12 Jun 2016

Mmasechaba Aerobics Club on Saturday held its first mini aerobathon in Ramotswa to raise awareness on health and fitness. 

 The club manager and fitness instructor, Thero Moduke said there was need for people to change their attitudes towards issues of fitness and health. 

 He said fitness was critical to the wellbeing of an individual hence the club has decided to dedicate the day to raise awareness and hold the event annually. 

 However, he pointed out that majority of the community members were aware of the importance of fitness, but lacked motivation to take action. Periodic activities such as aerobathon could encourage them to start taking part in fitness activities.

 Moduke further pointed out that the half a day activity also raised awareness about the existence of Mmasechaba Aerobics Club in Ramotswa and fitness activities it offers. He complained about lack of support from the community including government departments and corporate organisations. 

 More often times, he said government departments and corporate organisations would invite unqualified fitness trainers for their wellness activities leaving behind those who were trained.  

 That, he said works against the notion of empowering the local communities as trained instructors make a living out of being engaged in fitness activities.He noted that organisations overlook them primarily because they avoid spending on compensating trained wellness and fitness instructors. 

 The director of Fitness Bootcamp Botswana, James Tamora also complained about the level of fitness awareness among the locals. 

 “Generally, fitness among Batswana is still at scratch, nowadays they know about what is going on but they are reluctant to act,” he said. He said the aerobathon was also part of the BOT50 campaign to ensure that locals were healthy and fitness cautious as they celebrate 50 years of existence. 

 However, he said there was a general perception that fitness was expensive and that negated the fact that fitness should be part of our livelihoods. 

 He said being engaged in fitness reduces one’s chances of being attacked by lifestyle diseases. The half a day Mmasechaba Aerobics Club aerobathon attracted over 80 fitness lovers. ENDS