LoveWELL

One of our top priorities at Wellness Warehouse is to do our part in uplifting our community so that we can all live #WELLTogether. As we have struggled through the COVID-19 pandemic and the nationwide lockdown, there has been a beautiful outpouring of support, love and appreciation for our healthcare workers, who are selflessly and courageously putting their lives on the line to protect the weak and vulnerable. But there is another class of hero that is not celebrated nearly enough – the frontline fighters in all other industries.

Store cashiers, cleaners, pharmacists, security guards, civil servants, and a host of other essential workers have continued to perform their duties in this time of crisis so that we may get the goods and services that we need. Along with their own personal, familial and financial responsibilities, these exceptional individuals carry the responsibility of ensuring that society continues to function during and after the coronavirus crisis. In addition, these workers face an increased risk of infection and illness as they continue to battle the outside world while the majority of us stay safe and healthy inside our homes.

Something has to be done, and we are the ones to do it.

Although lockdown may keep us apart, we are all in this together. We are being called to support and protect the bravest and most vulnerable among us so that we may rise from this with strength and unity and live #WELLTogether.

And so, as part of our continued efforts to support our unsung heroes, we are running a donation drive to supply frontline workers with face masks and hand sanitiser. All you have to do is purchase a protective face mask from us at cost (either online or in store), and we will add hand sanitiser and donate these items to a frontline fighter on your behalf.

BE PART OF THE SOLUTION TODAY!

PS Know of any worthy organisations that we could add to our weekly distribution list? Let us know on our Facebook and Instagram pages!

If you would like to make a charitable contribution but are unsure where to start or how much of your money will actually be used to help those in need, Effective Altruism Funds (www.EffectiveAltruism.org ) is your answer to doing the most good you can.

According to moral philosopher and utilitarian Peter Singer, we should be donating every spare cent we have to charity. As you can imagine, this hard-line moral obligation argument has not enamoured Singer to all. The guilt-inducing example for which he is most (in)famous is that of a child drowning in a shallow pond. If you walked past said pond, would you jump in and save the child’s life, or would you not want to run the risk of ruining your expensive clothes? If you saved the child, congratulations - you have proven yourself to be a moral human being.

A desire for connection and understanding is deeply wired into the human psyche. From the moment of birth, we are neurologically primed to seek out close attachment bonds with others, as human babies cannot survive without someone to take care of their basic needs.

Challenges in life are inevitable, but they don’t always have to yield negative emotional consequences. Instead, theycan be reframed as positive experiences - especially for children. Resilience is the ability to bounce back from stress, adversity, failure, challenges and even trauma. 

In 2008, thousands of diseased, starving, injured, neglected and abused animals lived and died in Khayelitsha. Tamsin Nel, Founder and Director of the SA Mass Animal Sterilisation Trust (SA MAST), joined forces with a small team to vow that this would not be allowed to continue. 

In 2008, thousands of diseased, starving, injured, neglected and abused animals lived and died in Khayelitsha. Tamsin Nel, Founder and Director of the SA Mass Animal Sterilisation Trust(SA MAST), joined forces with a small team to vow that this would not be allowed to continue.

As 2018 draws to a close and we prepare for the festive break, we're presented with a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the year that's been. 

Grateful adults are happier, more optimistic, have better social connections, and are more satisfied in all areas of their lives. The same applies to children, who can be inspired to make gratitude a way of life through a number of conscious parenting attitudes and activities.

If you're thinking of having a baby, add some fertility boosting herbs to help you along the way.

Every family has habits, and traditions or rituals that influence and govern behaviour and inclinations. Some of these might be healthy (a monthly hike up Lion's Head) and some not so healthy (after dinner sugar laden desserts).

An ancient tale Storytelling predates the written word. Every society and culture from the beginning of time has a tradition of storytelling. Ancient storytellers were very important people ' they were the custodians of culture, legend and history. Other than keeping an account of the past, storytellers also created explanations for natural phenomena ' such as what lightning was or why drought occurred. Many myths have been created in this way, using the art of storytelling to impart lessons and share concepts.

