Shoppers and families visiting The Hub Karen on Saturday took part in fitness workouts, recovery sessions and children’s activities during a wellness event aimed at making healthy living more accessible while transforming the mall into a destination for active lifestyles.
The free wellness day, organised in partnership with Nyumbani Active and RecoverX, brought together fitness enthusiasts and families for guided group workouts, stretching and recovery sessions, alongside wellness vendors, healthy food and drinks, and a dedicated children’s movement corner.
The event reflects The Hub Karen’s growing focus on wellness and sports, with the mall seeking to create experiences that encourage shoppers to incorporate physical activity into their everyday routines while enjoying its retail, dining and recreational offerings.
Speaking during the event, The Hub Karen Sales and Marketing Manager Ruth Wako said the partnership was driven by the growing popularity of wellness activities and the need to demonstrate that fitness can be enjoyed in accessible spaces, including shopping malls.
“The Hub is big on wellness, fitness and sports, and Decathlon, one of our anchor tenants, is also very big on fitness, as a lot of activities happen here because of them,” she said.
“Wellness is a trend currently, and it is something we want to be part of. The whole partnership with Nyumbani Active and RecoverX was to create an experience for our shoppers and prospective shoppers to engage in fitness activities while also having an opportunity to stay longer, eat, shop, drink and experience the mall.”
Wako said the initiative was also intended to challenge the perception that shopping malls are primarily places for retail and entertainment, highlighting their potential to host activities that promote healthy living and community engagement.
With The Hub Karen positioning itself as a family-oriented destination, the programme was designed to accommodate different age groups, allowing parents to participate in workouts or yoga sessions while their children engaged in supervised movement activities.
“Nyumbani Active curated the programme, which we were happy with. As we are a family-oriented mall, we wanted to ensure that there is something for everybody. While Mum or Dad is involved in a run or movement or yoga, the child is doing an activity at their corner. Afterwards, they can eat, shop and enjoy the mall,” she said.
Wako added that wellness activities would be held regularly, giving fitness enthusiasts an opportunity to build a community around exercise and healthy living at the mall. The initiative builds on the launch of HubFit earlier this year, which established a platform for fitness-focused activities.
Nyumbani Active also plans to expand the programme to include additional disciplines such as yoga and weightlifting, broadening opportunities for participants to engage in different forms of exercise.
Next month, the mall is expected to host a weightlifting competition that will bring together athletes to compete, further strengthening its role as a venue for fitness and sporting activities.
Beyond exercise, the event also highlighted the importance of recovery in maintaining an active lifestyle, with RecoverX demonstrating practical approaches that athletes can adopt after strenuous workouts without necessarily relying on supplements.
RecoverX founder Laura Omogo said effective recovery begins with proper nutrition and can be supported by simple, accessible equipment that helps the body recover after physical exertion.
“Premium recovery happens from the food I eat and basic DIY equipment like what I am showcasing at the Hub today. Such equipment was brought to make recovery after workouts easier. If you use that together with a balanced diet, you are good to go,” she said.
The partnership between the three organisations brought together fitness, recovery and family recreation in one setting, presenting wellness as an activity that can be integrated into everyday life rather than confined to gyms or specialised sports facilities.
