EXERCISE
VOLUME 30 LOSE IT! 41
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Victoria’s Secret models and
everyone on a journey to transform
their bodies signed up for SWEAT.’
Now Steve has switched
things up again with another new
concept. Fuelled by pumping music
and LED disco lights, Switch
Playground is a 60-minute full-
body workout that incorporates
strength training, conditioning,
cardio, metabolic and functional
exercise. It’s a compact regimen
that is fast catching on – it’s not
uncommon to hear someone say, ‘I
don’t exercise, I switch!’There are up to 21 stations,
each designated for different
exercise regimens. ‘Switch
“players” work out in pairs, and
each station is designed for one
core exercise workout,’ explains
Steve. ‘Some stations have body
weight exercises to improve your
strength and flexibility, others
have dumbbells, free weights,
resistance bands and TRX
(suspension training) for core
strengthening, etc. You make
your way through all the stations
so it’s a full-body workout and
you get the benefits of strength
and cardio training.’ Each session
lasts two minutes before you
switch to the next station. While
you’re between stations, trainers
demonstrate the movements.
Players should allow for anhour for each session from start to
finish, including warm-up time.
The session starts with a seven-
minute flow yoga warm-up to
kick-start the routine, followed by
two minutes at each of the
21 stations and lastly,
a five minute
cool-down.
‘We start with
yoga to centre the
mind; get the head in
the right space and
warm up the body,’
says Steve. ‘Switch is
a playground for the
mind, body and soul.
The yoga is to set your intentions;
to think about and focus on what
you want to achieve in that hour.
What comes after is a full-body
warm-up and stretching of the
muscles to get both mind and
body ready for the full hour you
will be using it for training.’
It seems like a lot to remember,
but there is someone on the mic
to keep you motivated and give
out instructions as you exercise
(like a hype man at a party).
There are also qualified trainersmanaging the stations.
Switch Playground is for
everyone: every body and every
age. ‘When people think of circuit
training they think of a boot
camp, where someone is running
behind them screaming: “Come
on! Faster! Move!” Well, it’s
totally not like that. Our classes
cater for people of all fitness
levels,’ says Steve.
‘We don’t have a grading
system for our classes,’ he adds.
‘That’s why we have trainers to
assist everyone and to modify an
exercise if a client has an injury,
or wants to slow down.’
Steve founded Switch in Cape
Town but there are now studios
in Bryanston, Greenstone, Menlyn
Maine – and New York City!
Switch Playground may be
a fitness centre
but the team also
prides itself on
creating a fun,
vibey workout
space. There are
four resident DJs
who rotate and
offer a variety of
music: expect
anything from
Afrikaans tunes and alternative
rock through old-school hip-hop
to pump-up exercise sessions.
With 35 years’ experience in
fitness, Steve is still very much
hands-on, designing Switch class
routines every day to ensure fresh
and vibrant sessions for players.
It’s a programme that has worked
for many fitness lovers in the Big
Apple and here at home. ‘Switch
is dedicated to giving clients
results – and a new approach to
working out,’ he says. QSwitch Studios
is offering 15%
off all Switch
apparel in April.
Bring this article
with you to
qualify for the
discount!