Health Magazine - February 2022

HEALTH

LUBA LESOLLE

FEBRUARY 2022

Obakeng Makapane: My fitness journey - P12

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CONTENTS 4 Fitness trends for 2022 6 Healthy food for the new year 8 Get protein from plants 9 How to choose a smart watch 10 New Year’s Resolutions 101: How to sustain them 12 Cover story: Obakeng Makapane 14 Mindfulness and self-care 16 Athleisure trends 17 Local activewear brands 18 Gym make-up dos and don’ts

CONTACT US PUBLISHER Vasantha Angamuthu vasantha@africannewsagency. com HEALTH EDITOR Viwe Ndongeni-Ntlebi viwe.ndongeni@inl.co.za ACTING LIFESTYLE EXECUTIVE EDITOR Buhle Mbonambi buhle.mbonambi@inl.co.za DESIGN Juanita Minshull juanita.minshull@inl.co.za PRODUCTION Renata Ford renata.ford@inl.co.za BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Keshni Odayan keshni.odayan@inl.co.za SALES Charl Reineke charl.reineke@inl.co.za ENQUIRIES info@anapublishing.com

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Editor’s note ITS THE start of a new year and I will admit that I do love this time of the year!

The beginning of the year is always full of hope. Even when you don’t want to start a new hobby or make changes in your life, you are bound to fall into the New Year Resolutions euphoria – intentionally or unintentionally.

I will also be the first to confess that my health resolutions are already set and I have already taken active steps to make sure that each one is fulfilled.

Last year I had a major bucket list item – summiting Mount Kilimanjaro – which I followed through on and successfully did.

This year is all about back to the basics for me: getting my fitness form right, educating myself about food labelling and nutrition, plus learning to swim.

This is another admission, I’m

not the strongest swimmer hence I’ve started swimming lessons.

If we have learnt anything from the two-year pandemic, it is that the right time to start being healthy is right now. Invest in your health and make sure that your health is top priority.

So, If you are not the kind of person who sets New Year's resolutions, the pandemic should be a good enough reason to start afresh and prioritise health if you had paused.

This month’s health magazine is here to help you with that. This theme is here to help you start, maintain and master your health journey.

In this issue we talk about resolutions, how to start, what to consider and how to avoid them from becoming detrimental to your health.

We also talk about trends in fitness, food, athleisure and many other things. This is to help you know what you must have in health right now.

Get to know our cover girl, Obakeng Makapane. She is a fitness trainer and plant-based advocate who is popularly known in her fitness community as fitobi. She talks about all things plant-based food, fitness and how to keep going in 2022.

Remember that being healthy is not a destination, rather a journey that we have to constantly work on and improve. If you have paused, start again. If you can’t start now with the big goals, start where you are. Be kind to yourself and love yourself.

Health and happiness always.

Viwe

Get moving this year with these

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TRAINING TRENDS

VIWE NDONGENI-NTLEBI

THE current health pandemic has created and amplified many fitness trends. Some of the biggest fitness and training trends of 2021 included high-intensity interval training (HIIT), wearable workout technology and garments like waist trainers. Most of these trends are still around on the rise even in 2022.

According to leading market analysts, these are the main wellness patterns of 2022: Wearable technology: Wearable technology is the top fitness trend for 2022, according to a survey of 4 500 health and fitness professionals by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).

“Tech advances have made it easy for users to collect important health metrics and work with fitness professionals and healthcare providers to develop healthy lifestyles and increase quality of life,” said ACSM past president Walter R Thompson, who served as the lead author of the survey, in a media release.

Exercise as medicine in a recovery format Lee-Ann Caboz is the brand and communications manager at Under Armour and says (we will be) using exercise as medicine in a recovery format: walking, yoga, body weight routines.

Regular exercise has been shown to improve health and reduce the severity of diseases accompanying an unhealthy lifestyle.

Outdoor activities: Caboz says hiking and watersports naturally increase and enhance lung capacity. This includes small group walks, group rides and organised hiking groups with participants meeting in a park, hiking area or bike trail for short and daylong events.

