COVER STORY

Kolisi was public with her disappointments too. She revealed her struggle with her weight after COVID-19, and her embarrassment that her fi tness journey was “stop/start”. “I reminded myself that it’s okay to get up and start again.”

There were other realisations, too. “No positive results can come from a place other than that of self-love and embracing individuality – not comparing yourself to others.”

The introspection has meant establishing other good habits like setting time for herself. “The more I say no and assert healthy boundaries, the easier it gets.”

Nutrition also plays a part: “We eat healthily – our favourite is a good chicken schnitzel with mature cheddar and basil pesto served with roast veggies, wild rocket and baby tomato salad.”

But they’ve made space for the occasional treat. “Sometimes, we’ll just order a burger!”

“I had to be patient with myself acknowledging where I needed help. That brought a sense of balance into my life.” – Rachel Kolisi

“Quarantine was a journey of introspection, new habits and the return of a few old ones.”

KHAYA DLADLA

health and happiness POST-COVID

Nia Magoulianiti-McGregor talks to two SA celebrities who overcame COVID-19 and used the experience to make mindful lifestyle changes

RACHEL KOLISI

Rachel Kolisi, businesswoman, wife of Springbok rugby captain Siya Kolisi and mother to four children, thought she had a sinus infection last December – until she lost her sense of smell.

After testing positive with COVID-19, she still had it relatively easy physically: “I never had a fever, no sore throat, no coughing.” The emotional toll was bigger. As she wrote on Instagram at the time: “It’s been so rough and scary at times, especially when you have small kids who don’t understand why they can’t touch you.”

Liphelo, 13, and Keziah, 3, also tested positive – Liphelo with “adult symptoms” and Keziah with none at all, while Siya tested negative.

“I’ve always been aware of the importance of the family’s health, but I saw COVID-19 as an opportunity to take extra measures. We took vitamin D, zinc, magnesium and general multivitamins to keep everyone’s energy levels up,” she says.

It was a mindful journey back to full health. “I had to fi gure out a routine again: run a household, complete the day’s work, prioritise and set time aside to work out.

“I had to be patient with myself acknowledging where I needed help. That brought a sense of balance into my life. It also gave me the freedom to show up and engage fully in every capacity.” Last year, TV actor and radio broadcaster Khaya Dladla felt completely well until after an obligatory test when a Gagasi FM colleague was diagnosed with COVID-19. “I tested positive and all of a sudden I couldn’t breathe properly. My brain started doing weird things. I realised I was panicking.

“’Stop! You’re fi ne,’ I told myself.”

From then on, Dladla displayed no symptoms. But having to quarantine for two weeks meant he had time on his hands. “I started working out, following Billy Juice on YouTube and subscribing to the Team Body Project for home workouts. My exercise routine had been random before COVID-19.”

He also consulted a health practitioner on the blood type diet. “As a type A, I was advised to give up meat and slow down on dairy.”

Before contracting the virus, Dladla sometimes forgot to eat because he was always on the hop. But then he started preplanning meals and initiated “smoothie days”. “I’d throw in spinach with some butternut. Or I’d steam broccoli and snack on my favourite power food, avo.” He learned where to source lactose-free cheese and chose organic food.

Dladla started taking zinc and vitamin B. “I used to feel chronically fatigued before. No longer. It was the start of a beautiful journey.”

There was also an emotional and psychological journey in motion. “We kept on hearing how people had died. There would be a funeral I couldn’t attend, making it diffi cult to get closure. Also, I had to reimagine my career and started using social media as a business. I felt, through it all, that I was becoming mentally strong.” Dladla’s fi ancé Mercutio Buthelezi stayed at his side – though he never caught the virus. Dlala adds that quarantine allowed him to really refl ect on his life journey. “I needed to pause. I pressed the reset button. Quarantine was a journey of introspection, new habits and the return of a few old ones. I learnt how to control my thoughts and harness the power of the mind. “Today I speak life to myself – every day.”

– Khaya Dladla