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The build-up to this event had me excited. As someone who took fitness very seriously a few years ago, PowerHER Fit Fest felt a little like a calling.
For its first edition, Motherkind’s PowerHER Fit Fest brought global fitness personality Kayla Itsines to South Africa for the first time, kicking things off in Johannesburg before heading to Cape Town on 14 November.
Designed as a premium wellness experience for women, the festival packed workouts, wellness experiences, conversations, brand activations and even an after-party into one day.
The venue
PowerHER Fit Fest took over the expansive grounds of The Chosen Convention Expo Centre in Joburg South.
Getting there meant a fairly long drive for us, and the location initially raised a few eyebrows. But once we arrived, the choice started to make more sense. There was plenty of space, and the grounds were buzzing with attendees ready to sweat, socialise and explore.
Pop-up activations from partners including Investec, Samsung, Dis-Chem and Mercedes-Benz were dotted around the venue, alongside food stations, a smoothie bar, drinks and plenty of seating.
Inside, a large screen dominated the main space while brand activations drew immediate attention. The format reminded me a little of Clicks Beauty Playground. Fitness may have been the main attraction, but PowerHER Fit Fest was clearly designed as a broader lifestyle and wellness experience. The promise of goodie bags and freebies naturally drew queues, sometimes lengthy ones, but staff remained friendly and patient with the crowds.
More than just workouts
The programme included Pulse Talks, a series of short conversations covering different aspects of women's lives.
Speakers included Motherkind founder and event creator Rechelle Kloeck, fitness entrepreneur Uleen Fourie, content creator Taryn Louch, Savannah Cozzi and Investec’s Elizabeth Fick and Tracey Ward.
Rechelle spoke about what can happen when women feel empowered, from building businesses and creating opportunities to uplifting one another and leaving lasting legacies.
She explained that PowerHER Fit Fest was created around the belief that every woman deserves to walk into a room and feel that she belongs.
Another conversation brought together Nandi Madida, former Miss South Africa Vanessa Carreira and media personality Tarryn Kay.
There was plenty of movement between the conversations too. Plank challenges tested endurance, with the winner holding one for an impressive six minutes, while a breathwork session offered a change of pace. A dance warm-up led by instructor Gomotsegang “MacD” Modillane soon had the crowd back on its feet.
Then came Kayla
By the afternoon, it was time for the star attraction: Kayla Itsines.
With more than 15 million Instagram followers and as co-founder of the globally recognised Sweat fitness platform, Kayla has built an enormous international fitness community around her accessible training programmes.
Taking to the stage in front of around 2 000 attendees during her first visit to South Africa, Kayla became emotional as she looked out over the packed arena and the love she had received since arriving.
Her high-intensity bootcamp put us through a full-body workout targeting arms, abs, legs and glutes. And yes, it was tough. We sweated through it while the crowd cheered each other on, creating the kind of collective energy that's hard to replicate when you're working out alone.
During our backstage meet-and-greet, Kayla shared how struck she'd been by the warmth and kindness she'd experienced in South Africa. And before heading to Cape Town? A safari was on the itinerary.
From workout to after-party
An after-party isn't necessarily the first thing that springs to mind after an intense fitness event. At that point, a shower and a nap can sound pretty appealing.
But PowerHER Fit Fest had other plans. G&G Productions, the team behind events including the Luxurious Marble Circus and involved in the event, kept the music going after the workouts wrapped up.
Co-founder Gregg Walsh told TimeOut that keeping the party going was very much intentional: “It wouldn’t be G&G Productions without music.”
Fair enough. The likes of Lady Zamar and Ayanda MVP's had us dancing and somehow finding a little more energy after the day's workouts.
Where does PowerHER go next?
For a first edition, there was a lot packed into the day, perhaps almost too much if your goal was to experience absolutely everything.
Gregg acknowledged that the team is already looking at how the event could evolve, including its format and location. He also revealed to TimeOut that Kayla has signed on for the next three years of PowerHER Fit Fest.
Ticket prices started at R890, climbing to R3 790 for the VVIP experience, which included an opportunity to meet Kayla.
Gregg was clear about its positioning: “This is a premium offer.” That positioning was evident throughout the festival. Alongside the workouts and talks, brand activations, shopping opportunities and other experiences competed for attendees' attention.
For a first large outing, PowerHER Fit Fest delivered an ambitious mix of fitness, wellness, conversation and entertainment. There are elements that can be refined as the festival finds its way, but with Kayla’s set to return, we're interested to see how PowerHER Fit Fest grows over the next few years.
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