NEW FACE IN TOWN FOR LOCKDOWN
For the two-month duration of the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown thus far there has been a new face in the Sunnyside suburb of Makhanda (Grahamstown), and the fitness centre owner and personal trainer and avid road runner has been “pounding the tar” on local streets during the permitted daily exercise period.
I encountered Meagan Claasen, 30, daughter of Leon and Desiree Claasen of Makhanda, as I was setting off on a walk the other day and she was returning from a training run. She told me she had been in Makhanda since just before lockdown kicked in towards the end of March.
Meagan is the owner of Stature personal training/gym/ fitness centre, located on the top floor of Renaissance Building in Bree Street, Cape Town, and its 85 clients and three trainers have magnificent views of Table Mountain, Devil’s Peak and Lion’s Head not too far away.
Stature’s client base, explained Meagan, who has owned the popular personal training centre and gym for the past two years, includes company CEOs and directors, doctors, lawyers, young professionals, businessmen and businesswomen.
“I have a big mix of people who train with me, and their ages range from 18 to 65.”
Clearly, Meagan is a hard worker and dedicated fitness trainer and coach. “I get to work just before 6am each weekday and leave around 7.30pm,” she said with a smile that exuded confidence and a passion for her chosen profession.
“We have five classes daily, plus I’m personal trainer to many clients. I am the face of the business and find that many clients come in asking for me.”
Meagan matriculated from Victoria Girls’ High School in 2007, and went to Rhodes University where she graduated with a B.Soc Sci degree, majoring in human kinetics (sports science), ergonomics and psychology, following it up with a BSc Honours in human kinetics. She completed four additional courses and was awarded certificates in group fitness training, pilates, spinning and advanced spinning.
During her honours year she worked at Kingswood College as a trainer and helped establish their gym.
“I was approached by the owner of a gym in Cape Town who offered me a position in his Transfit gym, and I accepted.”
She was there for three years before it closed. “It taught me so much of what I still use today and was the foundation that I needed,” she said.
When Transfit closed, Meagan and a partner in the business took over the town branch, renamed and rebranded it, and Stature was born. A year later her co-owner relocated to Europe and she became sole owner. The gym is closed now, but during lockdown they run three online zoom classes daily.
Of her own fitness during lockdown, Meagan said: “I have found that exercise saves me from going insane, becoming sad or depressed, and has kept me motivated to keep eating healthily.”
TRAFFIC OFFICES OPEN
Makana Municipality’s traffic department offices were due to open on June 1, with preference being given to expired driver’s licences and professional driving permits (PDPs) at this stage. Bookings for learner’s and driver’s licences will be accepted from June 15.
CHAPLAIN LEAVES
St Andrew’s College said farewell last week to its chaplain, Reverend David Stansbury, and his family as they return to Port Elizabeth to lead Holy Trinity Church in Central.
NO STUDENT SPORT
Rhodes University will not be sending teams to the mid-year sports tournaments held under the auspices of the University Sport South Africa (USSA) this year. USSA has announced that all tournaments scheduled for 2020 have been cancelled.