Herbalist includes workshops in her practice
Shanti Burgess: “Nothing is more important than that we feel good.” Photo: Em Hofstede
Shanti Burgess is following her passion and earning an income doing what she loves. The founder of Divine Herbals, a handcrafted herbal tea company, Shanti combines her work as an herbalist with her skills as a reflexologist and iridologist.
“I love herbs and admire their healing powers. I wanted to make natural herbal remedies available to people to use in their everyday lives,” says Shanti.
A recent, sellout spring body-cleansing workshop run by Shanti at her home, aimed at those interested in learning simple techniques to boost wellbeing, had 10 students juicing all sorts of herbs and vegetables and learning how to remove toxins from their body in a safe, effective manner. They also made healing poultices after a garden tour identifying and discussing the benefits of herbs they could grow on their own.
Each student was provided with an iridology session. “Iridology is used as an analytical tool to gain insight into the body’s inner ecology, its strengths and weaknesses.”
Shanti has been living in the bay for seven years. She studied at the School of Natural Medicine in Boulder, Colorado.
“I learn something new every day, and I practice what I preach. I use herbs and reflexology in my daily life for myself and my family.”
In fact, her family gets in on the work, assisting with the herb harvest and the labelling of tea bags, and husband Theron takes care of their daughter Isla while Shanti is at the Golden Bay Health Centre twice a week or teaching workshops.
“Everyone needs to strive for optimum health and wellness for their life enjoyment and that of everyone around them (society),” says Shanti. “If we are not in good health it’s difficult to successfully do anything else. Nothing is more important than that we feel good.”
Visit Shanti’s web site at www.divineherbals.co.nz.
Em Hofstede