Health/wellness coaching.

According to ACSM, coaching integrates behavioural science into

Group training is a great way to get into exercise. | ANDREA PIACQUADIO Pexels

health promotion and lifestyle medicine programmes. A one-onone and small group approach provides support, goal setting and encouragement.

Home exercise gyms These have been on the rise since the beginning of the pandemic. The use of minimal equipment or treadmills and bikes at home for solo or family activities is a trend that is not fading away soon.

Smart technology goes way beyond workout bikes; this area has expanded exponentially and now contains a variety of fitness equipment, including advanced rowing machines and weightlifting devices. There are also full-length exercise mirrors that act as a personal trainer – it’s a whole different type of personal training in the comfort of your home.

Group training Group training is a wonderful way to get into exercising, as you’ll have people to encourage you, while also making training a social activity. Get a few friends together and work out a programme to suit all everyone’s needs as far as possible; you’ll definitely feel motivated to keep going.

Running clubs Running clubs allow members to meet new people and compete together while getting fit.

HIIT This high-intensity interval training programme has always been popular among fitness enthusiasts seeking higher levels of training. With the growth in bespoke fitness facilities, offering a HIIT class is a sure way to keep many of your clientele happy. It’s quick and effective.

APP technology home workout programmes A fitness lifestyle should offer you the ability to plan according to your needs. By taking personal responsibility for your health and fitness, half the victory is won. But these APPs will offer accountability because fitness takes discipline.

Myofascial Release To recover from those HIIT and functional training sessions, or from the general stresses we place on the body daily (including emotional/mental stresses), enrol in a myofascial release class. Once a week is enough to feel the effects of releasing the connective tissue that sits between the muscles and the organs; the fascia.

TURMERIC has been gaining popularity. | TAMANNA RUME Pexels

Eat well, live well Positive food choices can impact your body, mind, lifestyle and the environment Lutho Pasiya AS WE enter 2022, the world is anticipating a fresh new year.

With many more people focused on health than they may have been a year ago, this exciting awareness is affecting people’s food choices in a very positive way.

This may also beneficially impact nutrition, lifestyle choices, and the environment, shaping 2022 into a bright, fresh year!

We spoke to specialist dietitians Mbali Mapholi and Yuri Bhaga as well as Coyne Healthcare integrative health coach Laura Johnston on healthy food trends

to look out for this year and below is what they said.

Bhaga’s predictions Foods for better immunity The pandemic has highlighted the importance of strong immunity. One of the best ways to support a healthy immune system is through a healthy varied and balanced diet.

With a focus on micronutrients from fruits and vegetables.

Spices such as turmeric and curcumin have also been gaining popularity.

Plant-based foods This trend started gaining traction a few years ago and it does not look like it will be slowing down anytime soon. While previously it seems there was a big push to go to the extreme and many people swapping over to veganism, now it seems there is more flexibility. This is great in that it encourages people to try something new, increase their plant foods, reduce their animalbased foods, all without feeling overly pressured. This can be seen mainly for dairy products as well

as protein sources. This is a great shift not only for environmental purposes but for health benefits (specifically heart health) as well.

Health-focused fast foods Initially, these types of stores and restaurants were sought after in small pockets across the country for a very small subset of the population. In the last while, however, the demand for these establishments has grown and they have been popping up in bigger cities all over the country. It will be exciting to see the new more health-conscious options that will be available and competing with the likes of other “typical” eat-out establishments.

Laura Johnston’s predictions Medicinal plants I see a growing interest in botanicals (medicinal plants) for immune health such as ginger, turmeric, and echinacea; minerals like magnesium; vitamin C (particularly highly absorbable Liposomal vitamin C); and medicinal mushrooms (those high in alpha glucans like AHCC).

Fibre Fibre is also becoming increasingly important for weight management and is now being added to functional food products.

Super ingredients Ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, antioxidants, zeaxanthin, and collagen are all important for healthy ageing. Try PQQ (pyrroloquinoline Quinone), a nutrient for those wanting to optimise mitochondrial health, mental cognition and shield against cellular ageing.

