My Journey to
Wellness -
Rachel Kolisi

Your life story has been incredibly public in recent years. Can you describe what wellness both mental and emotional, means to you today?

Wellness, for me, has become about honesty. It’s not about having everything perfectly balanced or always feeling strong. It’s about being aware of what is happening inside you and giving yourself the permission to respond to it with care.

There were years where I pushed through everything - motherhood, work, expectations -without always pausing to ask how I was actually doing. Today, wellness means listening to myself more closely. It means protecting my peace, being intentional about what I give my energy to, and allowing space for rest and reflection.

Mental and emotional wellness is something I nurture every day through small choices: slowing down, therapy, connecting with people who ground me, spending time in nature, and reminding myself that growth often comes from the seasons when we feel most stretched.

What were some of the pivotal moments that shifted your relationship with self-care and wellbeing?

Motherhood was definitely the first shift. Becoming a mom forces you to look at yourself differently, because suddenly you are responsible for shaping little humans while also trying to understand yourself.

Another shift came when I realised that constantly being strong for everyone else can sometimes mean neglecting your own needs. I had to learn that taking care of myself was not selfish, it was necessary. When you are well, you show up better for your children, your community and the people you love.

Before Falling Forward, how did you define resilience? Has that definition changed?

For a long time, I thought resilience meant enduring, pushing through difficulty, staying strong, and continuing no matter what.

Today, my understanding is softer and more compassionate. Resilience isn’t about pretending you’re not hurting. It’s about allowing yourself to feel, to pause, to ask for support, and then finding the courage to move forward again.

Sometimes resilience looks like strength, but sometimes it looks like rest, honesty or vulnerability.

In moments when you felt most overwhelmed or ‘broken,’ as you have shared publicly, what were the inner resources or practices that helped you find grounding?

Faith has always been an important anchor in my life. It reminds me that difficult seasons are not permanent, and that growth often happens in the places where we feel the most uncertain.

Practically speaking, walking, breathing, journalling, and spending time in quiet spaces all help. Sometimes, grounding isn’t about finding the answers; it’s about allowing yourself to sit with the questions.

Wellness is a journey, rather than a destination. What are some daily rituals - big or small - that keep you centred now?

The small rituals are often the ones that matter most.

I try to start my mornings quietly before the day becomes busy, even if it’s just a moment with tea (I don’t drink coffee), prayer, or reflection. Movement is important for me too; I set time aside each morning for a full gym session. Sometimes, if I don’t manage to get there, I’ll do a simple walk or something outdoors.

What inspired you to make Falling Forward, and at what point did you decide that your story was one that needed to be shared on film?

For a long time, I didn’t feel like my story was something that needed to be told. I saw myself simply as someone living through life like everyone else.

But over time, I realised that many women were quietly carrying similar experiences - moments of uncertainty, loss, rebuilding, and rediscovering themselves.

Falling Forward became an opportunity to reflect on that journey in a way that felt honest and human. It wasn’t about creating a perfect narrative, but about sharing the reality that life often moves through cycles of falling, rising and becoming.

The documentary focuses on identity, loss, healing, and rediscovery. Can you share a moment during filming that was especially transformative for you?

There were moments during filming when revisiting certain memories brought emotions I hadn’t fully processed before, which was hard, but also comforting as it forced me to reflect in a way that allowed me to close the chapter.

How did you navigate the vulnerability of telling your own story, especially as someone who has lived much of your life in the public eye?

Vulnerability is always a risk, especially when parts of your life have already been visible to others.

What helped was remembering that the intention of the documentary was not to explain every detail of my life, but to share a deeper message about growth and self-discovery.

I approached it with honesty but also with boundaries, choosing the parts of my story that could serve others while still protecting what is personal.

What do you hope women take away from Falling Forward - especially those who may be in the midst of their own healing journeys?

I hope women leave feeling less alone.

Life has a way of making us feel like we are the only ones struggling - the only ones questioning who we are or where we are going. But the truth is that so many women are navigating these same emotions quietly.

If the documentary reminds even one person that falling is not failure - that it can be the beginning of transformation - it has done what it was meant to do.

The film isn’t about your divorce, but about inner evolution. How did you ensure that focus stayed central to the storytelling?

From the beginning, the intention was never to centre the story around a single event or chapter. Life is far more complex than that.

The focus was always on personal growth - the idea that our identities evolve over time, and that every season, even the difficult ones, shapes who we become.

Keeping that perspective allowed the story to remain hopeful and forward-looking.

What has been the response from audiences so far, and has this reaction changed how you reflect on your own experience?

The response has been incredibly overwhelming.

What stands out most are the conversations that happen after the screenings - women sharing their own stories, opening up about things they’ve been carrying quietly.

These moments remind me that storytelling has the power to create connection. Hearing how people interpret the film has also helped me see my own journey with more compassion.

Congratulations on becoming a Wellness Warehouse Ambassador and gracing our cover! What does this partnership mean to you personally and professionally?

I couldn’t be more grateful!

Wellness Warehouse represents a holistic approach to wellbeing, recognising that health is not just physical but emotional, mental and spiritual as well.

To partner with a brand that encourages people to care for themselves in this full, integrated way is something that I love.

Wellness Warehouse champions whole-person wellbeing. In what ways do you see your own philosophy aligning with our mission?

I deeply believe that wellbeing is interconnected.

You cannot separate physical health from emotional health, or mental wellbeing from the environment you live in. Everything influences everything else.

The Wellness Warehouse philosophy speaks to this understanding, supporting people in nurturing themselves fully rather than focusing on only one aspect of health.

Can you share a product or practice from Wellness Warehouse that has had a meaningful impact on your life?

One product that has really become a game changer for me is Rawbiotics. As I’ve learned more about gut health, I’ve realised how connected it is to overall wellbeing, from energy levels to immunity and even mood.

Incorporating these liquid probiotics into my daily routine has been such a simple but meaningful way to support my gut health. It’s one of those small wellness habits that makes a real difference in how I feel.

As someone deeply invested in empowerment and healing, how do you think spaces like Wellness Warehouse contribute to women's wellbeing on a larger scale?

Spaces like Wellness Warehouse create access not just to products, but to knowledge.

When women have access to information, tools and supportive environments that prioritise wellbeing, they are better equipped to care for themselves and their families.

That ripple effect is powerful, because when women are supported, communities are strengthened.

What message do you want to send to women reading this issue - especially those who may be struggling to feel “well enough”?

You are not behind.

So many women feel like they are failing because they are tired, overwhelmed or uncertain about where they are in life.

But wellness doesn’t require perfection. It begins with small acts of kindness toward yourself: resting when you need to, asking for support, and trusting that growth is happening even when you cannot yet see it.

Looking back on the journey that Falling Forward captures, is there a piece of advice you would give your younger self?

I would tell her that she doesn’t have to carry everything alone.

I would tell her that she doesn’t have to carry everything alone.

And I would remind her that life doesn’t have to be perfectly planned to be meaningful.

How has your understanding of balance changed over the years, especially juggling motherhood, public life, and your work?

Balance used to feel like something I had to maintain perfectly all the time.

Now I understand that balance shifts. Some seasons require more energy in one area of life than another, and that’s okay.

The most important thing is staying connected to what matters most: my children, my values, and my sense of purpose.

What’s next for you on the wellness front? Are there new projects, practices, or missions that excite you?

Right now, I’m excited about continuing the conversations that Falling Forward has started.

I would tell her that she doesn’t have to carry everything alone.

The roadshow has shown me how powerful shared spaces can be for healing and reflection, and I hope to continue creating opportunities where women can gather, connect and support one another.