As you’d have seen from our previous article in honour of Global Wellness Day, shining light on our Top 5 South African Wellness Brands - the more we realise the negative effects of modern day life on our mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing, the more we begin to see a diverse range of wellness services flourish. From being able to attend a Silence Retreat on the South Coast of KZN, to having access to state of the art Rehabilitation centres in the Drakensburg. The Wellness Industry, according to the Global Wellness Institute, projects an “8.6% average annual growth, with the wellness economy reaching $8.5 trillion in 2027”.

Gone are the days where people can justifiably brush off the need for such services. We are now beyond that. Instead, practitioners in this field are now looking at the most viable and innovative ways to present their offerings, making wellness more accessible and hopefully more affordable.

One such practitioner who caught our eye is Simone Franks, also known as Eatheborne Yogi. We sat down with this millennial, getting to understand who she is, the choices she’s made, and her current path.

1. What is your name?

Born Simone Franks

2. What is your brand name?

Earthborne Yogi and on insta ‘Simone_on_Earth’

3. How did you come up with your brand name?

The name arose from my own deep need to reconnect with the land, this earth, and my own body as opposed to seeking out some kind of transcendental out of body experience as I was. Some of my most deeply spiritual experiences have come from this connection and have truly changed my life.

4. Where did you grow up?

In an underprivileged coloured community in Mayville Durban

5. What did you study?

Graphic Design and Fine Art.

6. How did you enter the world of wellness?

I myself suffered from severe bouts of depression and constant anxiety for as long as I can recall with no reprieve from psychologists or medication and in an environment where mental health was not even discussed - I had no lifeline, my family didn’t know how to help, I had no support, no options - I had to help myself and so the wellness journey began.

7. How has your view of the world changed along your journey?

I see so clearly the reflections of my outer world are based completely on my inner world - the more I work on my own growth and improvement (and that may even be giving myself permission to do nothing more often) the more beautiful, free, safe and enjoyable my outer world becomes.

8. Where does wellness fit in in our daily lives?

In every moment from the time we wake up. How present are we with our thoughts, with our bodies and what we feed our mind body and soul. How often do we engage in activities that light us up? How can we begin to incorporate the yoga of wellness in all we do?

9. What does holistic wellness look like to you?

It’s engaging with our Mother again , Earth again, reconnecting with our food and medicine source (earth) understand the indigenous herbs, healing our relationship with the feminine, returning as prodigal sons home to our mother (earth) - to be nourished by her and to also nourish her.

10. What sparked the choice for you to adopt the nomadic lifestyle?

I’ve always felt ‘different’. I’ve always been on a journey to feel home within myself and home on this earth, without seeking security outside myself but rather from within. And for me the only way is to truly journey this earth alone, to truly engage with communities for the sake of learning and forming connections with all living beings by forming this deep connection with myself and nature.

11. On a practical level - what resources should one have in place, when looking at the nomadic lifestyle option?

Have enough savings to keep you going for 6 months to a year - and don’t be afraid to start again! I did it all in stages, from remote work allowing me to travel, to part time working and volunteering at eco villages or off grid farms for food and accommodation to completely leaving the design industry and working at retreat centres teaching yoga, facilitating wellness, taking guests on hikes and hosting monthly secret sunrise yoga events.

12. How did your family respond to your big shift?

They were scared, it was strange and I was completely alone, I had no one to connect with where I was going, no family or friends so I had to make new connections. And this was the best thing I ever did for myself!

13. What forms of wellness facilitation do you practice?

Secret sunrise- an outdoor headphone dance, yoga and breathwork experience started in Cape Town that’s now become global in over 16 cities around the world! That uses movement to bring us into a state of joy. Iyengar Hatha Vinyasa yoga, yoga for postural alignment inclusive of all ages and experience levels -slow, strong and mindful practice. Ayurveda - the ancient wisdoms of eating well according to our constitution type - food is the first medicine and how we engage with it determines how we engage with life. Share circles and retreats - that connect us with the earth, teach us how to use herbs for medicine and beauty products invoking the spirits of our divine mother as a gateway to our own healing. Hypnotherapy - to deprogram the mind from false beliefs that may have been holding us back our whole lives - effective in overcoming addiction, issues of self worth, anxiety, grief and so much more.

14. Where do you offer your services?

Monthly new moon share circles online and in person, in person and online daily yoga 6:30am and 5pm, monthly in person secret sunrise dance and yoga in the Garden Route, private immersions with nature for corporate, family or friends, online hypnotherapy sessions.

15. How much can people pay to join/participate?

Sessions range from R120-R180 per session online or in person.

16. What are your Top 5 wellness tips?

One - Take an hour for yourself every morning to journal your intentions for the day, sit in silence, recall your dreams, meditate or practice some form of movement and breathwork. Whatever! Start your day cultivating a deep relationship with yourself.

Two - Change your relationship to food - eat to nourish your body! And become aware of all that you consume - music, news, opinions of others - are these beneficial to your well-being?

Three - Take note of your inner voice. Use affirming and loving language with yourself all day every day.

Four - Find spaciousness in your day, take deep breaths, take pauses and breaks, slow your pace down against all the world tells you to do.

Five - Understand that you are your own best healer, no one knows you better than you do and when we give our power away to doctors, pastors, spouses, family, etc we lose the trust and the relationship we build with ourselves and begin to rely on constant outside validation.

17. Please tell us about upcoming or current events you’re involved in:

Join the Elemental Immersion (Winter Solstice) in the Garden Route (Knysna, Rheenendaal) at our stunning cottage hidden amongst the forest, overlooking the sparkling dam, surrounded by an array of birds, horses and butterflies as we work with each of the elements to bring us back to our natural state. Enjoy organic food, fire ceremonies, water immersions, song circles, movement and herbal workshops and more.

Written by Lex LaFoy