Khuluma February 2018

WHEN I SNAP MY FINGERS BEHIND THE SCENES

‘ E verything you think back seat when I offer you manages to hypnotise during his shows
you know about R100 to run naked through Most of the people who ‘fall under
hypnosis is probably a shopping centre.’
untrue,’ says André Grove. The stage Hypnosis is a natural state his spell’ know exactly what they are
hypnotist who is known to his fans as of mind when the creative sphere of doing and will report back later saying ‘I
André the Hilarious Hypnotist says that the brain becomes much more active was fully awake and aware.’ André says
everyone who undergoes hypnosis has than the logical sphere. This, of course, those volunteers who claim to have no
a different experience, making it difficult has enabled hypnotists like André to turn recollection of what went down under
to define precisely what it is. Rather than their craft into a form of entertainment, hypnosis have invariably suppressed it –
trying to put it a box, he says it’s easier to since we humans love to watch other they’ve chosen not to remember.
say what hypnosis is not: ‘It’s not sleep, humans doing bizarre, illogical things –
it’s not a coma, it doesn’t control your behaviour unfiltered by the brain’s critical André says that it’s typically only those
thought process.’ faculties is hilarious. who are open to being hypnotised who
André explains that certain people are will volunteer – mostly extroverts, who
In fact, André says that while you’re more susceptible to being hypnotised than aren’t afraid to laugh at themselves.
under hypnosis, you’re more alert. At others, while some can't be hypnotised at People who can concentrate are easily
the same time, of course, you’re also in all because they do not subconsciously hypnotised, which is why, surprisingly,
a heightened state of suggestibility. This give in to it. There are no rules that if you IT technicians and accountants make
state makes people more open to certain do this you will be hypnotised and if you do brilliant volunteers; meanwhile, radio
suggestions and it also opens their that you won’t be hypnotised. DJs and drama students tend to be
potential to creatively interpret those André says dipping into this trance-like terrible volunteers. ‘Drunk people are
suggestions. ‘During hypnosis the critical state is precisely what happens to the a waste of time as they don’t have the
factor of the mind takes a bit of a back volunteers from the audience who he ability to concentrate hard enough and
seat,’ he explains, ‘just as it might take a over-exaggerate everything, which makes
them come across as fakes,’ he adds.
During hypnosis the critical factor of
the mind takes a bit of a back seat Even among sober audiences, André’s
had quite a few cringeworthy on-stage
pictures: xxxxxxx moments over the last two decades.
There tends to be a high degree of

unpredictability with human
behaviour once the mind’s
critical filter is removed. As
a much younger hypnotist,
André’s act included

having volunteers
pretend they were taking
a shower. During one
show, a man stripped
down completely until

he was stark naked. ‘I
ran around the stage
picking up his clothes and
had to get him off.’ That
routine has gone out the
window along with the
pregnant man routine. A
few evergreen routines

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BEHIND THE SCENES WHEN I SNAP MY FINGERS

Hypnotherapy helps people reprogram themselves through
the formulation and acceptance of an affirmation

