Health & Wellness this October | Woodstock Improvement District

We are smashing all stigmas! Going to therapy is cool, talking about your fears and anxieties is encouraged, seeking help and empowering yourself and others about mental illnesses are all no longer taboo. And even if you do not suffer from mental illness, overall wellness and happiness is important too with self-care being a buzzword.

October has been declared Mental Health Awareness month and as we celebrate National Nutrition week this week, we will look at various wellness centres in and around Woodstock – from health stores, yoga schools, urban gardens, spas, meditation centres as well stockists of healthy food that’s good for the body.

As many as one in six South Africans suffer from anxiety, depression or substance-use problems (and this does not include more serious conditions such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia), according to statistics released by the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG). Cassey Chambers, Operations Director at SADAG says that because “people don’t know where to go to get help, or are too scared to seek it, the stats we have are still not a true reflection of what is actually happening on the ground.”

Stigmas surrounding mental health pose a major stumbling block when it comes to treating the disease in South Africa, explains Chambers. There is still the perception that someone with a mental illness is crazy, dangerous or weak. Because there is often an absence of physical symptoms with mental illness, it is considered ‘not real’, or a figment of the imagination.”

Begin your journey of self-care with the list of places we have put together for you here.

Soul Woodstock

Soul is a beautiful high vibrational space to unwind and meet like-minded individuals. They offer a plant-based cafe, crystal store, healing space for events, outside area and library with very friendly and welcoming staff.

As a Holistic Wellness Centre, they also host conscious talks and workshops. The talks include breathworks, astrology, crystal healing, chakra balancing, aromatherapy, gut health, herbology, trauma release, kinesiology, empath talks, experience sound journeys and women’s circles just to name a few.

Soul also hosts events to welcome every individual to connect in a harmonious space!

Check out their Facebook page for more information

web.facebook.com/soulcapetown

Bali Spa

Bali Spa is inspired by the beauty of Bali’s natural environment and traditions, with intensive trained therapists that specialise in authentic Indonesian massages and treatments.

Bali spa is collaborating spaces with The Woodstock Loft – situated at 100 Victoria Road Woodstock – to bring you high-end luxury fashion brands, local crafts, a beauty bar, spa and deli.

What’s more, the products used at Bali Spa are handmade using Indonesian traditional spices, natural products and Dermaplex skin care. Pensioners packages are also available.

Visit their website at bali-spa.co.za.

Air Yoga, Woodstock

Located at the Woodstock Exchange, Air Yoga offers a range of jivamukti, restorative and ashtanga yoga (mysore style) for practitioners of all fitness levels. Jivamukti is a form of hatha yoga that revolves around a theme of yogic wisdom, and involves a changing flow of postures intended to challenge the student. Classes are supported by chanting, breath awareness, meditation and inspiring music to help build strength, flexibility and peace of mind. Private lessons are also offered, as well as yoga retreats and workshops with local and international teachers.

Address: Air Yoga, 66 Albert Rd, Woodstock, Cape Town, South Africa

To make a booking or for enquiries call on +27 76 908 2898 or visit the website: yogatrail.com/studio/air-yoga-151064

Woodstock Pilates

Founded in 2009, Woodstock Pilates is a Body Control Pilates and BootyBarre certified studio, operating at 43 Queens Park Avenue Salt River, with classes offered in Woodstock and the City, group, semi-private and private sessions are small and intimate in nature, and are offered to all levels including beginners, intermediate and advanced.

Their goal is to create a safe environment to heal and strengthen, one that is personalized around the particular needs of each client with an emphasis on care, rehabilitation and strengthening.

Book a class here:

woodstockpilates.com/book-a-class

Tushita Kadampa Meditation Centre Observatory

Tushita Kadampa Meditation Centre in Observatory is a member of The New Kadampa Tradition – International Kadampa Buddhist Union (NKT-IKBU), an international association of Mahayana Buddhist study and meditation centres founded by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso in 1991 to offer the practical wisdom of Kadampa Buddhism to the people of our modern world.

Tushita KMC provides a spiritual home to a wide community of people from all walks of life, including ordained monks and nuns. Everyone is welcome to visit this beautiful, blessed environment, and find a place of refuge from the stress and difficulties of busy, modern life. Here you can try any of the available meditation classes, courses or retreats, and meet like-minded people.

Visit the link for more information: meditateincapetown.org

Integration House Holistic Health & Wellness

Integration House is a holistic wellness centre located at 5 Harriers Road Mowbray, and has been especially designed to feel accessible to the community. The space houses a diverse group of dedicated and experienced professionals in various fields, offering a number of services under one roof.

Integration House aspires to being a community resource in the southern suburbs and its greater catchment areas. They provide a wide healthcare network, and are able to refer clients to a range of specialists, should they require a referral.

Services include counselling and coaching, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and podiatry.

