Sheila Berry is a clinical psychologist and social researcher who is passionate about conservation and the environment. Her work with indigenous people in Africa, particularly hunter-gatherer communities, is a source of inspiration for her. She enjoys working with children and young people who keep her young at heart. Her retreat for children at the BRC is an annual highlight for her.

Stephen Coan is a journalist on The Witness, Pietermaritzburg’s daily newspaper. He recently published Chant of the Doves, a collection of poems about place, a place that happens to be the Buddhist Retreat Centre, where he has been involved as a retreatant and teacher for over twenty years. He has also had two books published arising from his research into the life and work of H. Rider Haggard.

Paul Dorrian is an international, management consultant, author and speaker. His interest in improving employee wellness in the work place led him to teach Chi Kung and Tai Chi. Paul studied these disciplines under various teachers in the UK and with Master Dr. Nico Snyman and Grandmaster Dr. Lin Feng-Chao. He teaches Tai Chi in the Yang style and Chi Kung in the Pa Tuan Chin and Healing Sounds styles at his school, the Lin Li School of Tai Chi Chuan, in Pietermaritzburg.

Samantha Ellis-Rose has chosen to live the life many distantly dream of: “off the grid” in a rural eco-community in the KZN Midlands, living close to nature and promoting sustainable development in the local Zulu community where she built her home from natural materials. She spends quality time with her kids - without radio, TV or newspapers, enjoys fire-dancing, meditation, crochet, yoga, horses and improvisation drama.

Dorian Haarhoff is a writer, story-teller and mentor. Passionate about developing innate creativity and imagination, he believes in the power of stories to spread loving kindness and to bring healing; to build our belonging. He is a former Professor of English (Namibia). Dorian’s workshops are based on his text, The Writer’s Voice. His poems appear in Quiet Food. He draws his inspiration from the literature, mythology, whole-brain theory, narrative therapy, creation spirituality, the new physics and eco- and Jungian psychology, and from frequent visits to the BRC.

Ken Holmes and his French wife Katia are based at Samye Ling, Scotland, where he is director of studies and has been assisting Ven. Akong Rinpoche for 37 “amazing and incredibly fortunate years”, translating Tibetan texts and interpreting for visiting Tibetan lamas. He is much respected internationally for his inexhaustible knowledge of Tibetan Buddhism which he imparts with wisdom and clarity, humility and an infectious sense of humour.

Katia Holmes acquired her academic degrees in Paris, France: an MA in Political Science, an MSC in Economics and Post Graduate studies in Comparative Anthropology of Religions and two years of Russian Studies. She interprets for visiting Tibetan teachers and has published translations of major Tibetan scriptures. She devoted much of the 1990’s to researching traditional Tibetan medicine with eminent scholars in that field, amongst them Professor Troru Tsenam.

Estelle Hudson is a narrative and family therapist. She conducts dream workshops for professionals, Masters Students and interested people. Her personal interests include feminist spirituality, drawing, painting and dream work.

Daniel Jardim joined the BRC in April 2007 after living in the UK for 10 years, where he studied Alternative Medicine. He was the resident cook at the BRC where his inventive dishes got standing ovations. These are being written up in a recipe book, to be called “The Cake the Buddha Ate”.

Beatrice Kidd is a writer, meditator and clinical Transactional Analyst who has been a student of Iyengar Yoga for three decades. Her passion is to inspire others (and herself!) to find optimal health and expanded, creative consciousness. She uses meditation, yoga and psychology to inhabit the neutral creative space between archaic insecurities, attachments and compulsions

Howard Lipschitz avoided spinal surgery when he was introduced to Iyengar Yoga in Israel. He competed internationally in archery and practised karate and fencing for many years. He works as a massage therapist and teaches Yoga and Chi Kung at The Centre for Well-being in Durban. He brings aspects of all these disciplines to his yoga teaching and has developed his own unique style based on his personal experiences.

Jeremy Lister - James works independently for a number of established and emerging voluntary standards initiatives, including the organic, Fairtrade and social accountability movements, whose mission it is to create a world where ecological sustainability and social justice are the normal conditions of business. He practises Tai Chi Chuan in the traditional Yang style and Chi Kung privately.

Fiona Mitchell is a “Jack of all Trades”. Currently working in archiving and research, she is passionate about teaching, especially through ‘Being and Doing’ in art, drama and relating to our natural environment. She has co-led a number of retreats at the BRC, notably Kite-flying. She lives in the KZN Midlands with her daughter.

Tony Muirhead has been studying the art of drumming from the age of four and believes that the drum is a profound tool for relaxation, well-being and helping people cope with modern stress. He is a trained Health Rhythms™ facilitator, using drums and percussion to boost the body’s immune system.

