Bangkok, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth – Radox has travelled far and wide within South Africa and the world to find ways to awaken the senses and live in the moment.
While at the Marriott Resort and Spa in Thailand, Zuraida explored the vast flavours and textures of Thai food with Chef Watcharaphon Yongbanthom. She does her grocery shopping in the bustling alleyways to stock up on spices, pastes and the freshest vegetables. Zuraida was also treated to a traditional green curry and a succulent prawn dish!
Spices and herbs are also extensively used in massage therapy. Thai spas combine aromatherapy with exfoliation and massage, and the result is a deep relaxation that rejuvenates all the senses.
We also chatted to Dolyce Sher, a distinguished aroma therapist in Cape Town.We asked Sher what aromatherapy oils do for us. “The aroma of each essential oil can have a specific effect on how we feel and what we think – different oils have different characteristics. For example, Ylang Ylang can induce feelings of sensuality whereas Lavender is calming, soothing and can help a person to sleep.” Three oils are also essential to keep in the home: Lavendar can be sued on burns, on the temples to relieve headaches and in the bath to relax; Geranium is good for balancing and Tee Tree can be used on insect bites, cuts and scrapes!
In KwaZulu Natal, Stephen went to St Mary’s Hospital. It was started in 1882 as a mission and still follows its original mandate: providing care for children. In this day and age they use a system called Kangaroo Care which encourages skin to skin contact between mother and baby for as long as possible! Sister Regina Bachmann says, “Touch is as important as food for a developing baby who can suffer severe feelings of deprivation if they are abandoned by their mother.” If children are abandoned by their mothers there are volunteers on hand to give the babies plenty of TLC. Almost 700 000 children are treated at St Mary’s! and the hospital’s needs are vast. These include toiletries, blankets, and clothing as well as financial assistance.
Since he won Idols, Jason Hartman is giving back to South Africa through a project started by his dad. Using old tyres and mixture of top soil and manure, the Hartmans started Jason’s Gardens – whereby they create organic gardens across the country which provides foods to underprivileged kids. Jason says: “We always grew our own vegetables for the kitchen, so the sustainable gardens were just an extension of this. The idea of recycling tyres to plant up as miniature gardens for ourselves really worked and for the past 10 years we’ve been helping other communities around the country to grow their own food gardens.” Jason’s dad, Sam says it is spiritually relaxing to create life and nurture gardens.
The Life’s A Journey team also visited Nottingham Rd Combined School in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands where the result of the gardens sponsored by Radox is plain to see and the school’s principal commented that: “The learners have benefited a lot by looking after these school gardens. It has taught them to plant up more gardens at home for their family’s benefit.”
On the final Life’s a Journey show next week, we talk about having time out. Be sure to watch it on 7 July on SABC 3 at 8pm.