City of Johannesburg brings free healthy-lifestyle aerobics back to Rabie Ridge
Rabie Ridge residents took advantage of a free aerobics session, as instructors encouraged the community to make exercise part of everyday life.
Residents swapped their saturday morning routines for music, movement, and fitness when the City of Johannesburg’s Region A sport and recreation department brought its healthy-lifestyle aerobics programme back to Rabie Ridge Stadium on August 8.
About 52 residents laced up their training shoes and joined the free fitness session, which forms part of the city’s efforts to encourage communities to become more physically active and adopt healthier lifestyles.
The programme aims to encourage residents to make exercise part of their daily routines, while raising awareness about the importance of physical activity in preventing lifestyle-related illnesses.
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Bongani Bila, an instructor from Bongani Fit, said regular exercise could help residents improve their health, potentially reducing the costs associated with frequent medical treatment. “Aerobics and gym help us to be healthy and strong and not get sick often. This can also help us save money on medication because, as you know, medication is expensive.”
He encouraged residents to view exercise as a lifestyle, rather than an occasional activity, saying physical activity could also contribute to improved mental wellbeing.
“When people are sick, they are not happy. So, residents should join the gym and be happy, so that their lifestyle will also be fine. We do this to improve ourselves, stay fit, and have fun because we love our bodies.”
Bila urged residents not to limit physical activity to gyms or organised fitness centres, saying people could find ways to exercise wherever they were.
“It is important to exercise wherever you are to protect your health. Your health is in your hands. When you exercise regularly, it becomes harder for you to get sick.”
Also read: Rabie Ridge Clinic encourages youth to make use of healthcare services
Fellow instructor Keketso Masindi encouraged more community members to take advantage of the free programme, and make physical activity part of their everyday lives. Masindi said residents should make use of fitness opportunities available in their communities to improve their overall health and wellbeing.
The programme will continue across Region A, with the next session scheduled for Lord Khanyile Hall on August 29.
It will return to Rabie Ridge Stadium on September 5, followed by sessions at Mayibuye Primary School on September 19, and Ya Rona Mall on October 3.
For updates and information about the aerobics programme, residents can join the programme’s WhatsApp group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/C6IGH2mTU83GGyx0g9CHF1
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