Mapholi’s predictions Alcohol-free drinks We will see an expansion in the alcohol-free drinks options. Postpandemic isolation has created a growing interest in health and well-being, causing a surge in both functional beverages and alcohol-free drinks. Many people

Echinacea. | NATALIA JONES Unsplash

understand the negative effects of excessive alcohol drinking and as an attempt to reduce alcohol intake they will consider alcohol-free options.

Brain supporting foods Mental health has become a top priority. We don’t see that slowing down anytime soon. We will still see an interest in foods that support mental health. These foods include a wide range of nutrients such as organic 3 fatty acids.

Healthy frozen and easy to make food options Most people started cooking from home during the pandemic lockdown years and we don’t see this changing in 2022. There will be a continued growth interest to cook more foods from home.

However, time constraints can be limiting which we see more households seeking more healthy frozen and easy to cook food options.

PACK IN THE PROTEIN Many believe that you can’t get enough protein from a vegan diet, but this couldn’t be further from the truth... if you know what you are doing Lutho Pasiya GOING vegan means that all meat, fish, dairy, eggs and other animal products are off the menu and replaced with plant substitutes to ensure you still hit your daily nutrition goals.

Many people believe that you can’t get enough protein from a vegan diet, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. If you know what you are doing, that is.

Tabitha Hume, a registered clinical dietitian, gives us a list in descending order of plant-based foods that are highest in protein for vegans.

Seitan: 25g per 100g, this “wheat-meat” is the wonderful protein gluten, and yields the same kick of protein as does beef.

Fry’s Pea protein mince: 24g per 100g. This is both delicious and easy, in a Bolognese sauce.

Fry’s breakfast bangers: 16g per 100g. Very low fat, so a far-cry from the cholesterol-increasing and fattening pork bangers.

Tofu and tempeh: 15g per 100g. These are cheap and easy, if you buy from an Asian supermarket. The ones at grocery stores are very expensive. Freeze,

GET protein from chickpeas. | ELLA OLSSON Pexels

then microwave until cooked through; squeeze out excess water and then slice and cook as you would chicken breast fillets.

Edamame beans: 15g per 100g. Delicious to nibble on after boiling and salting lightly.

Hemp seeds: 10g per 2 heaped tbs. Great added to smoothies and muesli.

Nutritional yeast: is 50% protein, so 2 heaped tbs nutritional yeast contains about 10g protein.

This is used throughout the vegan world to add a rich and cheesy flavour to sauces and casseroles.

And it contains vitamin B1 which is great for memory!

Oats: 10g per 100g. Everyone loves a bowl of warm oats for brekkie, enjoy with maple syrup and a banana.

Beans, including black-eyed, pinto, butter, cannellini, soya, edamame and kidney: between 7-10g protein per 100g. Replace chicken pieces or beef strips in casseroles and dishes with beans, beans, beans! The quickest way to get slimmer and lower cholesterol, too.

Lentils including puy, green, and red: around 8-9g of protein per 100g. A lentil curry or dahl is the best!

Chickpeas, including hummus: 7g of protein per 100g.

Garden peas: around 7g per 100g.

Soya milk: 6g protein per cup.

Baked beans: 5g per 100g.

Buckwheat: 5g per 100g.

Quinoa: 5g per 100g.

Time to get smart With options for sporty people, runners, and those on a tight budget, there’s a lot to think about when buying a smartwatch.

Viwe Ndongeni-Ntlebi FOR a smartwatch to be considered a smartwatch, the minimum requirement is it must be able to show you the time – this might sound a bit too simple but in the age of modern technology it’s often the most logical aspects of tech that we sometimes overlook. And smartwatches being able to keep track of the time is often the only common feature shared by watches of different styles, designs and brands.

Although features and designs vary, smartwatches can help save you time and keep better tabs on your health. Most have built-in fitness metrics, such as a heart rate sensor and GPS. Some can act as an extension of your phone, while others are marketed as healthfocused devices.

