03 Jul 2016

Aerobics clubs and fitness gyms which used to be the domain of urban centres are steadily finding their way into major villages such as Kanye, Molepolole Ramotswa and others.

Batswana seem to be responding positively to the clarion call to engage in fitness activities to prevent lifestyle diseases such as heart attacks, diabetes and a host of other such ailments.

A fitness instructor, James Tamora of Fitness Bootcamp Botswana said times are gone when traditional activities such as looking after livestock, stumping and farming used to keep people fit, but that nowadays people have to resort to other forms of modern exercise such as joining gyms and aerobic clubs to keep fit.

Tamora who sometimes conducts physical training bootcamps where those who love training are engaged in bush survival skills and navigation says there is still need for public education for people to understand the benefits of exercise and keeping the body fit.

He says very soon they will be conducting a Snake Appreciation Bootcamp at Gakuto where people would be introduced to the idea of living with snakes in harmony as they are part of the ecosystem.

He says it is notable that most Batswana are aware of the benefits of physical training, but some people are reluctant to act under the pretext that they do not have time for training.

A Ramotswa youth, Thero Moduke of Magopane Ward says he came up with the idea of establishing Mmasechaba Aerobics Club in 2013 after realising that there are numerous young people roaming the streets with idle hands.

“It occurred to me that the idea of an aerobics club would be handy and I decided to call it “Mmasechaba” in recognition of the efforts that Kgosi Mosadi undertook to bring peace and tranquility to Ramotswa after gangs such as the marauding Ditlou were brought under control”, said Moduke.

He said the name Mmasechaba appeared to be ideal as it depicts a woman with so much love that she can offer the whole community affection without anyone thinking that they are least considered.

He says he came up with the name Mmasechaba Aerobics Club to encapsulate efforts that Kgosi Mosadi and other stake holders such as the police undertook to reduce adverse criminal activities from Ramotswa community.

Moduke says when Kgosi Mosadi took over, residents of Ramotswa and Batswana at large were asking themselves if she would be able to bring the situation under control. He says Kgosi Mosadi made her critics eat a humble pie when in no time the marauding Ditlou were brought under control and Balete started experiencing peace and tranquility.

He says this does not mean that there is no more crime taking place in the village, but that it has been brought under control through joint community efforts. He said with members of the public being stakeholders in Cluster Policing and Crime Prevention Committees, they were able to talk to their children and relatives and show them that crime does not pay.

Moduke who manages the Mmasechaba Aerobic Club says jut recently they held a mini aerobathon in Ramotswa where about 80 aerobics lovers and exercise fanatics turned up. He said the activity started off with a 10 kilometers walk from Ramotswa to Taung railway track and back and later on a variety of fitness instructors to participants through the paces.

He feels that there is need for people to change their attitude towards exercise as it is critical to their wellbeing.ENDS