Carolinda Witt
Encyclopedia
Carolinda Witt is a globally known hot air balloon
pilot and complementary health practitioner whose primary area of expertise is as a teacher of The Five Tibetans, a yoga methodology originally described by Peter Kelder in his book “The Eye Of Revelation”.
where her father, Frederick Witt was Managing Director of the Commercial Union Insurance Company for East Africa. She attended Loreto College
Msongari in Nairobi where she was an outstanding swimmer, starting to swim competitively when she was 7 years old. When she was eleven and twelve she represented Kenya in two international competitions against Zambia
, competing in the ‘Girls Twelve & Under’ age group where she broke three national records: The Girls 12 & Under 200 metres Backstroke Kenya Junior Record, the Kenya Junior Record and the 100 metres backstroke Zambian Age Group All Comers Record.
In 1968 she continued her training with Reinhardt Kunkel the former West German Freestyle Champion, with a view to competing in the Munich Olympics in 1972. However she subsequently broke her shoulder and as a result stopped swimming competitively and then the family moved from Kenya to South Africa where she attended St. Anne's Diocesan College
, Hilton, KwaZulu. In 1971 they moved again to London and shortly afterwards to Barbados
. In 1984 Carolinda and her husband, Martin, sold their company, Unicare Medical Services, and moved to Australia.
Several years later Carolinda married a fellow balloon pilot who gave her a sky blue balloon with Carolinda written around it. Together with her friend, the late Sheila Scott
, the famous aviatrix, who amongst her 100 flying records, flew solo over the North Pole in 1956, she flew this balloon throughout the UK drawing attention to the plight of otters whose habitat was being destroyed.
In 1988 she flew the Virgin Jumbo Jet shaped balloon across Australia in the Bicentennial Trans-Australia balloon race.
, Thought Field Therapy, Holistic Pulsing, Magnetic Therapy, the Kinaesthetic Process and Reiki
and has taught these methods both privately, in groups and at TAFE Colleges. She holds a Certificate IV in Assessment & Workplace Training
.
In 2000 Carolinda started teaching the original version of The Five Tibetan Rites
in workshops throughout Australia. Her teaching followed the methodology described by Peter Kelder in his 1939 book “The Eye of Revelation”. Over time she started to modify her teaching of the Rites reflecting various changes adopted in books that updated Kelder’s work.
She consulted chiropractors
, physiotherapists
, osteopaths
, Iyengar Yoga, Pilates, Feldenkrais Method
, and Occupation Health Practitioners and asked them to help her develop modifications to the Rites that would both maintain their integrity - and prevent the occurrence of injury.
As a result of this input she developed a step-by-step method of learning the Rites that progressively built people’s strength & flexibility from the inside out. She branded this as T5T - an abbreviation for The Five Tibetan Rites
A major key to this improvement was the addition of core stability
to the Rites. Core muscles when correctly activated completely encircle the spine, stabilizing and supporting it like a natural weight-belt or girdle. Another key was to remove the potential for injury inherent in the original version by avoiding compression
of the vertebrae & discs of the lumbar and cervical spine.
Another major change to the original version was the addition of “Energy Breathing”. With input from renowned breathing expert Michael Grant White, the developer of Optimal Breathing , T5T incorporates a larger focus on breathing, including three “Energy Breaths” which are performed between each Rite (movement). The result is a more flexible and adaptive breath during your normal daily life – as well as increased calm and reduced anxiety.
25 June 77 2nd place Towry Law Balloon Race, Longleat Safari Park
1977 Crew - UK National Hot Air Balloon Championship in "Tsuru" balloon
1979 Record Attempt in Cameron 77 balloon "Famous Grouse Whiskey" Registration No: GLOAG with Lady Gwendoline Bellew to be first women to fly across the English Channel from Bristol to France but were beaten by Renee Thornton
May 1978 Won Anglo French Meet in Vittel France With Chris Kirby - in an all red Cameron 77 balloon called Moulin Rouge
30 May 79- Flew Moulin Rouge C77 balloon for Queensway Discount Store advert
1979 Crew - UK National Hot Air Balloon Championship in a Cameron N56 balloon "Valor" Registration No: GBEXZ
1979 Commercial Pilot for "The Balloon Stable" Company in UK in Cameron V56 "Hot Lips" Registration No: GBDUZ
31 March 1979 flew Anglo French Meet in Maintenon France With Martin Moroney, in Cameron C56N "Valor"
17 June 1979 - Flew famous aviator Sheila Scott
from Sudely Castle in a Thunder 56 balloon "Argonaut" Registration No:GBDVG
15 January 1981 First flight in eponymously named blue Cameron 42 called Carolinda - Registration No GBIGC
1988 – Competed in Australian Bicentennial Trans-Australia Balloon Race piloting jumbo jet shaped Virgin balloon, GUMBO
Hot air balloon
The hot air balloon is the oldest successful human-carrying flight technology. It is in a class of aircraft known as balloon aircraft. On November 21, 1783, in Paris, France, the first untethered manned flight was made by Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier and François Laurent d'Arlandes in a hot air...
pilot and complementary health practitioner whose primary area of expertise is as a teacher of The Five Tibetans, a yoga methodology originally described by Peter Kelder in his book “The Eye Of Revelation”.