Top-tier smartwatches from Apple, Samsung, and Fitbit are miniature phones that wrap around your wrist. They run pint-size apps, let you control your smartphone remotely, and are capable of phonelike tasks such as tracking your run around a park, storing music, and even making phone calls through a tiny SIM card.

However, if you are new to the fitness scene or want to buy a smartwatch you may want to pay attention to the rated battery life when shopping around. Hybrid smartwatches that look more like analog timepieces tend to have the longest battery life, but they don’t have touchscreens, so it’s best to keep this in mind.

With options for sporty people, runners, and those on a tight

budget, there’s a lot to think about when buying a smartwatch.

Smartwatches might also require pairing to a smartphone for the notification functionality. It’s important to understand not all smartwatches will work with all smartphones.

It’s important to choose a smartwatch that you’ll feel comfortable wearing every day.

Additional features will vary from device to device, so you’ll want to think about how you’ll be using your smartwatch in your daily life.

Huawei shares some tips on what to keep in mind when buying a smartwatch: Compatibility: If your devices are going to keep up with your fastpaced, always-active lifestyle, they need to interact seamlessly with one another. You need devices –

laptops, tablets, smartphones and wearables – that work as one, with each updating the others as you complete or set certain tasks.

Independent connectivity: A watch must have independent connectivity which is achieved through a standalone, eSIM-enabled communication system. This means that your watch can stay connected even when you are doing outdoor activities or at times when you find it inconvenient to carry your smartphone.

Fitness Features: If you live an active life, a watch must provide options of workout modes including professional workouts, outdoor and indoor workouts.

Within these workouts, the devices should offer extensive fitness tracking, monitoring every aspect of your progress.

DUSAN JOVIC Unsplash

MAKE THAT CHANGE When it comes to New Year’s Resolutions, Forbes says come 1 February, only 25% of people have remained committed. If you want to stick to your goals, make sure they’re realistic.

Viwe Ndongeni-Ntlebi WITH every new year comes new opportunities, new challenges and for many people it comes in the form of New Year’s resolutions hoping to spark positive change.

If you are one of those people, Abdurahman Kenny, mental health portfolio manager for Pharma Dynamics said: “Making New Year’s resolutions often involves self-reflection, which in general is good practice if done in a constructive way. However, the reality is that for many, the past year may have been discouraging and fraught with difficulty.

“Those dealing with depression, troubling life events, loss of a loved one, divorce or lack of self-esteem, may find themselves spiralling into patterns of negative thought as their problems or perceived imperfections consume their thinking. The added pressure of setting and failing to keep to New Year’s resolutions may exacerbate

feelings of worthlessness.

“When resolutions involve making significant behaviour changes, it adds a huge amount of extra stress and pressure, which increases our cortisol (stress hormone) levels. When we fail, we tend to punish ourselves for our perceived shortcomings. This makes us feel inadequate and worse than when we started.”

For those who want to stay true to the tradition, Kenny recommends making small, realistic changes rather than setting unattainable goals.

“For example, if you’re wanting to lose weight, make healthy eating your goal as opposed to losing a certain amount of weight by a certain date. By focusing on a concept – whether it’s becoming healthier, being more adventurous or spending more quality time with your loved ones, you’re bound to achieve it if that’s where

PLAN and prep for the week ahead. | S-WELL Unsplash

you put your focus.”

“So many resolutions are focused on what you’re doing wrong or what you need to change about yourself, which can be damaging. Instead, focus on your strengths and how you can use these to create the life you want.

Be kind to yourself by celebrating the progress you have made and how far you’ve come. Let your successes motivate you to keep moving forward,” said Kenny.

As to New Year’s Resolutions, Forbes says, come February 1 only 25% of people stay committed to their resolutions. By December, only 8% accomplished them.

Herbalife Nutrition has some of the tips you can use to maintain or start exercising by being patient with yourself.

“It will take a while to create a new habit. The more you practise healthy habits, the more you will get used to them, and before you

know it, they will become second nature.

“It’s not going to be a quick, easy journey. It’s going to take time, dedication, and commitment.

The urge to slip back into old habits will arise more than once on your journey to a healthier self.

