MOSSEL BAY NEWS - For a Mossel Bay boxing and fitness instructor, Anthea Haupt, strength isn't measured by the weight you lift or the force of your punch. It's found in the confidence to keep showing up, the courage to try something new, and the belief that you're capable of more than you ever imagined.
Haupt is a fitness instructor at a gym that only caters for women. "Many moons ago, when I was an office worker and not physically active at all, my sister persuaded me to join her at the gym," she laughs.
"I honestly believe my fitness journey began the moment I couldn't get back up after doing a burpee!" Rather than giving up, that humbling moment became the catalyst for change.
"From that day, I made a personal commitment to become stronger and more confident in my movement. Fitness became about so much more than just physical change - it became a journey of self-discovery."
Seeing her own transformation inspired her to help others achieve the same. "A fellow instructor believed in me and encouraged me to start coaching. That kindness made a huge impact on me, and I wanted to be someone women felt comfortable coming to, with whom women feel supported and safe."
For Haupt, boxing is about much more than learning to throw punches. "It's about focus, confidence, resilience and becoming more aware of your own strength."
One of the most rewarding parts of her work is watching women exceed their own expectations. "I love watching women surprise themselves. Seeing someone realise they're stronger and more capable than they ever imagined is incredibly rewarding. The physical changes are great, but it's the shift in mindset that I love the most - change from the inside out."
Anthea Haupt
She says the women she trains are also her greatest source of inspiration. "Their energy, determination and willingness to keep showing up really inspires me."
Breaking the myths Haupt believes one of the biggest misconceptions women have about fitness is that strength training or boxing will make them "too bulky", or that they need to be fit before joining a gym.
"The truth is, you become fit by starting. Strength training and boxing build confidence and improve your relationship with your own body." Over time, she sees remarkable changes in the women who train with her.
"They become more disciplined, more confident and more comfortable in their own skin. They begin to realise they're capable of so much more than they believed."
To women who feel intimidated about walking into a gym for the first time, her advice is simple. "Remember, everyone started somewhere.
Even the fittest, most confident person in the gym had a first day. Just take that first step, it's usually the hardest part. A fitness facility is a place to learn, grow and become stronger, not a place to be judged."
Celebrating women's strength With Women's Day approaching, Haupt says the occasion is about far more than celebration.
"Women's Day is a reminder to celebrate our strength, our courage and one another. It's also a reminder to continue creating spaces where women feel safe, supported, respected, empowered and never judged."
She believes women often underestimate just how resilient they are.
"I've met so many women who face challenges in their daily lives, yet they still show up. They continue to encourage others, lift each other up and remind one another of their worth. Women have an incredible ability to carry so much while still helping others 'fix their crowns'."
If she could leave every woman with one message, it would be this: "You are far more capable than you know."
Quickfire with Anthea
Coffee or protein shake? "I love both, but I recently quit coffee."
Favourite exercise? "Besides boxing, definitely devil presses and burpees. A devil press is basically a burpee with weights."
Exercise everyone hates but should do? "Burpees! They build endurance, strength and mental toughness."
Guilty pleasure? "My husband's cooking and taking time to completely relax over the weekend."
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