Early years
Carolinda was born in KenyaKenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
where her father, Frederick Witt was Managing Director of the Commercial Union Insurance Company for East Africa. She attended Loreto College
Loreto College
Loreto College or Loreto School is the name of several Roman Catholic schools throughout the world associated with the Sisters of Loreto.-Australia:*Loreto College Coorparoo, Queensland*Loreto College Ballarat, Victoria...
Msongari in Nairobi where she was an outstanding swimmer, starting to swim competitively when she was 7 years old. When she was eleven and twelve she represented Kenya in two international competitions against Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
, competing in the ‘Girls Twelve & Under’ age group where she broke three national records: The Girls 12 & Under 200 metres Backstroke Kenya Junior Record, the Kenya Junior Record and the 100 metres backstroke Zambian Age Group All Comers Record.
In 1968 she continued her training with Reinhardt Kunkel the former West German Freestyle Champion, with a view to competing in the Munich Olympics in 1972. However she subsequently broke her shoulder and as a result stopped swimming competitively and then the family moved from Kenya to South Africa where she attended St. Anne's Diocesan College
St. Anne's Diocesan College
St. Anne's Diocesan College is a private girls' boarding school situated in the small town of Hilton in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands of South Africa.-History:...
, Hilton, KwaZulu. In 1971 they moved again to London and shortly afterwards to Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
. In 1984 Carolinda and her husband, Martin, sold their company, Unicare Medical Services, and moved to Australia.
Ballooning History
In 1975 Carolinda started hot air ballooning and in 1979 she and another balloon pilot, Lady Gwen Bellew attempted to become the first female balloon pilots to cross the English Channel sponsored by Famous Grouse Whiskey. They were pipped at the post by another female pilot, Renee Thornton.Several years later Carolinda married a fellow balloon pilot who gave her a sky blue balloon with Carolinda written around it. Together with her friend, the late Sheila Scott
Sheila Scott
Sheila Scott OBE , was an English aviatrix.Born Sheila Christine Hopkins in Worcester, Worcestershire, England in 1922, educated at the Alice Ottley School, she broke over 100 aviation records through her long distance flight endeavours, which included a "world and a half" flight in 1971...
, the famous aviatrix, who amongst her 100 flying records, flew solo over the North Pole in 1956, she flew this balloon throughout the UK drawing attention to the plight of otters whose habitat was being destroyed.
In 1988 she flew the Virgin Jumbo Jet shaped balloon across Australia in the Bicentennial Trans-Australia balloon race.
The Five Tibetan Rites Teaching History
Carolinda has held a life-long interest in healing and teaching. She has diplomas in Clinical HypnotherapyHypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy is a therapy that is undertaken with a subject in hypnosis.The word "hypnosis" is an abbreviation of James Braid's term "neuro-hypnotism", meaning "sleep of the nervous system"....
, Thought Field Therapy, Holistic Pulsing, Magnetic Therapy, the Kinaesthetic Process and Reiki
Reiki
is a spiritual practice developed in 1922 by Japanese Buddhist Mikao Usui. The teaching was continued and adapted by various teachers. It uses a technique commonly called palm healing as a form of complementary and alternative medicine and is sometimes classified as oriental medicine by some...
and has taught these methods both privately, in groups and at TAFE Colleges. She holds a Certificate IV in Assessment & Workplace Training
Australian Qualifications Framework
The Australian Qualifications Framework provides the hierarchy of educational qualifications in Australia. It is administered nationally by the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. Few qualifications outside the system are accepted by employers or for...
.
In 2000 Carolinda started teaching the original version of The Five Tibetan Rites
Five Tibetan Rites
The Five Tibetan Rites is a system of exercises reported to be more than 2,500 years old which were first publicized by Peter Kelder in a 1939 publication entitled The Eye of Revelation...
in workshops throughout Australia. Her teaching followed the methodology described by Peter Kelder in his 1939 book “The Eye of Revelation”. Over time she started to modify her teaching of the Rites reflecting various changes adopted in books that updated Kelder’s work.
Current History
She wanted to keep the original Five Tibetan Rites as authentic as possible, but she had noticed a pattern among students participating in the workshops that she ran. Despite very detailed instruction and personal attention, a small percentage of students in every workshop who would develop lower back or neck pain. This would result in them having to cease doing their daily practice, or even visit various health practitioners for treatment.She consulted chiropractors
Chiropractic
Chiropractic is a health care profession concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disorders of the neuromusculoskeletal system and the effects of these disorders on general health. It is generally categorized as complementary and alternative medicine...
