New Bedfordview moms' club promotes wellness and community connection
Held on June 1 at the Spa and Wellness Retreat, the event featured a picnic and a variety of fun, interactive activities designed to foster a sense of community and sisterhood.
Organised by Rizwana Aboobaker, the gathering was created in response to a lack of baby-friendly spaces for mothers in the Bedfordview and Edenvale area.
ALSO READ: St Benedict's rugby team trains with top UK clubs on international tour
'There are plenty of moms' clubs, but not all of them welcome babies. So I decided to host a moms' picnic, not just for a day out, but to help moms get out at least once a month.
'People often don't realise that moms who are constantly alone with their babies can experience depression,' said Aboobaker.
The initiative aims to become a regular fixture in the community, with monthly outings planned to encourage connection and provide mothers with much-needed social interaction and support.
'Next month, we're planning a trip to the zoo or another outing where we can include not only babies but also toddlers and older siblings. We'll be doing another picnic in September, hopefully even bigger than this one.
'The goal is to help moms meet other local moms and build a support network,' Aboobaker added.
ALSO READ: St Benedict's rugby team trains with top UK clubs on international tour
One of the highlights was a self-defence demonstration by Blackbelt Martial Arts Taekwondo Academy, aimed at empowering both the mothers and children with basic safety skills.
Fitness and well-being were also front and centre.
Pilates instructor Natasha Cordeiro led the moms through a gentle session designed to refresh both body and mind.
'As a mom myself, I know how exhausting and overwhelming it can be when your children are still little,' said Cordeiro.
'We give so much to our families, but it's crucial to prioritise our health. The stronger and more balanced we are, the better we can care for our children.'
Cordeiro emphasised the importance of taking time out, even if it's just for an hour for Pilates or yoga.
'So many women prioritise their families and forget themselves. To care for others, we need to be well ourselves. You can't pour from an empty cup.'
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
23-07-2025
- The Citizen
Beat the winter blues with these must have mobile fitness apps
There's a wide range of Android apps that help you to stick to your goals in the winter months. Keep track of your fitness and health this winter. Picture: iStock. As winter passes the halfway mark, staying active during the colder months can be challenging if you don't love running in the dark after work or getting up early in the freezing cold to go to the gym. There's a wide range of Android apps that help you to stick to your goals in the winter months. Here are some apps you can use for indoor exercise, anytime and anywhere. 5 Minute Yoga TCL says the 5-Minute Yoga is ideal for those who want to do quick daily yoga workouts. Each session is created from a selection of simple but effective yoga poses, making it suitable for beginners. Every pose features clear images and detailed instructions, ensuring all poses are performed correctly. Asana Rebel Asana Rebel is a yoga and fitness app designed for individuals seeking to achieve a fit body, shed weight, and adopt a healthy lifestyle. This app can help you lose weight, burn calories, strengthen your core, and increase flexibility. It's also great for balancing the body while focusing the mind, letting you leave the stress of the day behind. The Body Coach Transform your fitness with The Body Coach app by Joe Wicks, an all-in-one workout and fitness app featuring quick home workout sessions, HIIT workouts, Pilates, and yoga for beginners. The app also features a personalised meal planner and daily progress tools to keep you motivated. Centr Train like the MCU's Thor with an app backed by actor Chris Hemsworth. Centr's Fitness app provides personalised training based on your personal goals, preferences, and skill level. Whether you prefer home or gym workouts, Centr offers training options for every skill level. Fiit Whether you want to lose weight, get strong, improve flexibility or simply de-stress, Fiit lets you take high-quality workouts with leading personal trainers on your phone or tablet. FitOn Achieve personalised health and fitness goals with unlimited access to the best home workouts and exercise videos, from cardio to strength training to HIIT, yoga, Pilates, Barre, and much more. This app will get you sweating in a class that you love. Home Workout Home Workouts offers daily workout routines tailored to your primary muscle groups. In just a few minutes a day, you can build muscles and keep fit at home without having to go to the gym. No equipment or coach needed because all exercises