daniel chigunwe
TJMO Rhodes Makuzha
Youth Interactive Writer
There is much to be gained when young people take charge of their own health and well-being through activities that promote good health.
In this Covid-19 pandemic where many are facing challenges upon challenges, it is advisable to find activities that promote good health, growth and development of self and others.
One such aspect of life is fitness, which many say, helps them be more focused and feel healthier. But, what role does fitness play in the lives of young people, can it make a difference? Miss Yolanda Herrington, General Manager for Total Fitness Borrowdale Brooke says: “It is very important for mental health. In our society, we do not talk about depression and anxiety. Young people are the most affected, due to issues of not finding jobs, some of them might feel like their future is bleak.”
“When your mental health is strong you have a better perspective on your future and on your life as a whole”, she added.
lways one to look out for opportunities for youths in different career fields, I asked what opportunities there are for young people who may want to work in the health and fitness industry, and the requirements for one to train as a trainer for instance.
“Some of the opportunities are personal training and being a nutritionist.
‘‘There is a certification process that you have to go through with organisations such as ACE (American Council of Exercises), South African and online courses.”
Her job which entails managing the staff and ensuring everything runs smoothly, making sure the clients are taken care of, the facility is taken care of is one Miss Herrington says she enjoys.
She says she savors working with people and getting to meet different personalities in a relaxed environment, also getting to find out their various reasons for working out.
“Seeing people getting joy from exercise” is the highlight of her work.
“In this pandemic young people are finding themselves in another ‘pandemic’, that of drug abuse”. She added that parents from all walks of life, whether rich, poor or middle class, go through similar challenges when it comes to drug abuse. Having identified the second pandemic affecting young people, the gym she manages (Total Fitness) has come up with a boot camp held every Saturday, which is raising awareness on drug abuse and showing young people how their lives can change through fitness and better health practices.
“The boot camp is a form of detox for those that may be abusing drugs, people that are on drugs and want to get off them”.
An event which promises to be a lot of fun for fitness enthusiasts is also on the cards for November 6, 2021, in the form of a Spin-a-thon, at their Long Chen Plaza branch. More details on activities on the day are on their Facebook and Instagram Pages (insert Total Fitness social media details here)
Fitness tips
To top up our chat, Miss Herrington shared health and fitness tips and advice:
1. Before you exercise, make sure you have something to eat.
2. Always make sure you stretch, before you begin your exercise routine. It helps with alleviating pain.
3. Take time and be patient with yourself. If you expect the results fast, you’ll never be satisfied with the fitness process.
4. Stay consistent and committed to your goal. Consistency is the key.
5. Make sure you have good eating habits all round. Be reasonable in what you eat. Your body is a temple.”
For those who may be too busy or cannot leave the house for their work out, she added that one good investment into your health and fitness is a skipping rope.
“It’s a good form of cardio and it’s efficient”. A minute or two of skipping rope, and increasing with time – add to that, press ups, sit ups – and all these can go a long way. She urged young people to take it upon themselves to raise awareness on good health practices in whatever industry they are in.
She also commended those that are doing their part, such as Dixon Chibanda of the Friendship Bench, tackling mental health and transforming lives.
Online Reporter