hand over the things that you are not good at or that drain your energy. Hand over freely without being a control freak. Collaboration and working with a team have brought me so much joy at Dear Rae.