“But don’t give up and don’t feel discouraged if you have a bad day.

As long as you keep trying, those healthy habits will come back!”

If you are looking at making healthy eating habits, Shelly Bowien, registered dietitian at Alex Royal Dietetics, gave us the following great advice: Snack healthily It’s so easy to grab a bag of chips or a bar of chocolate when you’re bored or peckish in the house and haven’t had time to prepare healthy snacks. Or, you may think that snacking on a lot of fruit (which is very high in sugar), is the healthy choice? Ideally, Bowien says you should be filling up on vegetable-based snacks, which help you to control the calories and also keep your blood sugar quite level.

She adds that meal preparation and planning your meals properly helps with food wastage and managing your budget, but mostly ensures that you eat healthy and delicious meals in the week ahead.

On a Saturday or Sunday, sit down and plan at least your main meals for each day in the upcoming week.

“Write down all the ingredients you’ll need, head to the shops, chop, peel and rinse all your vegetables and store them ready in glass containers.

“Vegetables that last long in the fridge include: carrots, bell peppers, tomatoes, beetroot, green beans, baby marrows, onions, garlic, ginger, and kimchi,” she concludes.

When it comes to the gym, Botle Kayamba, a fitness trainer and owner of Botle Fitness – an organisation that teaches people about healthy lifestyle – says people should stay committed to the

STAY motivated and be realistic at gym. | SPENCER DAVIUS Unsplash

decision of going to the gym.

These are her tips: • Don’t be afraid to ask.

People injure themselves because they are afraid to ask. People can avoid injury by asking advice from the people at the gym.

• Focus on your goal.

Don’t compare yourself with

people who have been gymming for years. Focus on yourself and your goals and learn to be patient when it comes to progress.

• Enjoy the process slowly and build on it.

• Remember why you started.

• Stay motivated, be realistic, it’s a gradual process.

Inspire, motivate, educate Our cover girl, fitness guru Obakeng Makapan,speaks to us about her fitness journey Viwe Ndongeni-Ntlebi

MAKAPANE postes on her Instagram page for her health and fitness community.

OBAKENG Makapane, 26, popularly known as @obakeng_ fitobi the plant-based girl started her fitness journey in 2014 when she was in varsity.

She says she started her journey because she needed a way to destress from varsity work. “When I started off, I enjoyed running and that was my main form of training, I then moved on to the gym but running remains my first love. I think it is such a therapeutic form of training and the fact that I get to do it outside is an added bonus.”

In 2016 she started being a flexitarian then moved to a vegan diet a few years later at the end of 2019.

“Plant-based fitness is important to me because it has taught me the importance of balance. Before, I used to think that meat and vegetables were the only important elements in nutrition. However, being plant-based has given me a broader understanding of food and the relationship between my body and what I consume.”

With the knowledge she has, she creates content through her social media platforms for others to be inspired, motivated and even educated.

Makapane posts meal prep inspiration, plant-based recipes, and guides for both home and gym workouts on her Instagram page for her health and fitness community.

We spoke to her to get to better understand her lifestyle and what keeps her motivated.

Why did you choose the plant-based lifestyle?

Initially I was pescetarian because I really enjoyed seafood, then I moved to vegetarian because back then it was a bit challenging and costly to find dairy substitutes but as soon as accessibility was not a problem, I moved to a vegan diet.

What was the most challenging thing about your

plant-based journey?

It was finding suitable substitutes but now the challenging thing is finding a balance between diet and supplements to complement my training.

Where does your passion for fitness and living a healthy lifestyle come from?

My passion for fitness started after I gained weight due to losing my gran. I lost my gran at the age of 12 and between the ages of 12 and 14, I ate my emotions away.

Everyone in my life commented on my weight and this bothered me a lot, but I did not do much about it because I was still grief-stricken.

At the end of my Grade 8 year, I decided to start running. At the time, I did not know much about fitness or weight loss. I did a bit of research and incorporated it into my routine.

Back then, Facebook was the most popular social media but there was a limited amount of information about fitness on it.