– like getting people to think they’re Klein, director at the South African through the Pictures: grebeshkovmaxim/shutterstock.com, V_ctoria/shutterstock.com, Supplied
sprinklers or washing machines Institute of Hypnotherapy. She explains formulation and
or vacuum cleaners – tend to that people use hypnotherapy to change acceptance of
evoke the most laughter. And their habits, heal emotional trauma, an affirmation,
there’ve been volunteers as a form of pain control or as an which is
who demonstrate the exploration of their spirituality. It may scripted using
ability to moo like chickens, help them find purpose, discover their clean and
superheroes whose special self-worth and rightful place in the world. powerful language to avoid aversion
power enables them to identify ‘You cannot work on inner changes when therapy or confabulation. ‘Hypnosis
you talk to the conscious mind,’ she says, practitioners may give you your power
which audience members aren’t wearing ‘you need to dip into the subconscious back and help you find solutions, be still,
underwear, and of course the lucky – where our deep-seated thoughts and mindful and self-aware,’ she says.
volunteers who’ve been convinced that beliefs are programmed – to get to the
they are in fact Baywatch babes. root of the matter.’ Still, the practice tends to have its
detractors. ‘When I mention what I do
People also approach André for Say what you will about this alternative some people say, “Don’t look into my
instantaneous cures and miraculous healing method, but it’s been known eyes!”,’ says Claudia, who believes that
interventions – from improvement with to work up to seven times faster than what she does would probably be more
sports performance to help with studies, other forms of therapy, and in actuality mainstream if television and films didn’t
losing weight, quitting smoking and it is nowhere near as esoteric as popular constantly emphasise the mysterious,
putting an end to speech impediments. culture might have made us think. hippie dippy side of hypnotism. Too often,
André, who has been doing what he does she says, hypnotised people are depicted
for over 20 years, is quick to point out Claudia explains how hypnotherapy as puppets of the hypnotist.
that there’s a distinction between stage helps people reprogram themselves
hypnosis, which is a performance art,
and hypnotherapy, which is used to treat
certain conditions, overcome habits, and
deal with phobias. ‘I don't believe stage
hypnotists should be doing hypnotherapy,
just as I believe a hypnotherapist should
not be doing stage hypnosis.’

Someone who can use hypnosis to
treat various conditions, though, is Claudia

100 FEBRUARY 2018 kulula.com





TO SLEEP, PERCHANCE TO DREAM HEALTH, FITNESS & BEAUTY

Dreamquest

Anthony Sharpe goes behind the eyelids

(and down the rabbit hole), on a quest to unravel

the mysteries of sleep and dreams.

I ’ve never been an elegant sleeper.
Some folks manage to rest as if
posing for a still life, their somnolent
expressions like something out of an oil
painting – masks that hint at a romantic,
brush-stroke dreamscape unfolding
behind closed eyes, one arm folded
across the belly and the other reclined

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HEALTH, FITNESS & BEAUTY TO SLEEP, PERCHANCE TO DREAM

ogainst the soft down pillow, fingers just Nathaniel Kleitman, Aserinsky
resting upon a moonlit cheek. established that REM was linked
to dreaming, and pioneered
My expression is more a technique for measuring
like something out of The neurological activity during
Nightmare Before Christmas, sleep using an EEG.
mouth flung open, incisors Turns out there’s
visible, gangly body curled quite a bit going on
up in a half foetal position, behind those fluttering
limbs protruding at eyes. For one thing, if
staccato angles. you measure oxygen
and glucose metabolism
But this isn’t a story you discover that brain
about what’s happening on energy during REM is
the outside. This is a story equal to or even greater
about what’s unfolding behind than when you’re awake.
the eyelids when we sleep. There’s a time limit,
Look carefully at the critical though. You see, most
moment and you’ll notice the tell- narrative dreaming, which is
tale flickering of the lids indicating traditionally understood to take
when the human sleep subject is
deep in the stage of REM – that’s rapid place during REM, occurs in episodes,
eye movement, not the Michael Stipe usually about four or five a night, in
band. This strange and yet very human 90-minute cycles, roughly. Episodes early
phenomenon was first observed in in the night last about five to ten minutes,
1952 by pioneering sleep researcher lengthening to around 30 minutes as the
Eugene Aserinsky, who noticed patients’ night progresses. The rest of the time
eyes fluttering during sleep. He used you’re in non-REM sleep, which includes
a polygraph machine to measure their light sleep and deep sleep.
brain activity, confirming his suspicions
that this fluttering was indicative of, um, That’s the basic stuff. And the basic
something. Together with physiologist stuff will soon lead you deeper down