, physiotherapists
Physical therapy
Physical therapy , often abbreviated PT, is a health care profession. Physical therapy is concerned with identifying and maximizing quality of life and movement potential within the spheres of promotion, prevention, diagnosis, treatment/intervention,and rehabilitation...
, osteopaths
Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine
Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine is the application of the distinct osteopathic philosophy, structural diagnosis and use of Osteopathic Manipulative Technique in the diagnosis and management of the patient. OMM takes into account the physical and mental health of a patient, and how either aspect...
, Iyengar Yoga, Pilates, Feldenkrais Method
Feldenkrais method
The Feldenkrais Method is a somatic educational system designed by Moshé Feldenkrais . The Feldenkrais method aims to improve movement repertoire, aiming to expand and refine the use of the self through awareness, in order to reduce pain or limitations in movement, and promote general well-being...
, and Occupation Health Practitioners and asked them to help her develop modifications to the Rites that would both maintain their integrity - and prevent the occurrence of injury.
As a result of this input she developed a step-by-step method of learning the Rites that progressively built people’s strength & flexibility from the inside out. She branded this as T5T - an abbreviation for The Five Tibetan Rites
A major key to this improvement was the addition of core stability
Core stability
Core stability relates to the bodily region bounded by the abdominal wall, the pelvis, the lower back and the diaphragm and its ability to stabilise the body during movement. The main muscles involved include the transversus abdominus, the internal and external obliques, the quadratus lumborum and...
to the Rites. Core muscles when correctly activated completely encircle the spine, stabilizing and supporting it like a natural weight-belt or girdle. Another key was to remove the potential for injury inherent in the original version by avoiding compression
Sciatica
Sciatica is a set of symptoms including pain that may be caused by general compression or irritation of one of five spinal nerve roots that give rise to each sciatic nerve, or by compression or irritation of the left or right or both sciatic nerves. The pain is felt in the lower back, buttock, or...
of the vertebrae & discs of the lumbar and cervical spine.
Another major change to the original version was the addition of “Energy Breathing”. With input from renowned breathing expert Michael Grant White, the developer of Optimal Breathing , T5T incorporates a larger focus on breathing, including three “Energy Breaths” which are performed between each Rite (movement). The result is a more flexible and adaptive breath during your normal daily life – as well as increased calm and reduced anxiety.
Published Works & History
- In 2005 Penguin Books published Carolinda Witt's "T5T: The Five Tibetan Exercise Rites"
- In 2007 Random House published Carolinda Witt's "The 10-Minute Rejuvenation Plan - T5T: The Revolutionary Exercise Program That Restores Your Body and Mind"
- In 2007 Carolinda Witt produced a Companion DVD to go with the books above and a Distance-Education Teacher Training Program
Ballooning Highlights
28 Aug 1977 Obtained Hot Air Balloon Pilots Licence in a - Cameron 77 balloon "Tsuru" Registration No: GBCXM25 June 77 2nd place Towry Law Balloon Race, Longleat Safari Park
1977 Crew - UK National Hot Air Balloon Championship in "Tsuru" balloon
1979 Record Attempt in Cameron 77 balloon "Famous Grouse Whiskey" Registration No: GLOAG with Lady Gwendoline Bellew to be first women to fly across the English Channel from Bristol to France but were beaten by Renee Thornton
May 1978 Won Anglo French Meet in Vittel France With Chris Kirby - in an all red Cameron 77 balloon called Moulin Rouge
30 May 79- Flew Moulin Rouge C77 balloon for Queensway Discount Store advert
1979 Crew - UK National Hot Air Balloon Championship in a Cameron N56 balloon "Valor" Registration No: GBEXZ
1979 Commercial Pilot for "The Balloon Stable" Company in UK in Cameron V56 "Hot Lips" Registration No: GBDUZ
31 March 1979 flew Anglo French Meet in Maintenon France With Martin Moroney, in Cameron C56N "Valor"
17 June 1979 - Flew famous aviator Sheila Scott
Sheila Scott
Sheila Scott OBE , was an English aviatrix.Born Sheila Christine Hopkins in Worcester, Worcestershire, England in 1922, educated at the Alice Ottley School, she broke over 100 aviation records through her long distance flight endeavours, which included a "world and a half" flight in 1971...
from Sudely Castle in a Thunder 56 balloon "Argonaut" Registration No:GBDVG
15 January 1981 First flight in eponymously named blue Cameron 42 called Carolinda - Registration No GBIGC
1988 – Competed in Australian Bicentennial Trans-Australia Balloon Race piloting jumbo jet shaped Virgin balloon, GUMBO