When I reached varsity, I finally had access to an actual gym for the first time and I started sharing my journey online.

What’s your go-to meal preand post-exercise?

I actually train on an empty stomach, it’s something I did when I started training and it has been that way ever since.

After a hectic training session I usually grab a banana before getting home and making either a smoothie or oats. I add my plantbased protein powder on both.

What does your morning routine look like?

I’m an early riser, I think this is something I took from home. No one at home sleeps in, we struggle to stay in bed past 8am.

I wake up at 4.45am, journal, pray and prepare for the day. Then train my clients or go for my own session which now includes doing a bit of yoga, shower, drink lots of water, check my emails and meetings for the day.

Then I have my breakfast around 10 or 11.

For those who don’t know, outside fitness I have a corporate job as an economist.

What one thing do you never skip in your workout?

Warm up and stretching – those are very important.

What are the three musthave accessories in fitness A water bottle to help you keep track of your water consumption, this may seem obvious but it’s so easy to fall off the tracks during winter.

So a cute water bottle that you can keep with you on your desk helps keep you accountable.

Resistance bands – these are such an easy accessory to carry around wherever you go and they are one of the most effective tools when doing weight or body weight training This last one is a bit hard but if you can afford it a fitness watch/ smart watch is a good accessory to have. I love that technology keeps getting better and better which allows us to better track our progress and hold each other accountable through all these technological devices.

Please share your go-to vegan meals.

Chickpea and butternut curry.

My guilty pleasure, I enjoy it so much and the people in my life seem to love it as well.

Mexican bowl with brown basmati rice, sweetcorn, red kidney beans in a pasta sauce, tenderstem broccoli and avocado topped with some hummus.

Any parting words?

Whatever fitness journey you decide on, always remember your why. That will carry you through and through.

Also remember to be open to trying new things and don’t forget that we are all unique.

Therefore, it is important that you embark on your own journey and fully embrace who you are.

MAKAPANE shares her food and fitness tips..

A BATH can mean luxury in your own home. | YAROSLAV SHURAEV Pexels

Take time out in 2022 to look after your

BODY & SOUL

SELF-CARE is always in fashion, but these wellness trends for 2022 are all about mindfulness, manifestation and living clean.

Emotional escape rooms Yoga and meditation are ancient art and disciplines that originated over 3 000 years ago. By practising it, you can reconnect with your body. Through meditation, one learns how to focus, think more clearly and become less reactive. As you gain awareness of the impact of your actions on your life, you

Sasha van Niekerk are more likely to refine your choices.

This means that you do not act out of compulsion but rather out of choice. As a means to achieve this inner peace whilst many people continue working from home, emotional escape rooms are growing in popularity. Having a quiet spot with a soft, cosy rug, floor pillows, a yoga mat, natural

lighting (possibly near a window) is the perfect indoor escape. The space is separate from the work and sleep areas so it remains a sacred spot dedicated to the practice of mindfulness.

Dry January-December As a personal challenge, people choose to partake in “Dry January” where the aim is to abstain from alcohol for the entire month. It’s kind of perfect if you consider that it falls just after Christmas and New Year’s Day, two very

indulgent holidays as far as feasting and drinking go.

But, in 2022, it is becoming more popular for people to extend the challenge until the end of the year. According to Business Insider, “Millennials and Gen Zers have been consuming less than older generations in recent years.

Research also suggests that more Millennials participate in Dry January in larger numbers than their older counterparts.”

There are also plenty of benefits involved as outlined by Harvard Health Publishing, “Regular drinkers who abstained from alcohol for 30 days slept better, had more energy, and lost weight, according to a study in BMJ Open.

They also lowered their blood pressure and cholesterol levels and reduced cancer-related proteins in their blood.”

Luxurious baths Self-care routines are no longer about simply getting the job done, it’s about turning ordinary events into an experience. So, when it comes to baths, hopping in and out just won’t do it anymore.

People are looking to transform this mundane activity into a luxurious escape to ease stress and treat themselves. Scented candles, bath bombs, lavender and salt tea bags as well as face masks and spa music are all part of the vibe.

