Exclusive Interview: One on One with Nyamwathi Gichau

Adman turned Kenya's most sought Yogi and co-founder of the Kilifi Wellness Festival talks about wellness in the workplace and her contribution to Explore Kilifi Empower Kilifi

With a well-established career path in Advertising, why and what necessitated the transit to wellness?

After 13 years in advertising, the toxic environment became intolerable. It was common to work on demanding projects in the office till late night hours without notice or overtime pay. Anti-wellness behaviors were the norm and this was a high-stress environment that led to a lot of physical and mental illness.

One noticeable metric of the unhealthy environment was a very high employee turnover, which made me and a handful of other colleagues rare ‘unicorns’ as we were able to withstand the environment for a much longer time than others.

What helped me survive and thrive in this environment, climbing the corporate ladder into senior leadership roles was having a daily yoga routine and other wellness practices which aided me in becoming one of the longest-serving employees in the company’s history. Even then, I felt the calling to do more for my well-being, and other people’s too, which pivoted my career transition into wellness and healing full time.

How would you define the evolving workforce relating to corporate wellness, its impact to achieve mental health and holistic wellness, and its applicability amongst employees with company productivity?

Corporations, especially in the developed world, have started to realize the importance of wellness in the workplace. Countries like Kenya are still yet to catch up but have shown promise in these global trends such as companies like Safaricom and Energy Access Ventures having some form of wellness program in place for their staff. After my certification as a Yogi professional, I offered free in-house office-centered yoga classes to colleagues in advertising before making my exit from the sector as my way of helping and giving back.

Research shows embracing corporate wellness greatly improves workplace performance by increasing vitality of the employees, their engagement, morale, capability and decreasing workplace absenteeism and sick leave which are related to stress.

What is your take on workforce evolution? - why do you think companies should take part in on-boarding employees for wellness programs and how you would measure its applicability.

For-Profit companies’ mission is to grow their business and in turn their profits. It would be helpful and important for companies to see the bigger reason behind investing in employees, especially as human beings and not just another work resource. Wellness sessions change negative mentality and perception toward the workplace as well as increase health. Investing in well-being programs and initiatives will result in healthier happier employees, lower rates of absenteeism, and increased productivity and focus. Applicability can be measured using indices such as the global happiness index.

As one of the Founders of the bi-annual Kilifi Wellness Festival, what is your take on the sponsorship, partnership management, and fundraising space both locally and internationally?

There is less willingness from large corporates to engage because wellness is a new trend, and these big firms prefer using conservative avenues. Having worked within the Kenyan market, established and bigger corporates as one would perceive are doing the opposite. They are hesitant to embrace and invest in sponsorship, partnership management, and fundraising within the wellness sector. Instead, their SME counterparts are leading the pack in enabling this, in part because they are more ‘people-focused and have seen direct results.

What is in store for corporates and individuals attending ‘Explore Kilifi, Empower Kilifi’ experience?

This is a very holistic program that will bring people back into their aligned physical, mental and energetic states. We are looking forward to different memorable activities and experiences; starting our day with Hatha Vinyasa yoga and finishing with candle-lit yin yoga. I will also be teaching a powerful stress resilience coaching workshop. Attendees will be able to walk away with psychological practical tools that help them cope in a stressful world. We will also have fun with art therapy. For the women, expect an uplifting divine feminine coaching session. The end of our time together will culminate in a Cacao-dance ceremony, the ultimate heart-opener, at the end of the weekend experience.

Your Parting shot.

Wellness is fundamental for any company. Corporates signing up should understand they are giving the company more value, demonstrating amazing leadership and showing that they have invested in their people.