SLUMBER STUDIES polysomnography device that records an cardiovascular disorders.
electroencephalogram (EEG ) from six e next frontier to me is sleep in space
Dr Karine Scheuermaier conducts sleep to eight electrodes placed on the scalp,
studies at the Wits Sleep Laboratory. muscle tone from electrodes on the chin, and how we will adapt to sleeping on
We research sleep disorders to and eye movements from electrodes Mars. Several studies are conducted on
investigate the consequences of low sleep placed near the eyes. the International Space Station and in
duration/quality on cognition, mood and Sleep disorders are starting to be Antarctica to better understand how
performance, and also how these may recognised in South Africa as an humans can adapt to living in extreme
impact some functions in the body, such underlying issue in many of our chronic environments. It would be nice to conduct
as glucose uptake in cells, blood-pressure health problems – including mental studies on human sleep in our
control and indeed how it may affect our ones, but also more and more medical South African
immune-system regulation. issues, such as diabetes, obesity and Antarctic base.
During an in-laboratory study,
we typically use a machine called a

104 FEBRUARY 2018 kulula.com



HEALTH, FITNESS & BEAUTY TO SLEEP, PERCHANCE TO DREAM

the rabbit hole and into the domain Freud developed the persuasive theory serve an evolutionary
of oneirology – the scientific study of that dreams are based on wish fulfilment purpose, training us to deal
dreams. It is, unsurprisingly, a complicated – that they reveal unfulfilled desires with threatening situations or helping us
and contested field, because there are so buried in our psyches. It’s an idea that construct narratives in order to process
many different ways of investigating. has prevailed in dream research ever events that occur in our waking lives.
The data is obviously highly subjective, since, but is being challenged by According to Domhoff, however,
and we humans still have a lot to learn contemporary research. nothing that science claims to have learnt
about how the human brain works. about dreams is conclusive. If anything,
Some research suggests that dreams he says, we know that ‘dreams contain
Contrary to earlier beliefs, it turns out are simply bizarre – products of our psychological meaning, but have no
that you can dream during non-REM sleep neurons firing randomly while we sleep, adaptive function’. Thay are by and large
too. Some studies have demonstrated while other research posits that they ‘the accidental by-product of brain
that dreamers who could successfully activation during drifting waking
recall their dreams after awakening thought, drowsiness, and sleep’. Pictures: stockshoppe/shutterstock.com, NLshop/shutterstock.com
had experienced activity in different
cortical areas. These correlated And yet, while our dreams
with activity observed during the remain a mystery
recording of waking episodic
memories. Which, in English, because they seem
means your brain encodes to have played no
dream memories the same specific adaptive
way it encodes waking purpose, they
ones, in both REM and are universally
non-REM sleep. connected with
various aspects of
As William Domhoff, human culture.
a retired professor All over the world,
at the University of they have been
California who has been used in creative
at the forefront of dream ways, especially in
research for over two healing and religious
decades, puts it: ‘Now that
we know mind-wandering ceremonies, says
during waking and dreaming Domhoff. It may well be
during sleep are supported by the that they are linked to our
same relatively small region in the capacity for inventiveness,
brain, we can think of dreaming as an especially since there is an
intensified and enhanced form of mind- often overwhelming sense of
wandering, which for the first time links reality that accompanies our dreams.
dreaming directly to a waking state.’ I suppose dreams, then, are a kind
of art – endless interpretations and
However, while we are finally beginning reinterpretations, catharses and the
to understand the processes associated like, splashed across the canvas of the
with dreaming, the question of why we subconscious in the myriad colours of the
dream still remains. And what of their mind. Does art need to have meaning?
significance? Sigmund Freud’s theories on Not necessarily, but it carries meaning
dreaming have cast a long shadow over all the same.
oneirology since the late 19th century.

106 FEBRUARY 2018 kulula.com



machinesDREAM
Daydreamy wheels at nightmarish prices.