Tracking our stress levels Using smartwatches or oldfashioned journaling to lean into our mental mindsets to pick up on early signs of being overwhelmed or stressed is a very significant selfcare trend for the year. From being able to monitor calorie intake, sleep patterns, heart rate, and more, smartwatches are helping us keep a closer eye on our physical health and, in turn, even our mental health. If you prefer to go for lowtech, journalling is also on the rise as far as mindfulness trends go.

Writing down positive affirmations, goals, what you’re grateful for and letting go of some of the more

challenging parts of life by putting pen to paper can be as cathartic as actually speaking the words out loud. On the Intermountain Healthcare website, they go into detail about how journaling helps keep your brain in shape.

“Not only does it boost memory and comprehension, but it also increases working memory capacity, which may reflect improved cognitive processing,” they said.

Manifestation and mindfulness The concept that your thoughts can influence your reality is known as “manifesting”. Lately, this

CREATE a mindful space for meditation. | SPENCER DAVIS Unsplash

mindfulness practice has received a lot of attention on TikTok so it’s no surprise that it’s been grabbing the public’s attention during such a challenging period. Social media users, celebrities and everyone in between swears by the idea that this continuous process of creation can help people build their dream lives. According to Insider, “Manifestation is the idea that you can turn desires and beliefs into reality through a mixture of writing, praying or affirmations.”

There’s even research that suggests this form of positive thinking can lead to concrete results.

PRINTS are big and bold. | ALEXANDRA TRAN Unsplash

FORM & FUNCTION Athleisure‘s popularity is rising as the line between activewear and daywear becomes blurred ATHLEISURE is arguably the fastest growing clothing category in fashion, driven by wellness aspirations and celebrity endorsement on social media.

The distinction between active wear and day wear is eroding, opening the door to new street wear fashion trends.

Wellness is often seen as the new status symbol, and increasingly people are showcasing their healthy lifestyles on social media.

If you want to be active and fashionable in 2022, Tamryn Brent, junior buyer at Under Armour, shares the latest athletic apparel trend.

Versatile Athleisure The pandemic created a functional need which is now a staple in your fitness closet.

Think multifunctional clothing for everyday wear. Workout

Viwe Ndongeni-Ntlebi apparel you can wear at the gym and run errands in offers all-day comfort, allowing the wearer to easily transition between leisure and exercise. This athleisure wear includes yoga pants, joggers and hoodies.

Prints, Baby, Prints!

It’s the era of fitfluential behavior, which means a printed bra and matching bottom set at all times! Think performance driven pieces in on trend prints and faltering silhouettes, perfect for that sunset fit fab shoot you’ve got planned for Friday. A failsafe look with matching bra and bottom not only for exercise but for a sporty fashion-forward look.

Tech, tech, tech People are paying attention to the materials and technologies

used in the production of “smart clothing”. They want sportswear that minimises sweat, keeps you cool and provides energy return during exercise.

Sustainable fabrics The focus on sustainably sourced technical fabrics is the strongest it’s ever been. Upcycled and natural dyes create sustainable sportswear, not only for one’s personal wellness but for the health of the environment.

Elevated technology in footwear Smart footwear developments are now mainstream. These advancements in footwear technology allow the wearer to closely track and monitor their health and wellness. The data collected during exercise can help the wearer to improve their athletic performance and reach their goals

GAINZ wellness apparel.

Get active, support local VIWE NDONGENI-NTLEBI viwe.ndongeni@inl.co.za

BUYING new workout clothes is sometimes the best part of starting a new fitness journey or even continuing your current fitness journey.

If you’re in the middle of an intense weight-loss journey, buying new workout clothes could be a milestone when it comes to seeing just how much weight you’ve lost.

Or if you want to gain muscle or fat, noticing that clothes are too tight can be the best thing ever.

Also, if you’re starting a new journey, a new set of workout clothes is the best motivation.

Whatever your reason is for buying a new gym outfit, buying local is always a good idea and finding activewear that caters to your lifestyle is a top priority.