Fore more information head to: integrationhouse.co.za

Origin Wellness Spa

The Origin Wellness Spa is a place of new beginnings, an oasis of serenity on the slopes of Devil’s Peak in Cape Town. Providing hands on spa care such as massage therapy, facials and a range of beauty treatments such as waxing, threading and tinting.

The spa is open 7 days a week (subject to availability).

To make an appointment call the Spa on 021 110 5365, WhatsApp on +27 (0)715827051 or email BOOKINGS@ORIGINWELLNESS.CO.ZA

Physical Address:

5th Floor DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel

31 Brickfield Road, Woodstock

The White Lotus

The White Lotus is inspired by Nature – because nature gives us everything we need to heal and harmonise. And here they aim to share this inspiration by helping foster that feeling of connection and balance on a deep level of Mind, Body and Spirit.

The White Lotus Wellness Centre is located in the heart of Cape Town in a beautiful 3 level Victorian. Home to an experienced team of wellness professionals, they invite you to explore the wide variety of therapies on offer, all under one roof – these include acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Therapy, Functional and Integrative Medicine, Homeopathy, Integrative GP, Nutritional therapy, Reflexology, Psychotherapy and Mindfulness Meditation.

Address: 79 Kloof street, Gardens, Cape Town

Contact number: (021) 4220011

Email: info@whitelotus.co.za

Web: whitelotus.co.za

Plantify Urban Plantery

Plantify is an online nursery run by a small team of plant enthusiasts based in Gardens, Cape Town. They strive to make plant ownership easy, accessible and fun, because as we all know: Plants are really, really good for us!

To help this happen, they’ve created 3 core service offerings:

Online Store: Here they stock on-trend, care friendly indoor plants in gorgeous matching pots. Selections change weekly, so you need to check in often. The custom designed packaging, made from 100% recycled materials allows them to courier your plants safely, anywhere in South Africa.

Plant Sourcing Service: Saw a cool plant on Instagram or frustrated that the local nursery ran out of Delicious Monsters? Drop them a line – they are only too happy to source the plant for you (and send it to you too – anywhere in South Africa!)

Indoor Greening Consultancy: Whether you’d like to add a splash green to your home or would like to impress your clients at your offices – drop us a line, we’d be happy to help you think through the (almost limitless) indoor greening possibilities.

plantify.co.za/pages/about-us

Operating times:

Monday to Friday 09:00 – 17:00

Saturdays 09:00 – 13:00

Two Rivers Urban Park

The Two Rivers Urban Park, or TRUP, was the outcome of a 7-year public participation process in partnership with all the landowners and stakeholders within the Park boundary.

TRUP is located towards the confluence of the Liesbeek and Black Rivers and is one of the largest urban green lungs in the City of Cape Town at approximately 240 hectares. This Park comprises sensitive ecological systems and habitats, extensive open space areas, significant institutions, historical buildings and cultural landscapes.

The Two Rivers Urban Park Association seeks to rehabilitate, protect, secure and enhance the intrinsic ecological qualities of the area, to conserve the unique cultural landscape, to encourage environmental education, to maximise opportunities for all people and to promote sustainable development.

Nourish’d Observatory

Nourish’d is a plant-based, zero-waste cafe and juicery. Founder Tash put her passion for the planet into action and established Nourish’d in 2017. She transformed her dad’s old garage into a bite-sized juicery that is now one of Cape Town’s most popular café’s.

Nourish’d makes delicious vegetarian and vegan juices, smoothies, sandwiches, and more! They also sell juice cleanses, tinctures and zero-waste merchandise on their online store.

Everything at Nourish’d is created with the health of your body and the Earth in mind. They choose organic produce sourced directly from local farmers whenever possible. The food is made of strictly natural ingredients with no preservatives or flavourings as well as limiting the amount of oil, sugar, and wheat we use in the recipes. Whole-food, plant-based eating is the way to go.

Get your body Nourish’d at the link:

nourishd.co.za

The Kind Kitchen Woodstock

The Kind Kitchen offers Vegan comfort food.

View the menu here.

Or visit the website here: thekindkitchen.co.za

Physical Address:

252 Albert Road Woodstock

You can also order via Whatsapp on 061 508 0655

FitChef

Eat clean and drink clean with FitChef!

FitChef brings you 100% REAL food from Monday-Sunday.

Kickstart healthy eating lifestyle with a Kit (Low Carb, Keto, Couples etc) or select your Own Choice of Meals, Smoothies, Groceries, 60-hour Sourdough Breads and Burger Kits with Freerange patties, sourdough-base Pizza Kits, Eggs (Free-Roaming Farm), Milk, Cheese & Dairy (Free-Roaming etc), Meats (grass-fed), Veggies (Perfect roasting veg, cook from frozen). Snacks & Real ingredient Ice Cream as well as Family Meals – 1kg family favourites.