Hendrik van der Merwe/Zendrik has over 37 years experience as a healer, bodywork therapist and yogi. He started his formal training in Buddhist Philosophy and Meditation and Hatha Yoga at the age of 21. He was trained as a Sivananda Yoga Teacher and has been teaching yoga for 25 years. He studied with two Zen Masters and received transmissions from Namkai Norbu, a Tibetan Lama of the Dzochen school. His life and work is heavily influenced by Advaita Vedanta and the teachings of Nisargadatta as well as A Course in Miracles. Zendrik is also a musician, sound healer and sculptor.

 

He founded the Ananda Healing Center in San Marcos La Laguan on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala, where he taught courses and provided individual therapeutic services in Thai Massage, Chi Nei Tsang (Taoist Abdominal Massage), Reiki and Esoteric Healing from 2014 to 2018.

 

Since then he has been traveling and teaching in Europe and South Africa and from January 2020 lived and worked in India for 2 years, in Goa, Auroville and Dharamsala. He is also a breath work facilitator and has been offering Medicine Tantra workshops and retreats for individuals and couples for over 10 years.

 

Zendrik is an integrative practitioner, combining various disciplines, techniques and modalities to approach healing and personal growth in a holistic way. His yoga classes are focused on the harmony of the inner and outer asana. His work as a healer and teacher is predominantly focused on releasing emotional and mental energy blockages and old cellular memories for deep lasting healing and spiritual growth. Singing, dancing, making music and art is all a part of his spiritual practice.

 

Please see the blog posts for more about his work, travel writing and poetry. 

​

​

 

 

Welcome to this window into my world.

​

I’ve called my home in Wilderness, South Africa, Anahata, the sanscrit word used for the heart chakra, with various meanings, such as unstuck, or unhurt or unharmed, and the sound that is made without something being struck. The primordial sound. The hum of the universe.

​

It is more than just my home, it’s also a space for transformation, somatic healing, and creative exploration. It’s a place where you can reconnect with your body, your spirit, and your soul’s essence.

​

A journey with purpose

My path has been anything but conventional. Raised by parents who infused my life with wisdom from Jungian philosophy, fine arts, Zen Buddhism, and a deep commitment to justice and peace, I initially left high school with a passion for law and human rights.

​

But life had other plans. After national service in the navy, and a year of travel, I turned toward studying psychology, then sculpture, music, yoga, meditation, and the art and science of energy healing and somatic bodywork.

​

In 1987, I began studying with my first mentors in somatic healing, and since then, I’ve trained in Thai massage, Chi Nei Tsang and Karsai Nei Tsang, and Reiki. 

 

My personal journey has been deeply influenced by Zen and Dzogchen,, Tantra and The Tao, and other teachings of non-duality, as well as the study of Carl Jung’s work. 

 

Shamanism and plant allies have played a role in my life.

​

Over the years, I’ve taught training courses and led retreats around the world—from Mexico to Guatemala, South Africa, Europe, and India. 

 

In 2022 I returned to South Africa, where I’m now building a new chapter in my life and work:  Anahata, a holistic healing and creative arts center in the heart of Wilderness, in the Garden Route in the Southern Cape.

​

The Heart of My Work: Healing, Energy, and Transformation

​

At the core of my work is a deep belief in the power of energy to heal, transform, and restore. Our emotional and mental blockages—often shaped by stress, trauma, bad diet and lack of exercise, and the physical toxins we encounter daily—hold us back from living a good life. Through somatic bodywork and processing our emotions and traumas, we can release these blockages and restore the flow of vital energy.

​

Over the past 35 years, I’ve refined my approach, focusing primarily on Chi Nei Tsang—a Taoist abdominal massage that helps release stored toxins and energy from the abdomen, restoring balance to the body’s organs and systems. Alongside this, I integrate other healing modalities like deep tissue massage, Thai massage, Reiki, and emotional counseling, guiding my clients toward both physical and spiritual well-being.

​

Wellness Beyond the Surface: A Holistic Approach to Healing

​

For me, wellness is more than just the absence of illness. It’s about thriving—feeling energized, creative, and aligned with your true self. It’s about living in harmony with the energy around you and within you. My work is about helping you connect to your inner power and embrace all that you are.

 

Whether it’s through yoga, meditation, creativity, or energy work, I believe that the path to wellness is an ongoing journey of self-discovery. Yoga has been a cornerstone of my own persona practice, and I teach classes that emphasize both the inner and outer harmony of posture, breath, and energy.

 

Join the Journey

​

If you're ready to explore this path of healing and self-discovery, I invite you to join me. Whether through private sessions, workshops, or retreats, we’ll work together to unlock your true potential and support you in living your most vibrant life.

​

Check out my blog for insights on health, wellness, and personal growth. And if you're ready to dive deeper into your journey, I’d love to connect with you.