While the fitness industry has traditionally excluded and marginalised those that are not slim and able-bodied, there’s recently been a shift to more inclusive brands to dominate the

marketplace Take a look at some of the coolest women-led activewear businesses in South Africa you can support in 2022.

Gainz Wellness Apparel Owner Belinda Netshipise is a qualified personal trainer. She prides herself on her achievements as she lost 20kgs through hard work with a group of trainers.

FIT FANATIC Activewear.

Her active wear caters for people with all body types. There is a wide variety of athleisure, allure lounge sets in a wide range of colours.

FitFanatic Activewear Amanda Mbongwa did sporting activities such as running, bodybuilding and mountain climbing when she was young.

Her love for the outdoors and fitness led her to founding Fit Fanatic, an active lifestyle brand which seeks to make fitness and healthy living accessible, fun and exciting through offering outdoor adventure packages. She also has a Fit Fanatic activewear and gym wear apparel range.

Kheper Athleisure Founded in 2017 by husband and wife duo Mena and Martin, in Cape Town, Kheper is a high quality athleisure wear brand to encourage women from all walks of life to feel confident.

They bring you high quality designs, using the best internationally sourced activewear fabrics to support any active person looking for comfort.

BEST FOOT FORWARD We all want to look our best, even when we’re hot and sweaty. Here’s how to look fresh at the gym Gerry Cupido IT’S THE “new year, new me” time of year and everyone is on a mission to get their body in shape.

Whether it’s to lose weight, build muscle or simply get fit, it usually means spending some time in the gym or doing some kind of physical activity that will have you working up a sweat.

There’s always great eagerness when joining the gym. You’ve signed the contract, have a workout plan in place, secured the best-looking personal trainer and even got yourself a few cute gym

YOU don’t need a full face of make-up when you go to the gym. | BRUCE MARS Unsplash

outfits.

However, not all of us look very cute while doing our workouts.

Don’t let the fitness influencers fool you. All you see of them are a few shots and not the real, sweaty, red face you see when you get a glimpse of yourself while you’re going hell for leather on the treadmill.

We all want to look our best even when we’re hot and sweaty.

Leaving home without make-up is a no-no for many women. So why would they change that when

hitting the gym?

However, one has to be realistic about how much and what make-up you can wear when working out.

Don’t even think about doing a full face beat. You’re going to sweat it off and look even more of a mess than if you didn’t wear make-up at all!

Here’s how to wear make-up to the gym if you really cannot go without it. You never know who you could bump into at the step class.

If you feel way too exposed without foundation, opt for a tinted moisturiser instead of a heavy, full-coverage foundation.

Skip blusher. You’re not going to need it! We use blusher to add a natural rosy glow but your workout will have you getting flushed in all the right places anyway.

Who doesn’t love mascara?

I, for one, cannot be without it.

Avoid raccoon eyes by opting for waterproof mascara. Avoid applying layer upon layer of mascara. Keep it simple.

No red lipstick! Yes, I know this is a tricky one for the lovers of classic red lips, but the gym isn’t the place for it. If you want a pop of colour then reach for a tinted lip balm or lip tint instead.

When it’s time to hit the showers, a well-packed gym bag is your best friend.

These are essential beauty items that need to be permanent features in your bag.

Cleansing wipes are at the top of the list simply because they are multifunctional and a quick fix for when you’re pressed for time.

Most wipes can be used as a facial cleanser as well as a make-up remover.

Moisturiser. Make sure you have one that stays in your bag. Decant a bit of the moisturiser you use at home into a smaller container. You will continue to use your favourite moisturiser without the possibility of forgetting to pack it.

A clean towel. Now, this might sound like a no-brainer but you’d be surprised how many people leave home without one. You need one towel for when you hit the gym floor and another for showering.

Hair accessories. Hairbands, headscarves and hair clips are messy-hair savers. Unless you’re doing a meditative yoga class, you are bound to walk out of the gym with sweaty, crazy hair. Not everyone has the time for a full-on wash and dry so get creative with hair accessories.

DON’T forget your gym towel.