The Municipality of Mealhada is organizing the Soul Fitness Convention Zone 231, taking place at the Luso Municipal Pavilion on October 24th. The event will bring together various disciplines of physical exercise, dance, and well-being, with this year's novelty being the debut of the Ergathlon, an inclusive competition for participants aged 8 to 80.
Starting at 9 am, the convention will offer a varied program throughout the day, adapted to different ages and experience levels. Activities will be spread across the main stage and the themed areas: Soul Dance, Soul Wellness, and Soul Stimulus.
On the main stage, participants can explore disciplines such as Stepdance, Zumba, Tabata, Aerodance, Dance Fusion Fit, Commercial, and YourFit Fight. The Soul Dance space will feature proposals like Choreography, Amapiano, Adapted Dance, Jazz, and Hip Hop. Meanwhile, Soul Wellness will focus on activities geared towards balance and well-being, including sessions of Yoga, Body&Soul Dance, Clinical Pilates, and FlowFit. Additionally, there will be a muscle electrostimulation session in the Soul Stimulus area.
The program also includes recovery and well-being components, with a massage area available for participants, supported by CEFAD – Formação Profissional, from Coimbra.
The major novelty of the 2026 edition is the Ergathlon by Soul Fitness, a competition held in collaboration with the gym Cross Company. Taking place between 9 am and 6 pm, both inside the pavilion and in the outdoor park, this inclusive competition combines three training equipment (Ski Erg, Bike Erg, and Row Erg) with running or walking segments. Differentiated courses will be offered for various age groups, including Under 25, Under 35, Under 45, Under 55, Kids, Teen, and Over 55, as well as an adapted version tailored to each participant's individual needs.
This new competition aims to enhance the convention's participatory dimension, fostering intergenerational sharing of sports experiences. Nuno Veiga, Youth Councilor for the Municipality of Mealhada, stated, "We want Soul Fitness to continue being an initiative for everyone, with different proposals that allow each person to participate in their own way. The Ergathlon precisely reinforces this dimension by bringing together different generations in a competition designed for various physical preparation levels and with the possibility of adaptation to each participant's characteristics."
The competition will also feature a post-event muscle recovery zone, provided by Statherapy Fisioterapia, offering assisted stretching and tension-release techniques.
The Soul Fitness Convention also includes a professional development aspect, having received 1.8 credits from the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth (IPDJ) for the renewal of professional titles, which serves as a factor in the event's value.
The initiative, a result of collaboration between the Youth and Sports departments of the Municipality of Mealhada and born from consultations with young people within the “Comunica-te Jovem!” project, has established itself as a space for experimentation and participation. The diverse program, now enhanced by the Ergathlon challenge, aims to bring different generations together around movement, dance, exercise, and well-being.
