Virgin Active Health Club Opens in Soweto

THE new Virgin Active health club in Klipspruit, Soweto is possibly the coolest gym in town. It offers members the usual exercise experience, along with internet stations, wi-fi and a Kauai restaurant, but also has a beauty salon and a deejay.

The bold colours of the health gym inspire energy and effortThe club, which opened in August, is probably the first in any township in the country. It already has 3 400 members, says the general manager, Thabo Pietersen. The club, attached to the plush Maponya Mall, is done out in the Virgin Active colours of racy red, black and white. Words like “fun”, “vivacious”, “dynamic”, “lively” and “determination” are emblazoned on the red walls, while white and red mobiles depicting smiley faces, butterflies, and energetic figures hang from the ceiling.Almost 90 percent of members are Sowetans. Pietersen says that before the gym opened, 1 500 people joined in pre-sales marketing. And that number has just grown and grown in the last four months.It has top-of-the-range everything – with 17 treadmills, six cross trainers, six steppers, 15 exercise bikes, eight recumbent bikes, a roomful of spinning cycles, and for those of less energetic dispositions, large flat-screen TVs, 18 internet stations, and wi-fi.“Sowetans have shown commitment. They have been waiting for it, they are ready for it,” enthuses Pietersen.And the profile of the people coming to sweat over the machines – everybody, he says: police officers, pensioners, security guards, students, schoolkids, but also local celebrities like soccer players, actresses and musicians.

General manager Thabo Pietersen in the cheerful V-Club for childrenOne famous member, Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse, describes it as “a great gym”. He joined immediately and finds it convenient as it is within walking distance of his home in Pimville.Grey-haired ogogo and abomkhulu gently sweat on the bikes or step machines, while muscular dudes pant up weights above their heads. And if you feel you’ve overdone it, the My Virgin Active Tracker machine will check your heart rate and blood pressure, as well as your body fat and weight if you’re working to get in shape.The machine provides an African and Halaal diet plan too, together with a full training plan.Flagship club The Virgin Active in Soweto is a flagship club, in that it offers the whole package: a lifestyle experience. There is a Kauai restaurant with its health menu; power pilates; yoga; stretch and tone; aerobics; zumba, a Latin-inspired dance fitness programme; boot camp; steam room; personal trainers; a V-Club for children; and, of course, the computers and TVs for those Saturday afternoon soccer games.But it also has something no other Virgin Active club does – a resident deejay, on duty from 4pm to 9pm, from Mondays to Fridays, playing jazz, kwaito, or whatever helps members up their revs on the machines. And when they’ve finished their work-out and showered, they can step into the unisex Beauty Palace for a haircut, massage, pedicure or manicure, at very competitive prices, says salon manager Lerato Mkhethoni.DJ TK was employed after a competition was run in conjunction with Jozi FM. He was a student at the time, but now gets referral gigs like weddings from his Virgin Active job.

The DJ booth is surrounded by a colourful mobile and mirror images“This is not just another club; it goes beyond other clubs,” says Pietersen. The aerobics studio is a vast hall, accommodating 100 people in one session. “The community likes to do things together.”For the family He stresses that the club is very much for the family. It will introduce swimming lessons in the heated pool soon, and the internet stations are, of course, open to youngsters.But it also provides peace of mind for parents: their children – from six weeks to seven years – can be left in the care of professionals. They have a colourful room to play in, to hear stories, do supervised schoolwork, or just hang out at the two Play Stations.Architect Eric van den Berg of Design Line Architecture and Interiors, was responsible for the decor. He says several innovations at the club have been used in other Virgin Active gyms, like the Play Station cubicles and the tree in the children’s V-Club. “This club has been the forerunner.”The deejay booth, surrounded by the colourful mobiles and other icons, is a winner. “We looked for bold African designs, to give it an edgy, industrial feel.”From the swimming pool, the two cooling towers at the entrance to Soweto can be seen, making it a beacon, he says. “The environment it’s in makes it exciting,” he explains.Virgin Active did thorough research to find out exactly what Sowetans wanted, and offer a monthly fee of R299, compared to about R400 in Sandton.