108 FEBRUARY 2018 kulula.com

HEY, BIG SPENDER ROAD TRIP

BMW I8 concept sketches and forms, the i8 MERCEDES-AMG C63 S
still looks very much like the Vision
The BMW i8 is the epitome of EfficientDynamics concept car it’s No other vehicle in the model portfolio
German precision and technology – based on. The two-tone silver and embodies the AMG ethos as flawlessly as
an entrancing machine that exudes black colour scheme looks brilliant the Mercedes-Benz C63. It’s an intimidating
presence. Climbing aboard is a bit of and is complemented by blue details machine – relentlessly fast and as loud
a spectacle as there’s no glamorous on its flanks and grille. There are no as they come. The perfect car for long,
way to get inside, leaving you to contort visible exhaust pipes but the surfacing exhilarating Sunday drives, it can go from
over the wide sills and limbo under the of the vehicle is so intricately detailed chilled to thrilled at the kick of the throttle.
door like a dazed raver at an Ibiza dance and explicit in execution that its
party. Like all modern BMWs, there’s absence is hardly noticeable to the It may be powered by a downsized
nothing intimidating inside and the casual observer. 4.0 litre but AMG has stuck with the
general feel is that of a typical BMW. In V8 recipe, using two turbochargers to
fact, bar the full colour LCD instrument Tired of all the attention? Well, you ensure it remains as feral as ever. As a
cluster, it’s very much like any other can most certainly sneak away from result the engine delivers more power,
Beemer in terms of layout and style any occasion in a semi-incognito fashion better performance and lower emissions
but you can’t deny the premium feel with nothing but the silent electric than ever before owing to some clever
and sense of occasion when buckled up motor powering the front wheels. engineering. The powerplant is closely
behind its steering wheel. According to the brochure, it can drive related to the one inhabiting the engine
for about 37 km on its 7.1 kWh lithium bay of Mercedes-AMG GT so the exhaust
It’s a real looker and will draw ion battery alone before the petrol note is full of emotion, and not as muted
attention wherever it rolls. Unlike engine intervenes. The ideal getaway as you’d expect. It’s sensory overload,
some production cars that seem to car if you have R2 015 300 to blow. really, and when you bludgeon the
lose the incandescent likeness of their throttle for the first time you realise
this car is a bit of a grizzly bear – big,
deceptively nimble and full of bite.
It’s more a daily driver than a track toy,
but, that said, it can do both very, very
well. Much of its adaptability stems
from its adjustable settings of the
engine and drivetrain. A car such
as this is better suited to the
successful corporate ladder climber
with more than a penchant for
performance and some
deep pockets –
it goes for
R1 352 700.

kulula.com FEBRUARY 2018 109

ROAD TRIP HEY, BIG SPENDER

VOLVO S60 POLESTAR MASERATI GHIBLI S doors – you simply can’t dispute its beauty.
Its Ferrari-built 3.0-litre twin turbocharged
Volvo has morphed significantly The Ghibli moniker is nothing new to the V6 will sate the performance thirst of
over the past few years into a Maserati brand, having first appeared in any enthusiasts – loud and proud and
sophisticated and well sought-after 1967 as a 2+2 coupe. It celebrated great appreciably powerful, it produces 301 kW
brand. Its cars are cool – made success during its seven-year lifecycle and 550 Nm of rotational thrust. It’s a truly
cooler by the company’s outlook but the Ghibli nameplate would go on a enticing thing and is without a doubt the
on safety in general and their three-decade hiatus before its return from most rounded Maser ever made. The charm,
acquisition of Polestar Performance. 1992 to 1997 with the twin-turbocharged allure and sense of occasion it evokes will
The car you see here is no regular V6 Ghibli Mark 2. Having it back once again undoubtedly score big in the hearts of those
S60; it’s been significantly tweaked is good news! Visually you can’t mistake it who want to stand out from crowd. Of
by the Polestar division for not only for anything but a Maserati. All the seminal course, forking out R1 616 836 on a car
the performance pundit but for cues are present, from the fender vents to will make anyone stand out.
everyday driving conditions too. the trapezoidal grille complete with Trident
logo. While some may find it lacks visual
So what’s all the fuss about? clout – especially from the rear – the lower
Well, it’s a genuine Polestar model central airdam at the front together with
for starters which means it features the tapered head-lamps and quad-pipe rear
over 50 upgrades and 200 new parts bumper arrangement does inject it with a
over the regular S60 T6 model. sense of cultured malevolence. However, it’s
The biggest change forms part of more the vehicle’s resounding sophistication
the power plant – the 3.0 litre six- that causes onlookers to break out in
cylinder engine has been massaged synchronised rubbernecking routines. Just
to the tune of 255 kW and 500 Nm look at its balanced profile, underscored
of torque. by a classical, never-ending bonnet, short
front and rear overhangs and frameless
The S60 Polestar is the antithesis
of mainstream ideology – it’s ideal
for the non-conformist. It’s also
the one dream car that’s worth
dreaming about: at R765 300,
it’s less than half the price of the
Maserati.

