Public Aerobics for Everyone

The Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport is again encouraging healthy lifestyles through public aerobics sessions in the Cape Town city centre. On Friday, 15 March 2013, participants met for the first session for the year at the Provincial Gymnasium.

Initially planned to take place at the Company’s Garden on Friday mornings, today’s session was moved to the gymnasium due to cold and rainy weather. These exercise sessions will run from 15 March to 26 April 2013. It forms an integral part of an initiative by the Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Dr Ivan Meyer, to bring people together in pursuit of a healthy lifestyle and to promote productivity in the workplace. The aim of this initiative was to promote a physically fit Cape Town whose impact will eventually be felt across the Western Cape.  

The initiative was started during Women’s Month in August 2012 by the Western Cape Government and City of Cape Town to actively promote healthy living.

Participants were excited to start exercising together on a regular basis. Charlton Nieuwoudt of the Department’s West Coast regional office travelled all the way from Langebaan to attend the session. “I was feeling drained, but after the session, I feel good and my mind feels fresh and focused. It was a great experience, and I know it will help me build a healthy lifestyle if I keep it up”, he said.

A highlight of this initiative is that it is aimed at everyone, whether they are fit or not. Olivia Carolisen of the Provincial Gymnasium is thrilled that the sessions are back to give everyone the opportunity to get into shape. “We are looking forward to next week’s session. Hopefully we can attract more participants, especially from the general public, as we move towards our vision of a fit province”, she said. Members of the public are encouraged to attend the aerobics session in the Company’s Garden in front of Iziko Museum on Friday, 22 March 2013, starting from 8:30 to 9:00.