In the run-up to our move to South Africa, I had developed quite a little addiction to all the boutique studios London has to offer, from dynamic pilates and barre to studio cycling in various studios around London, either closer to home or to the office, power yoga just around the corner from our house every Sunday evening to unwind before the week, and of course my thrice-weekly rebounder class at the Harbour Club…
It took me very little research to realise that, when it came to fitness, Johannesburg was not really a place where I would thrive. Here, most people go to gym (yes, gym, not the gym), pump iron or do a 1990s style spinning class starting from 4:30AM (not a typo, the peak hours for gyms in South Africa is 5:00AM to 7:00AM); many locals love nothing more than a sunrise bike ride of 80-100km on a Saturday, preferrably on roads where there are no cycle markings to ensure maximum adrenaline, I guess. If I was going to continue with my fitness routine, I had to create my own space. The alternative was giving up on years of efforts to be fit and strong, something that I was both proud and thankful for.
On a positive note, houses around here tend to come with a couple of extra rooms, and ours in particular came with a tiny TV room, which I guessed from the realtor’s introduction to it was where you were meant to lock your children’s TV and toys (and possibly the children also) away in, out of sight, out of mind. Seeing as we like our children, their toys and their Disney movies on the out and open, I decided that was going to be my little studio, for pilates, cycling, and even PT sessions.
I ordered an Allegro reformer from L.A., got it shipped to London, then put it on the container that was going to bring our 60-odd boxes of belongings here. It was expensive, hard work getting it here, and even more hard work putting it all together (ask Hubby Dearest), but it means I can do my little Pilates routines every few days, replicating the moves that my favourite London instructors Nadine and Zsofi had taught me over the years it took to get me back into shape after my pregnancies. I was even happier when I tried to go to a Pilates class in the beginning, before the container arrived, and realised the whole “breathe in, feel the marble roll on your stomach” training style was very much still a thing here… thanks, but no thanks?
Over time, we added a flywheel bike for those Soulcycle-like workouts; this one costs a fraction of the Peloton that is the hype everywhere… trust me it almost does the same job only you have to count on your own motivation and imagination, but Spotify is full of the playlists of some of the coolest trainers so it’s not that hard. I also found a rebounder, this isn’t the best out there, I prefer the one with the elastic links instead of the springs, which make an awful lot of noise, but considering I burn an average of 300 calories every time I spend half an hour on it, it does the job just fine. I also have elastic bands and weights, small ones for when I feel like a barre workout, and bigger ones since Hubby Dearest is now forced to work out at home as well since the beginning of the lockdown, a TRX that we hang on the little terrace outside the studio, and plenty of other goodies that basically make this the best boutique gym I can find south of the Med. I’m happy, and, most importantly, I’m working out most days.
We added posters that inspire me and a little seating area because the munchkins love to come watch me sweat, and sometimes they even take part, so I make little timelapse videos of us all looking like spastic hamsters jumping together, much to the enjoyment of my Insta friends. When we are not in lockdown, my wonderful trainer Wardah comes twice weekly to kick my dislike of heavier weights and burpees (I miss her but I’m not unhappy that I haven’t done a single burpee in four weeks, thank you Mr President…) I also recently started doing Tracy Anderson DVDs as well, and the little floor space I left in front of the mirrored wall is perfect for all those dance combos, which I am loving.
All things considered, it is pretty luxurious to have a studio at home, and I know I am very lucky, but carving out a little space for wellness is possible in most homes, even if it’s just a little mat, a couple of weights and some elastic bands; you can decorate it all nice and pretty so you feel happy when you are about to embark on a pretty gruesome 60 min HIIT workout. At least your eyes will be having a good time!
With love, S.
A Styled Life 