110 FEBRUARY 2018 kulula.com





DREAMING IN FOREIGN CURRENCY MONEY MATTERS

I s now a good time to invest overseas?
Certainly, according to the experts,
who recommend having at least
30 per cent of your portfolio offshore.

But make sure you’re doing it for the

right reasons, they warn.

While no one’s giving up on SA yet,

there are a number of good reasons

for investing offshore. ‘Investing in

international assets allows for far

greater diversification, which is a

key investment

principle for

reducing risk,’

explains Paul

Hutchinson, sales

manager at Investec

Asset Management. ‘It

provides access to countries,

currencies, asset classes and industries

that are not available locally.’ This

includes, among other sectors,

technology stocks.

Another consideration is reduced

emerging market and

currency risk.

‘With inflation 30%
hovering near six
per cent, South
Africa’s inflation

Whether you’re saving for an overseas holiday or a world
cruise when you retire, there are compelling reasons to invest

offshore, writes Katherine Graham

kulula.com FEBRUARY 2018 113

MONEY MATTERS DREAMING IN FOREIGN CURRENCY

rate exceeds the inflation rates of ‘When the environment is obviously manager or investing directly in foreign
our major trading partners,’ says toxic and herd instinct takes over, the currency with a foreign manager. ‘It’s
Hutchinson. ‘Therefore, over time we news is normally already reflected in simpler to invest in rands via a local
can expect the rand to depreciate the price of assets,’ says Alwyn van der manager,’ says Lamb, ‘but access to these
against these currencies.’ Merwe, director of investments of Sanlam options will depend on the manager’s
Private Wealth. He advises against selling overall foreign exchange capacity.’
WHAT’S THE DOWNSIDE? when local assets are cheap and offshore
assets are expensive – an unattractive Most balanced funds in SA are able to
‘Many South Africans got burnt when value proposition. invest up to 25 per cent abroad, which
they invested offshore in 2001 [at the most of them are doing anyway. If you’re
time of Zimbabwe’s farm invasions] when HOW TO DO IT comfortable with that level of overseas
the rand traded at around R12 to the exposure, you may not need to make any
dollar,’ says Hutchinson. It subsequently So how do you invest offshore? If you changes to your portfolio.
strengthened all the way back to around want to buy unit trusts, there are two
R6 to the dollar. options: investing in a rand-denominated A more aggressive approach may be
offshore unit trust offered by a local to invest in a worldwide flexible fund, but
Entering the unknown will always have even with higher offshore exposure, your
its disadvantages. ‘Investing offshore gives returns will still be in rands and you’ll Picture: stickerama/shutterstock.com
you access to much wider investment remain exposed to domestic political risk.
opportunities, but you are also inherently Most daring of all are those who choose
exposed to economies that face their to invest in foreign-domiciled funds,
own unique conundrums – albeit that which in the past were tricky because
single country risk can be diversified
across a global portfolio,’ says Tamryn of the need for tax and Reserve
Lamb, head of Orbis Client Servicing, Bank clearance.
Allan Gray’s offshore partner. ‘However, now that
investors can invest up
Keeping your money invested for to R1 million annually
a long time makes all the difference, in an international
argues Investec’s Hutchinson. ‘Studies fund without the need
have shown that in the short term, all for any prior approvals, they
the risk and reward of investing
offshore is explained by the can access foreign-domiciled
currency movement and it’s international funds with relative
only over the longer term that ease,’ explains Hutchinson. In addition,
investors benefit from the appreciation investors have a foreign capital
of the underlying offshore assets they’re allowance of up to R10 million per
invested in.’ calendar year, for which they do need to
obtain tax clearance from SARS.