Alan Muller’s interest in Buddhism began in 1996 while attending H.H. the Dalai Lama’s talks in South Africa. He took refuge in 1997 with Akong Rinpoche. In 2003 he completed a one-year closed retreat under the guidance of Lama Yeshe Rinpoche at Samye Ling Monastery in Scotland. Alan remained a novice monk for six more years and now presents courses as a lay person. He regularly assists Rob Nairn on retreats.

Shine Murphy grew up in Cape Town and spent several years working in advertising in London before deciding to free himself from the constraints of society and money. He traveled extensively to many countries, including India, where he lived simply and immersed himself in yoga. He built his own home and practised permaculture in Mocambique. He now visits intentional eco-communities throughout South Africa, and spends his days gardening, singing and dancing

Rob Nairn was formerly Professor of Criminology at the University of Cape Town. Since 1964 he has undergone extensive training under meditation masters and Tibetan lamas, including Thrangu Rinpoche, Akong Rinpoche, Dhiravamsa and Joseph Goldstein. In 1993 he completed a traditional four-year retreat at the Samye Ling Tibetan Centre in Scotland. He is the author of a number of best-selling books on the Psychology of Meditation, and is the head of a number of retreat centres in South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Tessa Pretorius is a philosopher,writer, ex-trauma counsellor and activist. Having witnessed many of her colleagues becoming ill or burning out doing “good work”, she focussed on training and encouraging self-care within the care-giving field. Tessa was trained by Patricia Cane (founder and creator of Capasitar International) whose work she incorporated into training programs for NGO’s, hospitals, members of the justice system and the SAPS. She believes self-care is essential to well-being and, as in Buddhist practice, essential to the service of others. Tessa currently lives and works at the BRC.

Anthony Shapiro began making pots at the age of 13 and never stopped. In the course of a busy teaching practice between 1992 and 1997 the demand for his pots grew to such an extent that he formed a partnership with Loren Kaplan and began to supply the best stores in South Africa and internationally, including The Conran Shops in London, Paris and Tokyo as well as ABC Home and Carpet in New York. He was Artist in Residence at the BRC for two years, but has recently taken on a position as director of pottery craft at an NGO.

Lynn Shorthouse qualified as a Craniosacral Therapist 25 years ago and has been practising, supervising and teaching it ever since. She has tutored at the Karuna Institute and CTET in London. She originally trained in Child Protection and then lectured at Bristol University where she managed Child Care Services. She combines meditation practice and craniosacral therapy which makes it possible for people receiving treatment to make deeper connections with innate healing processes. She particularly enjoys working with families, infants and adults.

Jeanne Smith is a qualified Iyengar Yoga instructor who will assist Beatrice Kidd and arrange the program of yoga postures during the course.

Rene Stevenson is a clinical psychologist in private practice, a Buddhist practitioner and poet. In her healing work with individuals and groups, she draws on Western Psychology (especially Jungian) and the Wisdom Traditions. Guiding interests are creativity and compassion, relationships and ecology.

Maggie Strachan is a painter with many years of experience as a teacher of art. Her interest in Buddhism and meditation has led to a long-standing association with the Buddhist Retreat Centre, spanning almost 20 years.

Ajahn Sucitto visited Thailand in 1975, where he made a commitment to become a monk. He returned to England in 1978 where he became one of the monks who helped found the Chithurst Forest Monastery and Aruna Ratanagiri, another vihara in Northumberland. In 1984 he was part of the community that moved from Chithurst to Hertfordshire to start Amaravati Buddhist Monastery, where he took on the responsibility of supervising the nuns’ training, together with other teaching duties, during which time he also began teaching overseas. In 1992 he was asked to take over the function of senior incumbent at Chithurst Monastery where he now resides.

Louis van Loon lectured in Buddhist philosophy at the Universities of Cape Town and Durban-Westville for 22 years. He established the Buddhist Retreat Centre in 1980. His interest lies in the psychology of meditation and in the relationship between art, science, religion and philosophy. He is an architect and consulting civil & structural engineer in private practice.

Ian Weinberg is a consultant neurosurgeon by profession and a pioneer in the science of applied psychoneuroimmunology (PNI). His Triangles Model© became the cornerstone for PNI instruction and intervention. When he discovered that a significant proportion of these interventions reflected traditional Buddhist principles, he integrated them into the intervention applications. Dr Weinberg is consulted widely both by private and corporate individuals in regard to the implementation of wellness and performance enhancing strategies (see www.quantumpni.co.za).

Christine Withiel travels to India regularly to further her knowledge of Hatha Yoga and the philosophy of yoga. Christine and Howard Lipschitz invite others to join them in India each December so that they also deepen their experience. She is registered with Yoga Alliance as a yoga teacher trainer and conducts a teacher training course annually at The Centre for Well-being. She is also registered to practise Ayurvedic Primary Health Care, Massage Therapy and Reflexology.