Hearts and souls emitting positive energy in Roodepoort North park

Exercise is a vital component of a healthy lifestyle and so is friendship, fun and flair.

Barring Fridays and Sundays, the park at the corner of Paul Kruger and Fifth Avenues is alive with luminescent colours and vibrant people. Roodepoort Body Care, led by Tshepo Buthelezi, offers a free aerobics workout that combines a well-crafted fitness regimen with inspirational words of wisdom. In between the high-energy sets, Tshepo uses the rest periods to share motivational quotes and self-esteem enriching passages.

He may not be a pastor but his sermon-like performances amplify the dopamine hit produced by the workout, giving the predominantly female congregation a divine experience. Started towards the end of 2019 but interrupted by the 2020 health scare, Roodepoort Body Care is more than just a fitness-focused party – it acts as a support group, fundraising platform and community upliftment project.

“For the community joining Roodepoort Body Care it is a huge benefit to both their physical and mental health. It helps young and old take care of their body, it helps them to lose their bad habits, motivate each other and guide them towards life change,” said Tshepo. “It provides a great aerobics workouts throughout the day, releasing stress, making you feel good physically, mentally and emotionally,” he added.

The popularity of Roodepoort Body Care is growing rapidly as community members search for a safe and affordable space to burn fat or elevate their heart rate. The group now has branded workout gear, and volunteers regularly provide health snacks and refreshments to emphasise the importance of diet too. “Eating healthy, exercising regularly and drinking more water every day is key,” advised Tshepho.

Roodepoort Body Care invites the community to join them for their aerobics workout sessions in the park every Monday to Thursday, 5pm to 6.30pm, with special Saturday sessions announced via their Facebook page. It is more than just a workout, as Tshepo said, “It promotes strength and stability, and together as a community we can do it. Let’s take care of our body and together we can burn the fat as a team.”