The Evolution of Wellness: A Deeper Conversation with Belinda Strydom
The Evolution of Wellness: A Deeper Conversation with Belinda Strydom
With 25 years of experience, Belinda’s journey into wellness began with a simple yet powerful childhood moment. At just seven years old, she witnessed the transformative effect of a hand massage on her mother. That single experience sparked a lifelong calling: to help people feel safe, supported, and restored in their bodies.
From Somatology to Integrated Healing
Belinda went on to study somatology, where she trained in craniosacral therapy, reflexology, manual lymph drainage, and aromatherapy. Early in her career, she worked in spas before moving into a more clinical setting alongside physiotherapist Graham Lindeberg in Cape Town. It was here that her curiosity deepened shifting from simply treating symptoms to understanding root causes.
Her career later took her internationally, including time in Bahrain at an osteopathy clinic. There, she learned the power of integration blending modalities to address the body as a whole rather than in isolated parts.
Over time, her work evolved to include sound healing, breathwork, lymphatic therapy, essential oil formulation, and nervous system regulation techniques. Each addition was driven not by trend, but by observed results.
The Nervous System: The Missing Link in Modern Wellness
One of the most powerful themes from Monday’s discussion was the role of nervous system safety.
Belinda explained that modern clients are no longer seeking only relaxation or luxury. They are seeking depth. Increasingly, people are openly navigating experiences such as ADHD, PTSD, chronic stress, and anxiety. The spa environment, she believes, has the potential to become a safe regulatory space — if therapists are properly trained.
“When you feel safe,” she shared, “everything else starts to happen beautifully.”
When the nervous system downregulates, tissue softens, breath deepens, and emotional release becomes possible. Without safety, true healing cannot occur.
Shifting Client Expectations
According to Belinda, clients today want to be seen and heard not just as customers, but as whole human beings.
The traditional “menu-based” spa model, while still valuable, is no longer always sufficient. Clients are craving tailored experiences. They want therapists who listen beyond the consultation form who can hear the “words behind the words.”
This shift requires deeper education in the wellness industry. Therapists must develop curiosity, emotional awareness, and adaptability. It is no longer about delivering a routine; it is about responding to the individual in front of you.
Integration in Practice
Belinda’s current work blends several modalities:
Manual lymphatic drainage
Targeted breathwork
Sound therapy using vibration and tuning forks
Integrative aromatherapy
Nervous system regulation techniques
During COVID-19, she developed an essential oil range designed to support respiratory health, mood regulation, and nervous system balance — based on the understanding that no system in the body becomes ill or heals in isolation.
Her latest range, now launching in South Africa, incorporates indigenous fynbos-based essential oils — deeply grounding and uniquely powerful in their aromatic profile.
How to Choose the Right Wellness Space
For clients navigating the many wellness options available today, Belinda offers simple but profound advice:
Pay attention to how the words make you feel.
When browsing a website or reading about services, notice your internal response. Does it feel safe? Grounded? Inviting? Or rushed and transactional?
Healing, she explains, cannot be chosen purely from logic. It must resonate.
She also encourages clients to observe how they are received when making an enquiry. The energy of that first interaction often reflects the depth of care they will experience.
Final Thoughts
Monday’s interview highlighted a clear truth: the wellness industry is evolving. Clients are seeking more than relaxation they are seeking regulation, integration, and authenticity.
As Belinda beautifully articulated, when people feel safe enough to let go, the body responds. Tissue softens. Breath expands. Space is created physically and emotionally.
And perhaps that is the future of wellness: not more treatments, but deeper presence.
To connect with Belinda Strydom:
Instagram: @belindastrydomwellness
Website: Belinda Strydom Wellness (mobile services available in Cape Town and surrounding areas)
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