A personal journey through pregnancy and recovery inspires a different approach to fitness at Purpose Fit, where individual goals matter more than performance.
When Fernanda Castle fell pregnant, she began seeing the gym she had built with her husband, Sheldon, through a different lens. As co-owners of Purpose Fit in Stonewood, Durbanville, they had created a space where people could build strength, improve fitness and challenge their limits. But pregnancy shifted Fernanda’s focus from performance to moving safely, adapting to her changing needs and maintaining a sense of self. That experience would help shape a more personal philosophy at Purpose Fit, built around a simple belief that fitness should support people’s lives, not the other way around.
Training throughout her pregnancy, with guidance from her healthcare provider, Fernanda discovered that progress could no longer be measured by heavier weights or personal bests. Some days required a modified routine, while others were about simply showing up. Motherhood brought another shift, reinforcing how differently people experience fitness depending on their circumstances.
“I trained throughout my pregnancy, but there were days when what I could manage looked completely different from before. I realised how easily we measure progress against what someone used to be capable of, rather than what they need at that moment,” says Fernanda. “After becoming a mother, I wanted to feel strong and confident in everyday life. It made me realise how many people come to a gym for reasons that have nothing to do with a scoreboard.”
That insight helped reshape Purpose Fit’s approach around one guiding question. What are you getting fit for?
For some, the answer is completing a first 10km run or building strength for a new challenge. For others, it is improving mobility after long hours at a desk, returning to exercise after childbirth or having enough energy to keep up with their children. Whatever the goal, the Castles believe fitness should adapt to the individual.
“We believe a gym shouldn’t dictate your goals. It should help you achieve them,” says Sheldon. “Watching Fernanda navigate pregnancy and motherhood brought that home. If someone who owns a gym needs their training to change as life changes, imagine how intimidating it can feel for someone walking into a gym for the first time. We wanted to create a place where nobody has to prove they belong.”
A Community Built Around Real Life
This philosophy is reflected in Purpose Fit’s coaching, where understanding members’ circumstances is as important as their fitness levels. Whether someone is returning to exercise, building confidence or preparing for an endurance event, the emphasis is on achievable progress and individual support.
The approach also extends beyond the studio through Purpose Fit’s collaboration with Koffie & Kilometers, a local social running community founded by teacher and mother Angelique West. By connecting runners and walkers with mobility and strength training, the partnership encourages people to see fitness as something that complements their lifestyle rather than a separate obligation. It also creates an accessible entry point for those who may feel more comfortable starting within a social community than a traditional gym.
For Fernanda, this sense of belonging is particularly important. Motherhood brought a deeper understanding of the time, planning and competing priorities involved in maintaining a fitness routine.
“The hardest part isn’t always the workout. Sometimes it’s getting yourself through the door,” she explains. “As a mother, I understand how easily your own wellbeing moves down the list of priorities. We want people to feel that wherever they are in life, there is a place for them to start, without judgement or pressure.”
Strength Beyond the Scoreboard
At Purpose Fit, progress is not limited to physical milestones. Completing a first push-up, regaining confidence after time away from exercise or finding enjoyment in regular movement can be equally meaningful achievements.
“People’s lives change, and their reasons for training change with them,” says Sheldon. “Someone might join with one goal and discover that their biggest achievement is feeling stronger, sleeping better or genuinely enjoying exercise. Success should never be limited to one definition.”
That inclusive philosophy is also driving Purpose Fit’s November Challenge, which invites the wider Northern Suburbs community to experience the studio regardless of age, fitness background or experience. The message is simple. You don’t need to arrive fit or have a perfectly defined goal. You just need a reason to begin.
“Motherhood taught me that strength looks different in every season of life,” concludes Fernanda. “Sometimes you’re working towards something big, and sometimes you’re simply trying to feel like yourself again. Both matter, and both deserve to be supported.”
Purpose Fit is inviting Northern Suburbs residents to book a free introductory training session at its Stonewood studio during November, subject to availability. Visit purpose-fit.co.za or email info@purpose-fit.co.za for more information.