Lohra de Waal on proudly holding the flag, low-intervention wine and a farm in Slovenia
A Nordic Walker & Trainer, Nutritional Therapist, Health Coach and Pilates Instructor writes about competing in the Nordic Walking World Cup in Poland, magical train trips and medicine for body, mind and soul.
1 What are some of your favourite childhood memories?
My favourite childhood memory is our school holiday train trips to Durban to visit my grandparents in Scottburgh. The whole trip was just magical for a child; hanging out of the window in the passage watching the world go by, playing cards in the coupe with my family, eating out in the dining car and falling asleep in the bunker bed with the meditative sound of train wheels on the tracks. The next morning, waking up with the chime of the officer announcing that coffee will be served in bed, and breakfast in the dining car afterwards. It was a true highlight every school holiday and I do miss those magical train trips in South Africa.
Growing up on a farm in Putfontein (near Benoni) was just the best for an energetic child like myself. Building hotels with the lucerne bales, helping my dad selling veggies at our farm stall on Saturday mornings, playing in the harvested corn truck on the way to the silo with just my head sticking out, and ploughing the fields on our big red Massey Ferguson tractors - an absolute dream childhood!
2 Please give us a bird’s-eye view of your career.
After studying nutrition in Potchefstroom at The North West University, I started in Cape Town working for Roche Pharmaceuticals. I just loved the the corporate life with all of its dynamics and extensive travelling. Family priorities were however becoming more challenging and I decided to do something that I would really enjoy and did not require being away from home so much. I therefore opened a Pilates Studio in Cape Town 25 years ago and it is still going strong.
Healthy Days Studio offers a holistic approach to health, focusing not just on the strength and suppleness that Pilates and aqua Pilates offer, but also nutritional health coaching (I completed an internationally recognised health coaching diploma a few years ago). I support my clients to prioritise a blood sugar balancing meal plan so as to reach their health goals.
Qualifying as a Nordic walk instructor in Croatia a few years ago adds to the cardio and strength training my clients need and we have great fun walking the vineyards, mountains and beaches in and around Cape Town. I offer Nordic walk training throughout South Africa and also import and sell Nordic walking poles.
Photograph of Nordic walking poles taken during the recent slack-packing adventure in Slovenia (info below.)
Once a year we offer a Healthy Days Retreat, giving my clients the opportunity to break away for a fun weekend, eating nourishing meals, Nordic walking, Pilates, meditation, hot tub therapy, massages and an inspiring classic movie evening with some "low-intervention wine" (no chemical additives), courtesy of my husband. It never feels like work!
Also listen to Lohra’s discussion of Nordic Walking and its exceptional benefits for individuals of all ages.
3 Would you like to introduce us to your family?
I am spoiled with a super dad, amazing brother, a caring, gentle winemaker husband, and three girls - Jana: a feisty 25 yr old Pilates Instructor and Event Manager, Isabella: a 21 yr old Elsenburg student having so much fun, loves a true Karoo fees/opskop & Ma se plaaskind and the "laatlammetjie," Charlotte: a 13 yr old teenager with a creative and social soul that just wishes she lived in the 70's and 80's. What's there not to LOVE!
Lohra’s husband, Pieter.
4 You live in Boston, Cape Town. How do you make the most of living there?
Living in Boston is a village vibe. We have a very creative community and once a year we have Boston Open Studios, where all the local artists open their houses/studios displaying their best work. The day usually finishes at our house with creative kids art work, local musicians and wine & wine labels created by the locals - a day not to be missed! Boston is just the perfect location, being close to Cape Town and the Stellenbosch/Durbanville winelands.
5 Tell us about your connection with Slovenia and what this country offers.
A few years ago my husband and I visited Slovenia and immediately fell in love with the incredible nature and opportunities for hiking and biking adventures. We found a small farm on the border with Croatia with a "vikend" holiday cottage and put in an offer and we have been going to our little piece of heaven on a regular basis.
In September 2024 we supported a small group of Nordic walkers as well as cyclists through the countryside and it was such a great experience that we will be doing it on an annual basis for people who want to visit but would also like the benefits of having a bit of local knowledge, as we have built up some great relationships with local accommodation and service providers.