PUT YOUR FEELINGS ASIDE

Investing overseas needs to be done from a financial planning perspective, not an emotional one. ‘International diversification is a must
for every portfolio, but it’s a sophisticated process,’ says Andrew Brotchie of Glacier International. Which is why, as always, it’s best to
speak to your financial advisor about your needs now and your dreams for the future.

Before rushing offshore, investors need to take a step back and explore the reasons why they should be diversifying geographically,
adds Sanlam Private Wealth’s Alwyn van der Merwe. ‘In our view, South Africa does still offer unique investment opportunities and it
would be short-sighted to ship out an entire portfolio.’

114 FEBRUARY 2018 kulula.com





BEATS COUNTING SHEEP KEEPSAKE

C ounting ants. That’s what Wits ‘I document just about everything ‘They are incredibly shy and difficult
PhD candidate Wendy Panaino they do. Every single second of their lives. to see. They camouflage well and
does for a considerable portion A pangolin doesn’t do much. They walk, they’re very quick to keep still if there’s a

of her days at Tswalu Private Game eat, walk, eat, walk, eat. But when they disturbance. Most pangolins will freeze,

Reserve in the Kalahari. cower, and, if you

Panaino’s research is Nightwatch become more intrusive,
looking at the effects of they’ll roll into a ball.
climate change on Cape A predator is not easily
pangolins. Although much going to get through
of the attention given that scale covering –
to these incredibly shy it’s like armour and

animals in recent years most predators give

has been around the fact up trying to eat them,

that they’re the most heavily-trafficked are eating, I document precisely which so the pangolin escapes.’

mammals on the planet, Panaino’s species they eat, which tree or shrub or Panaino believes Tswalu is a good

interest is in trying to find out how these grass that species was found under, and place for this research because sightings

little-understood creatures are coping how long was spent eating. They are here seem to have increased over the

physiologically in what’s considered an incredibly specific feeders. They won’t just last few years. ‘The Kgalagadi’s softer

extreme environment. ‘These areas in eat any ant. Tswalu has over 30 available sand makes finding tracks easier, so

Africa are predicted to get hotter and ant species, but our pangolins primarily sightings tend to be more frequent. In

dryer, so we’d like to see how that’s going target just three of those.’ Kruger, trying to track pangolins on the

to affect pangolins’ survival. Usually the Panaino also documents any other hard soil with all the grasses is almost

response of an animal would be to alter behaviours – like sand bathing and scent impossible.’

their genetics, adapting to conditions marking – essentially mapping their There’s a lot that makes pangolins

over time, but with the rate that climate entire activity budget. During her time special, Panaino says. ‘Ultimately, I

Words: Keith Bain, Photograph: 2630ben/shutterstsock.com change is happening, they might not have at Tswalu, she’s managed to see a tiny think it’s their innocence. They’re not

time to do that.’ baby just days after it had been born, here to hurt anyone, they’re not going

It’s not all ant-counting, though. While and she’s witnessed a strange territorial to attack a human, they’re so gentle.

there are long hours spent sifting through intimidation stand-off between two They just want to go about their own

the ants that fall into the traps she sets males. She says it involved some weird business and do their feeding. There’s

at pangolin feeding sites, Panaino’s nights hissing but no violence. something so special about that. It’s like

are more action-packed. That’s when she they’ve decided: “I’m just here to exist,

waits for one of the five pangolins she walk around, and play my role in the

has fitted with telemetry tracking ecosystem.” They have something to

devices to emerge from their teach humans about minding

burrows and then follows their own business.’

them around as they 17 February is World

sniff out ants to Pangolin Day,

feed on. pangolins.org

kulula.com FEBRUARY 2018 117



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