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Fitness love turns into business

Young men from Soweto have taken their love for fitness and turned it into a business. It was in January 2014 when Thabiso Mehlolo realised the enthusiasm of people to get into shape after the December holidays.

"I then saw an opportunity to start a fitness club," Mehlolo said.

Trainer Lebogang Pelesa said the No Retreat Fitness Club Soweto was all about making fitness available to people who cannot afford to go to luxurious gym studios.

The club holds boot camps twice a month at the Pimville Community Centre.

"We are targeting everybody who is a fitness enthusiast. There are no age limits. We cater for everybody who wants to keep fit, tone their bodies and those who want to get in shape or even build muscle," Mehlolo said.

The trainers use car tyres, battle ropes, dumbbells, kettle bells, hurdles and TRX suspensions, among other equipment.

The club charges R50 for a two-hour session, starting at 7am on Saturdays. If a client books both sessions held every month, they pay R80.

The club has grown from having 10 members per boot camp session to 30. "The charge is not solely to make profit. We use most of the money to buy equipment. We just want to make sure that our clients get the same ambience as people in professional gyms," said Rhulani Shirinda, another trainer.

Marketing manager Tshepiso Seleke said they use different social media platforms to market the club. "We use Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. We also buy and print T-shirts which we sell for R120. Printed caps are sold for the same price. But our biggest marketer is word of mouth, hence our doors are open to everybody," Seleke said.

The club's vision is to promote healthy lifestyles in communities. "Our objectives include increasing client attendance to sessions during peak months [summer] and maintain [it] during off-peak [winter], and to hold boot camps in different locations to reach more people," Seleke said.

Mehlolo said the club's short-term goal was to expand in Soweto.

"The plan is to go to landmarks around the township, including parks, and set up [gyms] there. We are really inspired by clients meeting their fitness goals.

"Our future plans include growth and getting a sponsorship. No Retreat is going where no other fitness club has gone before. We personify fitness," Mehlolo said.

He said the club had a WhatsApp group where clients have a platform to engage with them. "We give them nutrition advice and what to do in the build-up to our next session," Mehlolo said.

Seleke said the fitness club was focused on creating a fitness family. "A family that trains together stays together," he said, adding that the club would host a spring open day on September 17.

The club can be reached on noretreatfc@yahoo.com

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