6 In June, you took part in a Nordic Walking Event in Saint-Étienne, France. What made this special?
The first event that I competed in was the Nordic Walking World Cup in Poland in September 2022 (https://www.facebook.com/onwff/videos/462682579117186/). It was a very challenging 21,1km - I joked that it was harder than giving birth!
It was a very special and emotional moment for me being the only representative from South Africa and proudly holding up our flag while walking into the stadium with "Chariots of Fire" playing at full volume.
Image: Pexels
We made such great friends that weekend and celebrated until the early hours of the next morning. I got the T-shirt and a medal, but I don't think I will participate in competitive Nordic walking events again as I prefer to walk at a pace that my body is more comfortable with.
This year in June I was looking for a Nordic walk event to participate in while we were on holiday in France. To my amazement, they had seventy five Nordic walk events to choose from. I chose Saint-Étienne - the 10km Trail du Contrebandier for trail runners as well as Nordic walkers. Starting in this beautiful little village, we walked up into the foresty mountain with spectacular views and a bit of muddy plunges coming down after the rain the previous evening. Luckily the poles kept me from falling and I managed to finish in the fifth position of the Nordic walkers at the festive stadium.
7 In September this year (2024) you took a group on a Nordic Walk slack-packing adventure in Slovenia, which will hopefully become an annual event. Could you share a few highlights?
The "Sideways Slovenia Walking Tour" was hopefully the first of many! Slovenia is any walker's paradise, breathing in the crisp clean mountain air with changing scenery around every corner, crossing rivers, waterfalls, vineyards, forests and apple orchards.
It makes you humble to walk through The Vintgar Gorge, experiencing such power, purity and strength from the luminous turquoise water. Enjoying local food and wine, especially their trout and "zlikrofi" (potato-filled dumplings) is worth going back for. On another hike we set out to rest at the spring at the top of the mountain, only to find a medicine cabinet filled with local "šnopc" (schnapps) to enjoy! That is exactly what the Slovenians are like - they are super welcoming and always share their food and drinks with you.
The healing waters of the Slovenian "termes" (thermal spas) are the ultimate treasure. Soaking in the warm natural waters with waterfalls and spouts drilling into you muscles after a demanding hike is medicine for the body, mind and soul.
8 In our podcast on Nordic Walking, you mention that food is our friend. Which foods do you love eating, or sharing with others?
Food is your friend as it nourishes and comforts you, but it is important to eat the right types of food. Clean, honest and fresh food is simply the best - don't you miss the days when the Spur had a salad valley? But traditional cultural foods really excite me, eating different flavours as often as possible.
We have a food club and the idea is to try new recipes from a certain country and pair it with the local wines from that area. The search for new dishes to share with friends is part of the journey. We have even used Chat GPT to design a Moroccan menu with recipes and a shopping list - perfect for amateur chefs like us. On weekends my favourite is a "skilpadjie" (little parcels of lamb liver wrapped in the sheep's caul fat) when we braai, as organ meats are super nourishing and healthy. I also love colourful salads such as Lebanese Tabbouleh Salad, Asian coleslaw, artichoke & walnut salad as well as a Caprese salad. Wine is part of our lifestyle and I love a glass of my husband's brut (dry) Cap Classique sparkling wine, dry rosé or his Cinsaut Saffraan lighter styled red wine.
Image: Pexels
Note: Pieter de Waal’s South African wine brand is called Hermit on the Hill. He’s also involved in Mount Abora Wines with his friend, Krige Visser.
About Lohra
Lohra de Waal is a Nordic Walker & Trainer, Nutritional Therapist, Health Coach and Pilates Instructor based in Cape Town. Her education includes a BASc degree in Clinical Nutrition and training with the Health Coaches Academy in the UK, leading nutrition expert Patrick Holford, and the International Nordic Walking Federation.
Websites: https://southpole.co.za/ and https://healthydays.co.za/
Tel. (+27) 82 579-1631
Email: info@southpole.co.za or lohra@dw.co.za
Facebook: Nordic Walk This Way and Healthy Days Pilates and Health Coaching Studio
Instagram: insta southpole.nordicwalking and lohrahealthydays
YouTube: Lohra de Waal
Thumbnail image: Unsplash
Other images: supplied, unless indicated otherwise.