Traditionally, physical fitness entailed exercising to get the body in shape. But experts say that, after Covid, people – and students specifically – have started exercising for different reasons.
In a post-Covid world, just looking externally good is not the major focus of physical fitness anymore.
This is according to Dr. Shaundré Jacobs, a lecturer in sports science at the Stellenbosch University (SU) faculty of medicine and health sciences.
“The priority is now rather on health and wellness, with the emphasis on wanting to take care of the body,” she explains.
People have learnt a deep appreciation for their bodies that are healthy after the pandemic, and exercise habits have adjusted to this new awareness, she says.
MoveOut fitness and lifestyle consulting started in 2019 with the vision of creating a space for “community engagement, teamwork and an appreciation for the outdoors”, according to Donna Jullien, biokineticist and trainer at MoveOut fitness and lifestyle consulting company. Based in Stellenbosch, Helderberg, Kimberly and Kruilsriver, MoveOut provides a new form of exercise encompassing “mobility, flexibility, cardiovascular exercise and resistance training”, according to Vayden Beyleveld. Photo: Chelsea Burnell
A culture of fitness
In recent years, there has been a significant increase in student fitness and sports in a number of Western Cape university towns, according to Mandla Gagayi, director of Sport at the University of the Western Cape (UWC).
At UWC, the influx of students at the UWC university gym since 2016 has resulted in an increased amount of gym shifts and extension of gym opening hours, says Gagayi.
“I believe that this increase was due to the change in the ethos of sport to high performance, the healthy lifestyle that is pushed by social media trends, as well as the drive from students to live healthy and look healthy,” explains Gagayi.
This year, over 6 000 students at UWC participated in recreational and leisure activities, with 2 000 students playing formal sports, stated Gagayi.
Currently the most popular sports for students to play in the Western Cape are rugby and football, followed by netball and athletics, according to Gagayi.
The popularity of these specific sports could be due to the fact that they have facilities in many communities, in comparison to sports like hockey and cricket where specialised facilities are required, states Gagayi.
“There is more to training than people think,” says Mia Mocke, group trainer and owner of Mia’s training gym. Regular exercising results in an increase in self-confidence as people start to feel better about themselves, says Mocke. Captured is Alexandra Sheppard, an engineering graduate at Stellenbosch University who enjoys outdoor training. Photo: Chelsea Burnell
In the town of Stellenbosch there has also been an increase in the number of students participating in university sports and outdoor recreational activities, according to Zukhanye Magwa, acting sports manager at Maties Sport.
This has happened since the physical Covid restrictions were lifted, and the SU sporting facilities became more accessible, states Magwa.
Maties Sport at Stellenbosch University now has over 30 sporting codes, he says.
“[In 2022], we saw that football was the most played sport at SU with over 850 resident players playing,” he states. “This could be because the football club introduced two more teams and a sixes social team initiative.”
Overall, playing sport and being in a sports team gives students a sense of social cohesion and belonging to a community, explains Magwa.
Inside or outdoors?
At the Maties gymnasium, the SU students alone make up 80%, of the 2 000 to 2 500 daily attendance average, says Anelle Goldblatt, sales and marketing manager at Maties gym.
By attending a gym, students become part of the gym community, says Anelle Goldblatt, sales and marketing manager at Maties gym. As a student, it is important to find a gym where there is an understanding of the balance between studies and making time for oneself, states Goldblatt. Photo: Chelsea Burnell
“Many students already have an established level of fitness when they go to university,” states Goldblatt. “High schools provide a platform of exercise which drive students to carry on with their personal fitness at a university level.”
University gyms, such as Maties gym, create the space for the students to be able to do that, she reckons.
As a student, it is the most ideal time to build a foundation of fitness, confirms Mornay Richardson, acting fitness manager at Maties gym.
“Students have the time now to build healthy training habits,” says Richardson. “When they enter the working world it will become increasingly difficult to make time for exercise due to work constraints in a 9 to 5 job.”
Training in outdoor groups in Stellenbosch has also become a popular way to get fit, states Vayden Beyleveld, functional trainer, functional massage therapist and co-founder of MoveOut fitness and lifestyle consulting company.
“These groups appeal to those who do not enjoy training indoors and provide a more affordable way in learning how to move functionally and properly,” says Beyleveld.
Girls can be strong too
Since 2019, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of women who attend gym and prioritise strength training, according to Richardson.
“The young women used to just do class and cardio, but now we find a lot more females doing the weights as well,” he says.
This trend has picked up even more post-Covid, explained Richardson.
It is important for students to make time for movement in-between long study sessions, according to Dr. Shaundré Jacobs, a lecturer in sports science in the SU faculty of medicine and health sciences. In sitting for long periods of time while studying, students have the risk of their anterior chain (front side of the body) shortening and posterior (back side of the body) chain lengthening, which could result in discomfort in the body, explains Jacobs. PHOTO: Supplied/Frits Visser
While there has been a significant increase in the number of Stellenbosch gyms in recent years, there has also been the establishment of gyms, catering specifically for women, according to Mia Mocke, group trainer and owner of Mia’s training gym, based in Stellenbosch.
The main aim of a female gym such as Mia’s training, is to provide a safe training space for females where they can train for enjoyment, says Mocke.
‘We were created to move’
The biggest health issues in the world today include heart disease and high blood pressure, according to Donna Jullien, biokineticist and trainer at MoveOut fitness and lifestyle consulting company.
Inactivity of the body contributes towards these diseases, explains Jullien.
“We were created to move,” she says. “I can’t stress enough how exercise and physical activity delay and prevent many chronic diseases.”
But it is moving correctly that will result in long lasting health advantages, according to Suzette van Rooyen, owner of Core Concepts Pilates studio in Stellenbosch.
Core Concept Pilates provides students with the opportunity to learn fundamentals about fascial fitness and the importance of proper muscle engagement, according to Suzette van Rooyen, owner of Core Concepts Pilates. Photo: Supplied/Hanru Marais
In doing an exercise form such as Pilates, consisting of slow and controlled movements, a safe foundation for any sport or fitness activity will be built, explains Van Rooyen.
“It is key for the reduction of chronic pain in the body, and provides the safest foundation to build any sports or fitness activities onto,” explains Van Rooyen.
Further benefits that come from exercising include a better night’s sleep, an improvement in quality of life and a mood enhancement, according to Mocke.
Tips for starting a fitness journey
The first step is to make the decision to start, according to Suzette van Rooyen, owner of Core Concepts Pilates. “This decision comes from the commitment to the thought to do it in your mind,” she says.
It is necessary to allow the desire for a healthier lifestyle to then grow, explains Van Rooyen. This will spur on action, she says.
“Start small and start slowly,” says Vayden Beyleveld, co-founder of MoveOut fitness and lifestyle consulting company. In the long run, people will benefit from setting realistic goals, such as exercising two to three times per week, explains Beyleveld.
It is important to intentionally set aside the time to exercise, says Mornay Richardson, acting fitness manager at Maties gym. By showing up to a workout or to gym, half the race has already been won, he reckons.
Having an accountability partner will provide encouragement in sticking to fitness goals if there is someone holding you accountable, says Anelle Goldblatt, sales and marketing manager at Maties gym.
Being creative in a fitness program structure and changing up exercises regularly will make getting fit more fun, which will help in staying consistent, reckons Frances Herholdt.
Once regularly training, to start seeing results, people need to push past ‘Doms’, otherwise known as delayed onset of muscle soreness, according to Dr. Shaundré Jacobs, a lecturer in sports science in the SU faculty of medicine and health sciences. It is only once they do this that the body will start to adapt to the new training it is doing, explains Jacobs.