can be performed with just your body weight. The app offers workouts for your abs, chest, legs, arms, and butt, as well as full-body workouts. Nike Training Club Unlock 300+ workouts with Nike Training Club. Work out with expert tools and set a new, personal best with the support of NTC's fitness diary, workout tracker, scheduling and more. Beyond training, This app covers mindfulness, nutrition, rest and connection for a holistic approach to mental wellness and physical health. Pilates Practising Pilates has many benefits for health and weight loss. Similar to yoga, these Pilates exercises for Android can not only help weight loss, enhance muscle strength, and improve balance and flexibility, but can also enhance energy, promote relaxation, and even improve sleep quality. Sweat Sweat, a personal training app featuring co-founder and elite head trainer Kayla Itsines is made for women. The app offers a broad suite of challenging, yet achievable programs with workouts you can do anywhere, anytime to progressively build your fitness. New programmes give you more ways to push yourself and get you closer to reaching your goals. ALSO READ: Smartphones: Powerful tools that enhance work and academic performance
The Citizen
21-07-2025
- The Citizen
ADHD support needs teamwork, not blame
POLOKWANE – Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) remain a hot-button issue in schools, homes and online forums. While some people still offer outdated advice like 'just give the child a good hiding,' professionals and parents who live with these conditions know the reality is far more complex. Many frustrated parents blame teachers for not doing enough to 'control' their children, while teachers sometimes face criticism for recommending medical intervention. But the truth is, no child is casually put on medication – there's a thorough assessment process involving healthcare professionals. Occupational therapist Liné Strauss explains that ADHD is one of the most common psychiatric disorders among children, affecting between 2% and 16% of school-aged kids. 'It's not something occupational therapists diagnose; that's the job of medical professionals. But we are very much part of the support system,' she said. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that continues into adulthood and is defined by patterns of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsiveness that interfere with everyday functioning. Inattention can look like constantly losing items, poor time management and disorganisation, and difficulty focusing for long periods – even if they're not fidgety or disruptive. Hyperactivity may show up as excessive fidgeting and constant movement, talking too much or making inappropriate comments or impulsive behaviour like shouting out answers or making risky decisions without thinking. To conclude, Strauss stressed the importance of collaboration: 'It's crucial to get everyone involved – parents, teachers, occupational therapists, dieticians and doctors. Each plays a role in helping a child with ADHD reach their full potential. Understanding, patience and informed support can help children with ADHD or ADD thrive, not just cope. The focus should always be on empowerment, not punishment.' Strauss offers practical tips that can make a big difference: Inspired by fellow occupational therapist Helise Duvenhage, Strauss recommends: • Hiding objects in playdough. • Pushing heavy objects like toy crates or laundry baskets. • Doing animal walks like frog jumps or wheelbarrow walks. • Eating crunchy snacks like raw carrots or cucumber sticks. • Wrapping the child tightly in a blanket for a few seconds, then unwrapping them. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
20-07-2025
- The Citizen
Jozini mourns death of acting municipal manager
HIGHLY respected for his calm presence, Jozini Municipality's acting municipal manager, Sipho Nkosi, will be remembered for 25 dedicated years of working in local government. Nkosi died in Othobothini Community Health Centre after reportedly suffering a heart attack while driving to work. ALSO READ: Jozini Municipality strives for a cleaner town Having worked previously as a chief financial officer, he joined the municipality in February this year. He was described as a humble person who accommodated every employee. Jozini Mayor Nkosinathi Myeni said Nkosi had a vast knowledge of the running of the municipality, and they were looking forward to learning more from him. Myeni conveyed his deepest condolences to Nkosi's family, friends and colleagues. Don't have the ZO app? Download it to your Android or Apple device here: HAVE YOUR SAY Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter. For news straight to your phone invite us: WhatsApp – 060 784 2695 Instagram – zululand_observer At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
