When the needle on the weighing scales swung from 57 kilograms to 90 kilograms post childbirth, Faiz Begum decided it was time to act. She turned to aerobics and Zumba to shed the extra weight. What began as a personal fitness journey is today her profession.
Faiz launched what is perhaps one of the very few fitness studios in the city ten years ago.
“At that time being fit wasn’t that much of a trend . But over the years, with social media playing an active role in increasing the visibility of people, more and more are paying attention to getting into shape and looking fit.
Fitness is a way of life
While earlier it was mostly young girls looking to lose weight, today her studio buzzes with people from all ages, from teenagers to older people. Faiz knows one size does not fit all and she customises workouts for each of her clients. Faiz conducts classes for children which are called Zumba kids and Zumba junior. Probably, the lack of outdoor spaces for children to play in is making them join her classes, says Faiz.
Faiz feels bad for the children. She says, “Under the guise of development, playgrounds have almost vanished from schools and there is not much space to play even outside apartments. This has restricted the physical activities of children. Hence parents are now looking at fitness studios to keep their kids busy and fit.”
Variety always works says Faiz and she too learnt over the years how people are constantly looking for something new. Even in fitness routines. Apart from Zumba and aerobics she offers ZOCA — which stands for Zambia’s Own Caribbean and African dance fever. It is a fitness form that combines dance and fitness with local African music. Then she urges her clients to try Aqua Zumba. “The idea is not to let monotony or boredome set in and make the workout routines fun rather than a burden,” she says.
Watch what you choose
Explaining Zumba, Faiz says,“The workout includes squats, lunges and other aerobic activities. Only properly trained and licensed instructors should be allowed to conduct classes. However, there is a worrying trend where trainers are getting certified before they are properly trained themselves. Often they have just had two or three days of training before they begin to teach others.” She cautions, “Always do a thorough background check before enrolling into a fitness programme or seeking the help of a fitness instructor.”