We are what we think. This simple but powerful dictum summarizes the importance of affirmations. Affirmations are fundamental to the work we do at Earthchild Project teaching vulnerable children in under-resourced communities. Childhood can be a stressful and frightening experience in any household, and many of the children we work with face additional challenges including violence, substance abuse and poverty. The absence of a nurturing environment can impact on a child's self-confidence, as well as their ability to learn and grow.

Feelings give you energy. Be in touch with them, express them and you'll feel more energetic.

Get your kids off their screens and into the wild. Here are ten ways to inspire your little ones to enjoy going outdoors.

Just what are the keys to a happily-ever-after? Long-term relationships take work, but it doesn't have to be hard.

Every parent wants the very best for their child, and education that leads to a good life is top of the list. But what if the schools available just aren't good enough? Or what if your lifestyle finds you living on a yacht, out in the hills or travelling frequently? Is homeschooling a viable option?

Set up a New Year project you can do with your kids. It's a great way for them to learn about goal setting and will also stimulate them creatively. Being intentional is a practice that benefits from constant reminding and updating. Get each member of the family to do this together; you'll be surprised at what you learn about each other. 

In both body and mind, women are cyclical. Being aware of the different qualities and sensibilities associated with the different cycles and synchronising with them can bring greater wellbeing, sustainable energy, inner harmony and better time management.

Fast acting carbohydrates, sugar, preservatives and many additives in food can have concerning detrimental effects on children. But often we have no idea that foods we presume are good for us, are filled with additives. Monique le Roux Forslund, author of Healthy Food for a Healthy Baby (Struik Lifestyle) offers some guidelines to ensure kids get the best start in life.

The Earthchild Project teach a wonderful practice to children that's pertinent and relevant to anyone. It includes finding a 'sit-spot' and tuning in... Earthchild explains.

With the hectic pace of the world, many children struggle to stay in a calm zone. By helping your children cultivate a sense of calm at an early age, you'll not only be a happier parent, but you'll be laying an important foundation as they grow older. Here are 15 ways to introduce more peace and calm into your children's lives. 

Raising a child as a single mom or with a disengaged man is one of the greatest challenges a woman can ever face.

Turn your holiday activities into wellness incentives and bring some fun filled goodness to the family. Here are 4 suggestions to keep kids engaged and give them an interest in wellbeing practices.

Cheryl Stevens spent 10 years trying to find out what was making her son ill. From the age of five he'd suffered from a constant runny nose, persistent headaches, and a severe postnasal drip. When she finally discovered food allergies were the culprit, she began what turned out to be a life-changing journey.

Most studies on the brain look at the cognitive learning side - aspects like memory, recall, logic and reasoning. But, there is another side that involes consciousness. A growing body of interesting research and 'enlightened' studies are serving to understand the brains crucial role in creating our reality. 

Imago relationship therapy is making huge strides in healing and repairing relationships. Couples who thought they had no chance in recovering their relationships are finding a way to communicate and resolve hurts and disputes. We speak to an Imago relationship counselor about the intricacies of relating. 

Being in tune with our bodies, following the moon and noticing daily body changes can determine our fertility days. Here's how to do it.

In control or under control?

While just about every parent aspires to teach their children great life lessons, it's also important to understand just what the results of those life lessons need to be. 

How do you create an environment that's conducive to love? We explore what you can do to turn your home into a love nest

A new interactive digital game allows players to become an avatar of their choice and act out as a character in an interactive novel, making either risky or safe lifestyle choices while dating and socialising ' virtually, that is. SwaziYolo is the brainchild of Bhekumusa Lukhele from Swaziland, a PhD candidate in medical science at the Kyoto University, Japan who developed it as part of HIV/AIDS education and prevention.

