There is a quiet strength about Simonia. Sitting with her, it becomes clear that her role as a holistic wellness coach, neurodynamic breathwork facilitator, Reiki practitioner and equine healer is deeply personal.
A journey shaped by survival
Simonia’s story begins with trauma, not only her own, but generational.
Born from an act of rape – her mother was just 14 – she grew up with an unspoken sense of rejection, searching for the father she never knew. When she found him at 21, the truth was devastating: he was in prison for the crime.
Layered onto this was her own experience of sexual trauma at 14, echoing her mother’s story. “Do you see the cycle?” she reflects.
For years, she carried the weight of it, struggling with self-worth and unhealthy coping mechanisms.
Then came a turning point, a decision that the cycle would end with her. And it has.
Today, she speaks openly about breaking that pattern for her daughter, choosing honesty and awareness where there was once silence.
From corporate to calling
Before stepping into wellness, Simonia built a successful career in the corporate world, working for global software companies. At the same time, her health began to decline.
Diagnosed with autoimmune conditions, including lupus and Sjögren’s syndrome, she faced chronic pain and repeated hospitalisations. Eventually, it forced a shift.
She began exploring holistic healing, returning to practices she had encountered before, including Reiki. Through meditation, journaling and breathwork, she slowly began to rebuild both physically and emotionally.
Discovering the power of horses
Her introduction to equine healing was unexpected and initially intimidating.
“I had never been around horses before,” she says. During a breathwork session held alongside them, something shifted.
Since then, her connection with horses has become central to her work. At sessions held at Fairview Estate near Ballito, they move freely among participants. There is no forcing or directing – only presence.
“Horses mirror what we feel,” she explains. “They respond to our energy, not our words.”
For many, this creates a space where emotions surface naturally, without pressure or performance.
Holding space
What defines Simonia’s work is that it comes from lived experience.
Her sessions combine breathwork, Reiki, prayer and intuitive guidance, creating a safe space for people to process what they are carrying.
Clients travel from across the country to experience her work, drawn not only to equine healing, but to the way she holds that space.
Breaking cycles, building legacy
At the heart of her work is the belief that healing extends beyond the individual.
“So much of what we carry isn’t even ours,” she says. “It’s inherited. But we have the power to change that.”
By facing her past, she has created a different future, not only for herself, but for her four children.
“It stopped with me,” she says simply.
Details: www.simoniaconnecting.co.za
