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Numerous properties in South Africa participated in Global Wellness Day (GWD), which took place on Saturday, 8 June, with a host of events including yoga, aerobics walks, team wellness events and wellness assessments, together with many good deeds performed around the country.
GWD was established in Turkey in 2012 and is the only day on the international calendar that is dedicated to the concept of living a healthier life. Some 130 countries around the world celebrated GWD this year.
Says GWD South Africa ambassador, Celeste Peters: “Although this day is celebrated annually on every second Saturday of June, we are working towards making this wellness initiative continue throughout the year to promote a wellness culture in a country that has the biggest divide between those who have and the majority of people who do not even have access to basic wellness needs. Our aim is to promote the GWD wellness initiative to change peoples’ lives for the better all year long so that we can make a meaningful difference.”
According to Peters, some of the South African GWD events included the charity tea held in aid of Child Welfare George; Relax Spas’ beach walk with aerobics in Mouille Point; and Dee’s African Spa’s energetic aerobics session near the Kruger Park.
Guests and staff at Zebula Lodge and Spa enjoyed an invigorating walk together, followed by health snacks. In Graaff-Reinet, the spa team from Drosty Hotel spent the afternoon with children in a safe haven promoting play, healthy eating and doing mindfulness exercises for good self-esteem.
“Meanwhile, the Saxon Spa celebrated its first GWD with silent yoga, a skin wellness seminar, healthy eating tips and an enlightening interactive emotional wellness session followed by healthy snacks. Amani Spas offered crystal sound therapy, yoga and a mindfulness session, as well a motivational health talk and complimentary pressure point massages at their new flagship spa at the Houghton Hotel,” says Peters.
She reports that a yoga session overlooking the Indian Ocean was held for guests at the Spa at The Oyster Box Hotel, while the Views at the Wilderness hosted an energetic free exercise session on the beach and promoted a new healthy exercise regime for sustainable wellness.
“Aesthetic Spa Solutions spent time at the Cape Grace Spa to guide them through setting life-changing wellness goals, with kickboxing and yoga on GWD morning,” comments Peters. “Umngazi River Bungalows and Spa spent some fun Umgazi Family time together walking and eating healthily, while Casa Mia Spa offered complimentary massages on the day and a special day for free massages for the elderly.”
She notes that The Garden Spa in Plettenberg Bay collected warm clothes for Reesa Charity Drive and promoted a 7-point manifest to live a better life. SAAHSP counted their steps on GWD as part of the Cidesco walking initiative, while BTI and ISA Carstens Academy Pretoria and Stellenbosch are promoting wellness throughout the year with special student initiatives to develop wellness as a natural way of living.
Delaire Graff Lodges and Spa built up to GWD with educational wellness talks for staff and healthy meals, as well as delivering nourishing soup to Feedinginaction Charity.
Camelot Spas offered a complimentary Body Composition Analysis test in all their spas on GWD.
Other properties that celebrated GWD were The Spa Consultants, Motorcycles BMW Motorrad, Dare Hair Salon, Gentelman’s Tonic, Black Pearl, Matsimela Home Spa, Pyramid Day Spa and Yadah Castle Spa.
“Living well is almost the entire world’s shared dream,” states Peters. “We can encourage wellness for everyone through donations, good deeds, changes to ensure a healthier eating and exercise regime, mindfulness, regular water intake, walking daily and counting your steps, sleeping enough, spending time with your family and reducing plastic waste.”
GWD 2020 will take place on 13 June.