Trapeze artist writes book about healing

It was working as a catcher on the flying trapeze that taught Allan Weppenaar Pedersen about flow – and it was coming close to death that prompted him to finally write a book about how this concept had shaped his life.

Now based in Denmark, Allan, who was born in Namaqualand in 1953, moved to Cape Town at the age of five and lived there until 16 when he left to tour Europe with a circus. 

“I went to Jan van Riebeeck Primary and High School, where I had a solid, classical education — but my true schooling happened outside the classroom: in nature, in breath, in movement, and in the quiet moments when I felt life speaking to me,” he says.

“At the age of 16, in 1970, I left South Africa to tour Europe with a circus, and that bold step shaped the rest of my life. I worked as a catcher on the flying trapeze, performing across the continent — and learning deep lessons about trust, timing, presence, and flow. It was a time of discipline, exhilaration, and living completely in the moment.”

Allan still owns a home in Gardens and returns to Cape Town with his wife Charlotte at least once a year. He was recently in the city to launch his book Flow: Pathway to wellness, joy and fulfilment.

“Cape Town is where I feel a deep sense of belonging,” he says. “The mountain, the light, the ocean — they are part of my body memory. It’s a place of soul for me, and I feel immense gratitude every time we return.”

In the book, you can learn about the essence of flow, the different philosophies Allan has studied – and lived by – over the years, the impact yoga and meditation have had on his life, as well as simple practices you can experiment with to achieve flow in your own life. I asked Allan to share some of his insights in his own words.

What inspired you to write Flow, and how did your diverse background shape its content?

The inspiration for writing Flow came from a lifetime of exploring what it truly means to be alive — to be in full contact with the joy, power, and beauty of life. From a young age, I was immersed in extraordinary experiences that shaped how I perceive energy, presence, and vitality. As a boy, I spent time walking barefoot in the bush with my grandmother, who gathered herbs and taught me to listen to nature. That sense of connection to the earth and its rhythm never left me.

At the age of 10, I began practising yoga and discovered how breath, movement, and awareness can open the body and mind to a deeper state of being. 

Later in life, I studied various spiritual traditions, including Taoism, Tibetan Buddhism, and African philosophies like Ubuntu. I learned from remarkable teachers, including meditation teacher Bob Moore, and had deeply meaningful conversations with a monk from Mount Athos. These experiences, along with my near-death encounter and years of work with the energy body, gave me a profound sense that we can live with more joy, more ease, and more depth — if we learn how to tune into the natural flow of life within and around us.

The book brings all of this together — ancient wisdom, embodied practice, personal insight — and presents it as a simple, accessible path that anyone can use to enhance their health, mood, vitality, and sense of purpose. 

Which daily practice or habit helps you stay in flow?

One of the most important habits I’ve developed is how I begin my day. I call it “waking in flow”. I give myself the first 10 minutes after waking to stay in that calm, receptive alpha brainwave state. I lie quietly, breathe gently, and scan my body. I listen. I ask: What does my body need today? What wants to move, to unfold? This sets the tone for the whole day — it’s a soft, powerful way of tuning into the natural rhythm of life before the world rushes in.

Another practice I use throughout the day is the FeelGoodFlow Breath. I take a deep breath in, and as I exhale, I let out a soft sound — a hum, sigh, or whisper — which relaxes my nervous system. At the same time, I bring a light smile to my face. That smile is more than emotional — it’s chemical. It signals the release of endorphins, dopamine, and other feel-good hormones.

What challenges did you face while producing this book?

Writing this book was both a joy and a calling, but it also came during one of the most physically challenging periods of my life. Just before I began writing in earnest, I faced a serious illness that led to an operation. The experience left me weak and depleted and, at one point, came close to death. Everything I had learned and taught about flow, life force, and inner vitality suddenly became very real, and very necessary.

In the recovery, I had to live my teachings – not just talk about them. I tuned into my body every day. I used breathwork, gentle movement, meditation, and nutritional intuition to guide my healing. Slowly, I regained strength, and not only did I recover, I eventually gained back my weight with improved muscle and bone mass. At 71, that’s no small thing.

That near-death experience clarified something essential: this book isn’t just a collection of ideas. It’s the distilled essence of what helped me survive, heal, and thrive – and I knew I had to share it.

Publishing came with the usual challenges – navigating self-doubt, managing time, learning the technical side of book creation – but compared to what I had just lived through, those obstacles felt like part of the flow. Writing became a healing act in itself, and every page was written with the hope that it might support someone else in returning to their own joy, strength, and aliveness.

• Allan is currently working on his next book Flow in Faith – Fly on the Wings of Life, which is due out later this year. In February next year, he’ll be back in Cape Town, where he’ll be hosting “a deep dive into flow through nature, stillness, rhythm, and community” in Constantia.

For more information on Allan’s work, visit feelgoodflow.net