Running a family is a bit like running a business, there's a lot of admin and structure to put in place. We've put together a list of constructive things you can do to feel more organized and secure. We also look at security from an emotional point of view. Get all your family affairs in order and double check the connection and communication in your family ' see if it has a healthy basis.

Traditionally, Western babies are fed pretty flavourless plain food. Research shows that this isn't necessary and seasonings and spices will benefit early development. Breast milk is not necessarily bland either ' it takes on the flavours of the food the mother eats. If you've just had a curry, your breast fed baby will be tasting something similar. Once you move your baby onto solids, feel free to add rosemary in with your gem squash, put paprika on your chicken and mix parsley in with your sweet potatoes. Even spicier options like ginger are good. Here are some excellent food choices with suggestions for added flavour.

Add more reading time into your child's life. You don't necessarily have to sit down and read to them; here are some tips to increase your kids literary skills through reading - especially if they are too restless to stay still.

All children love to create art and make things. In younger children, playing with arts and crafts inspires creativity while helping them to focus their mind and complete a set task. Older children can begin to gain an understanding of artistic and design skills that may affect their future educational choices.

One of the best ways to lay a foundation for your children's lasting health is to limit their exposure to chemicals in their environment and to go green, natural, and organic wherever possible.

A happy baby doing the Happy Baby pose? When Hilaria Baldwin (yoga teacher and wife of Alec) posted a picture of herself doing the yoga position with her little one on Instagram this January moms across the world exhaled a collective sigh of '#Looooooove'. Yoga for baby and moms has since started exploding in popularity. So what's behind the craze? And is it safe?

Packing an exciting and nutritious lunchbox for your little ones every day can be a challenge at best. But when they have food allergies and intolerances, finding healthy snacks can be a really hard task. Wellness Warehouse's dietitian Melissa Gomes is on hand to help.

For years, it's been known that an excess of alcohol during pregnancy will almost certainly lead to foetal alcohol syndrome, which causes facial and nervous system abnormalities and growth problems. There is no cure for foetal alcohol syndrome.

While tantrums are a good argument for birth control, they're essentially a biological response to anger and frustration, just the same as a yawn is a biological response to being sleepy.

Create more love in your life. This article looks at the benefit of hugs, healing from heartbreak and different forms of love from altruism to agape.

We speak to Suzette Bester-Cloete, a natural birthing expert about the possibility of pain free birth and an empowered and beautiful approach to pregnancy.

The non-profit arm of holistic natural spa and wellness brand Healing Earth, the Healing Earth Foundation aims to nurture and develop conscious, healthy earth children of all ages through opportunities that allow for connecting with the self, the environment, and all beings.

Before birth, babies are in the womb surrounded by water, they're swimming for nine months and have a natural affinity for water. Swimming with your child from birth has many special benefits. Besides making them feel relaxed and one in the water it's also a lovely way for parents to learn how to handle their little one's with confidence.

We couldn't think of anyone more appropriate to feature on our February cover than Dr Leila Sadien and being our Valentine issue we were delighted to have her partner, the talented designer Yaaseen Kader featured with her. Dr Leila is a remarkable woman, not only has she qualified as a medical doctor but she has an integrated approach to healing that incorporates all aspects of body, mind and soul. She's also not a sissy when it comes to aesthetic medicine, something she speaks about with passion and ease. When I asked Leila what attracted her to healing and medicine as a career she answered, 'It was in my bones, I'm a healer by nature and couldn't have escaped if I tried.'

Love is in the air and romance is on the menu for February. If you are not feeling very romantic and choosing a Valentines activity seems more of a chore than a desire, then perhaps you need to take a deeper look at your relationship. Here are 5 useful relationship guidelines to start with.

Choosing a holiday with an  opportunity to be active will boost your fitness and leave you feeling restored and alive

Expressing emotion is a vital part of being human, but sometimes emotions get out of control, especially in children ' leading to over excitement, aggression or hysteria