Antbear Lodge & Health Retreat with Dr Ron van As (Limited space available)

 

Book your retreat now


    Retreat essentials

    • Dates:
      – arriving  Feb 26 departing Feb 28
      – arriving  March 12 departing March 14
    • Pricing  is inclusive of for the 2 nights accommodation and  meals on the program at Antbear Lodge.
      R3300 for the garden view suites
      R4100 for the mountain view suites.
      R4100 for the luxury cave.
      50% deposit to secure booking
      Balance payable on departure.
      Retreats usually cost R1000 per person. Antbear Lodge lets you decide what the retreat was worth to you. Just add that to your bill at check out.
    • What to bring
      – Yoga mats. If you don’t have your own yoga mat we do sell them at reception. Please let us know in advance. We do not offer yoga mats for rent for hygiene purposes.
      – comfortable clothes
      – walking shoes if you intend to go for a hike
    • Activities included
      – Hiking Trails
      – Labyrinth walks
    • Activities to add on
      – Hot air balloon flights (please prebook)
      – Horse Trails
      – Star gazing hammock camp experience with african storytelling
      – Abseiling

    What does Dr Ron van As offer?

    Dr Ron van As is the resident chiropractic specialist available for consultation. Chiropractors treat conditions related to your body’s structure, especially that of your spine. The primary goal is to relieve pain and restore function without prescription of drugs or surgery. Rather, they adjust or manipulate your spine and other body parts to get them in proper alignment. Chiropractic care is based on the idea that when your body is in correct alignment, you have a better chance of healing yourself and hence it is a vitalistic approach to healthcare.

    Low Back Pain is one of the most common reasons for lost days at work. At least 70% of people will suffer at least one episode of back pain in their life. Acute episodes of back pain are usually self-limiting and can resolve spontaneously. Persistent episodes of LBP with fluctuating symptoms, which last longer than 3 months, is described as chronic low back pain. The economic impact of chronic LBP stems from prolonged loss of function and decreased productivity costs.

    Chiropractors also treat neck pain, tension headaches, cervicogenic headaches, migraine headaches, mid back pain, whiplash injuries, scoliosis, bamboo spine, shoulder pain, frozen shoulder, knee pain, Sciatica, sacroiliac pain, referred pain down arms or legs. Trigger points are located in the muscles and are points of hyperactivity that cause referred pain.

    Chiropractic has also proven very successful for professional sports people and many top athletes like Usain Bolt, swear by performance enhancing ability of chiropractic during strenuous training and before professional sports meetings.

    Even if you are not suffering from pain you will benefit from chiropractic treatment. In fact, pain is a late manifestation of a disease process and it is more effective and efficient to get maintenance treatment and hence prevent symptoms from occurring.

    In our fast-paced society we are continuously being bombarded with stressors from technology, the environment and foods we eat, which have long term detrimental effects on our body. We know the leading cause of death worldwide is heart disease and one of the key contributors, is stress which can manifest as hypertension (high BP), diabetes mellitus (high blood sugar), raised cholesterol & obesity.

    The most significant benefit of being treated on a health and wellness retreat, like Antbear Lodge offers, is that you can get the full experience of a holistic approach to healthcare. Due to the serene environment and being removed from your daily stressors, your body actually gets time to restore itself and you will leave feeling revitalized and renewed. The treatment that you receive has some time to take effect before you plunge straight back into your daily stress. The professional therapists also have time to explain the full benefits of diet, exercise, rest & relaxation, and can demonstrate correct exercise technique, which can be practiced under their guidance and expertise. Incorrect technique whilst doing therapeutic exercise can actually hinder the healing process and sometimes even make your condition worse.

    The customized health program is a great way to kick-start your journey to great health, boost the immune system and allow your body a chance to relax and soul to rejuvenate.

    The retreat program

    Friday 

    • Check-in around 2pm
    • 2-6 pm Relaxation. Can arrange horse trails or self-guided hiking trails
    • 6 pm Dinner straight from the organic garden
    • 7.30 pm Introduction and health talk
    • 9 pm Meditation
    • 10 pm Free time/ Bed

    Saturday

    • 6am- PILOGA
    • 8 am- Healthy breakfast
    • 9 am –12 pm: Consultation with Dr Ron in 30 min intervals
    • 1 pm- Lunch straight out the organic garden
    • 2 pm -4 pm: Consultation with Dr Ron in 30 min intervals
    • 6 pm  Dinner
    • 8 pm Star gazing at the hammock camp (weather permitted) OR Meditation at Retreat Centre
    • 10 pm Free time/ Bed

    Sunday

    • 6.30 am PILOGA
    • 8 am Breakfast
    • 10 am Check out

    What does the consultation involve?

    • Patient History
    • BP analysis
    • BMI analysis
    • Orthopaedic Exam
    • Muscle Testing
    • Reflex analysis
    • Nervous System analysis

    Based on the results of the history and physical exam, the following treatment options are available:

    • Chiropractic
    • Dry-needling
    • TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation)
    • Stretching -PNF (Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation) or ART (Active Release Technique)
    • Exercise Therapy
    • Diet advice
    • Trigger point therapy

    About Antbear Retreat Center

    Antbear Lodge is situated in the Drakensberg Mountains of KwaZulu Natal near to Giants Castle, and is one of the smaller owner-run establishments in this region. There are only 15 accommodation units with either mountain or garden views. Very unique is the luxury cave suite, well-equipped with features like a cozy jacuzzi and a comfortable fireplace to warm you during the chilly winter months. The expansive glass doors maximise the stunning view of the mountains, and opens onto a wooden deck equipped with a hammock and chairs, perfect for relaxing or meditating during the picturesque afternoon sunsets.

    The friendly management and dedicated staff makes this eco lodge ideal for health and wellness retreats, with an emphasis on sustainability and ethical responsibility. For retreats, they offer very affordable rates and cater for single accommodation without incurring a singles surcharge.

    The retreat centre offers a 270 degree panoramic view of the mountains, and is ideal for meditation, yoga or educational talks when the outside conditions are not favourable. Be sure to check out the labyrinth, situated beside the retreat centre, where you can walk and meditate.

    For those food lovers, this retreat is the ultimate experience for those taste buds. All their meals are prepared from scratch and the super fresh produce can be picked directly from the organic vegetable garden located on the eco farm. They also have chickens with an endless supply of freshly laid eggs. The resident cows supply thick creamy milk from which they also make their own cheese, which can be enjoyed with home-baked warm bread straight from the oven. They can cater for a wide variety of palates and special retreat diets will keep you overly satisfied. There are not many retreats that subscribe to the farm-to-plate concept so be sure to enjoy this gastronomic delight.

    For the adventure seekers, there are a multitude of activities to keep you occupied. Besides the endless hiking or mountain-biking routes available from the private estate, you can have a very unique experience of the Drakensberg from above with a hot air balloon flight, which launches from the lawn in front of the lodge. For those adrenalin junkies who like to live life over the edge, they have abseiling which is suitable for both beginner and intermediate levels. For the more lethargic travellers they offer horse trails which are ideally suited to beginners. At night you can come relax in a hammock, gazing up at the magnificent star-bright sky and listen to a local villager tell his grandmothers folk stories of the night-sky, for the ultimate cultural delight.

    Antbear Lodge offers the ideal escape from our hectic lifestyle. It is well situated in the Southern Drakensberg and readily accessible from both inland and coastal areas. Due to this central location it is well poised for just a weekend getaway or longer, more relaxing stays.