Durban - It was former police commissioner General Bheki Cele who once said people must envy your body.
In his infamous “stomach in, chest out” speech, Cele went on to say “you must be a hmmm kind of product, not a haaawu.”
And that is the speech that rang in my head the day Marie Claire magazine released its annual Naked Issue edition.
With a host of celebrities, including model Lee-Anne Liebenberg, rapper and TV presenter Proverb and Strictly Come Dancing actress winner Zakeeya Patel, it was one Boitumelo “Boity” Thulo who grabbed the attention from all the 20-something naked celebrities.
Thulo, who bared her perfectly shaped (entire) behind, became an instant hit on social networks, with the hashtag “Boity’s booty” trending on Twitter for two days.
Men were lustful and women were jealous, wanting to know the secret behind that behind.
Turns out it was none other than the new exercise craze that has taken the country by storm, S.W.E.A.T 1000.
S.W.E.A.T. stands for “Specialised Weight Endurance Aerobic Training”, with 1 000 representing the potential calories that can be burned off in a one-hour workout.
With Thulo’s exercise regime revealed, I decided to give this new workout a try and as luck would have it Durban recently opened their own franchise in Umhlanga.
After running the idea past owner Annie Philippeos, she was only too happy to accommodate me for a one-hour morning class with instructor Greg Bayliss-Lane.
I’m not a fitness freak, but I do try to keep fit by jogging at least three times a week and cycling along the beachfront every weekend, but I was still a bit apprehensive about what awaited me.
I didn’t know what to expect, and on top of that I still had to go to work after the session.
My brief to Philippeos was that I must still be able to walk after the class.
“You’ll leave here feeling energised and rejuvenated.” she reassured me. “Not only will you still be able to walk, but you’ll want to come back again for more.”
Bayliss-Lane steadily took me through the different paces, according to my fitness levels.
The dynamic, action-packed interval training consisted of core stability work, athletic agility and functional training. To my surprise, it did not feel like a workout at all, but more like a jol with some buddies.
I loved every minute of it.
The thumping music and the constant encouragement of Bayliss-Lane gave me vigour. Before I knew it an hour had elapsed and I was still fresh and eager to continue.
While I won’t be bearing my booty, I’ll happily return or another invigorating specialised session.
I do, after all, want to be a hmmm kind of product, not a haaawu.
It’s like exercising in a nightclub. That is how the new exercise craze, Specialised Weight Endurance Aerobic Training 1000 (S.W.E.A.T.), has been described.
Designed and founded by fitness guru and trainer to movie stars Steve Uria and fitness fanatic brothers Paul and Andrew Rothschild, the concept was launched in uMhlanga four months ago and is generating much interest.
Durban owner Annie Philippeos said the workout has become something of a craze in Joburg and Cape Town.
Equipment includes specialised treadmills, which incline to 30 degrees – as exercise at inclines of 15 degrees or more is said to burn three times more calories from fat.
During the group training classes, half the time is spent on the treadmills and the other half on the floor. Floor work uses resistance bands and other high-intensity exercises.
Classes also include elements of yoga, thai chi, boxing, kickboxing and flexibility training, with amazing lighting effects ensuring that classes are fun, exciting and motivating.
Uria, 45, who spent 22 years in the US and has trained movie stars locally and abroad for physically challenging roles, says the highly specialised workout accommodates varying fitness levels.
What also distinguishes S.W.E.A.T. 1000 from other gyms is that their model is not contract based, so you can structure a package that best suits your needs.
A single class costs R160, while a 10-class package is R1 500, a 20-class package costs R2 800, and a 30-class package costs R3 900.
Classes are available seven days a week, and the first class is free. Bookings can be made online or by calling the uMhlanga studio on 031 832 3900. - Independent on Saturday