AfriShanti Wellness Founder

Rev. Ryan Edmonds

My mission is to bring holistic teachings to the lives of my clients that give them the tools to heal, adapt, adjust, and thrive.


MY BACKGROUND

I was raised in a home that prioritised healing practices, meditation, connection with nature, and open honest communication.  From a young age I was passionate about finding ways to help people who were feeling lost or in pain. 

Before Grade 11 I had set up an HIV/AIDS community support group doing fundraising.  

From 2006 I began to formally train in several complimentary healing approaches, while also pursuing my Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from the University of Johannesburg (UJ). 

Between 2007-2011 I interned for the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), beginning at a telephonic suicide counsellor, and then working my way up to School Projects Manager. In this capacity I spent five years travelling South Africa setting up support groups, doing talks on Mental Health, and being a guest speaker/journalist on over 20 media channels, including Men's Health, Al Jazeera, Expresso, BBC, Radio Islam, 5FM, Jacaranda FM, Psychologies, African Journal of Psychiatry, Waiting Room, Good Morning Africa, CTV, and many more. 

During my under-grad I trained and certified as an ISHTA Yoga Teacher (YTF, IYF), and later in 2015 as a Kundalini Yoga Teacher (IKYTA).  In 2016 I was conferred the honour of Yoga Teacher Master Trainer (ISHTA Yoga School), and have trained over 100 yoga teachers from many parts of the world.

While continuing my post-grad studies through UNISA, I trained in (non-medical) Hypnosis and Parts Therapy through the SAIH, qualified through Hospice in Bereavement Counselling, completed Life Line training, and had established myself as a professional Life Coach and Holistic Counsellor. 

I now run a full time counselling practice from home (in person and online), and have many international clients. I run two 6 month Yoga Teacher Training certification programmes a year, and host several annual yoga retreats around South Africa and India. 

I received my Bachelor's Degree in Psychology at the University of Johannesburg in 2010, and have worked ever since in the field of Mental Health. I spent 10 years working with SADAG (the South African Depression & Anxiety Group) as a suicide counsellor, and as an outreach manager through the Dept. of Social Development. 

I have certifications from Life Line, Hospice, FAMSA, SADAG and SAIH which have enabled me to master extremely helpful tools that can benefit a wide range of presenting challenges. These tools include non-medical hypnosis techniques, bereavement work, methods to assist people struggling with symptoms of anxiety, PTSD and depression, mindfulness, life coaching, narrative counselling, family and marriage counselling, teenage support, parts-therapy, and Vedic-based (Eastern philosophical) wisdom.

In 2024 I was registered at a Religious Marriage Officer through Dept of Home Affairs, and ordained as a Reverend through the SAPC.

I now practice full time as a Wellness Counsellor registered through the ASCHP, as well as a consulting Traditional Healer, Diviner, Retreat Host and Trainer.

QUALIFICATIONS

WORK

WORK IN THE MEDIA

SPEAKER & TRAINER

Ryan Has Been Featured On