Alexandra wellness movement brings movement and mental health to Kwabhekilanga Sports Ground
Residents of Alexandra gathered for a day of walking, aerobics and yoga as the Alex Step and Share initiative aims to build relationships and tackle stress.
Alex Step and Share, a community wellness initiative in Alexandra, hosted its second event on September 20, bringing residents to Kwabhekilanga Sports Ground for a day of walking, aerobics and social connection.
Co-founder Sentle Monaise said the programme was created to bring different forms of wellness activity into the community, but its ambitions go beyond exercise alone. “The event plays an imperative role of bringing people together through these activities,” Monaise said.
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He added that the platform has already given residents a chance to meet new people, try new activities and build friendships within the community. “By coming together, you get to talk to new people. We practise walking and yoga because they are low-impact exercises that allow people to talk to each other and try new things all together,” she said. “So, it’s more targeted at community building and building new relationships with new people.”
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The gatherings extend beyond exercise, as attendees bring fruit to share with one another afterward. Monaise said the practice is designed to keep the event affordable and accessible while reinforcing the same spirit of togetherness the programme is built on. “We have noticed that there are a lot of people who live here, but there is no sense of community, in the sense that people do not meet up. They do not socialise,” she said.
Fitness coach Sibusiso Qwabe, who led an aerobic session at the event, said the programme’s purpose is rooted in promoting healthier lifestyles and keeping people active, rather than idle. “There are a lot of things that people go through. Some people have stress, some people are going through depression, so we want to exercise and socialise with different people,” he said.
Qwabe added that, beyond the physical benefits, the sessions offer a space for people to talk and de-stress together.
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