Burning the fat at Ikasi Gym
ALEXANDRA – Kasi gym looks to helping shape up the police.
Tumi Masite, the owner of Alex’s premier gym, Ikasi Gym wants to offer certified personal training to police officers.
According to Masite, many men and women in blue are not in good physical condition which puts them at risk of heart attacks, high blood pressure and diabetes among others.
Many Alex residents have passed through the gym since its inception in 2006 including health fanatics from Egypt, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Masite appealed to residents to avoid eating fatty foods such as magwinya (fat cakes) and quarters (burgers with a concoction of polony, cheese, archer and mayonnaise) which could cause high cholesterol and blood pressure .
“Africans have made poor diet a fad at their own peril,” he said. “Very few like and eat fruit which is made unaffordable by vendors presumably to cover their transport costs.” He urged fruit and vegetable wholesalers and cooperatives to open branches in the township.He expressed content with his contribution to the physical well-being of the township’s residents including the disabled. “Some beneficiaries are bouncers with secure jobs in clubs and high profile roles in security companies and the public sector.”
He appealed to them to promote the gym to prospective sponsors. “Sponsorship will help us to upgrade and replace old original equipment donated by Virgin Active through a recommendation from former state president Nelson Mandela, following a visit by Virgin founder Richard Branson and renowned Mr Universe weightlifting champion and former California state governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.”
He also urged for support from food supplement companies. “Many Alex residents consume their [products and need more knowledge on their use and dietary choices for different body needs.”
Masite has retired from active weightlifting after amassing many trophies in competitive events. Currently, his stable has five boxers, five body builders and five arm wrestlers who are acquitting themselves well including Bonginkosi Madonsela, a former world arm wrestling champ who is preparing for a continental contest this month.
He invited Joburg mayor Herman Mashaba to come and do some body toning exercises and to get a feel of residents’ physical and health needs. “Gymming is developing into a tradition which we can’t fully support without more well equipped facilities. Government should also help and help us win trophies while helping to save lives by stopping bad lifestyle choices and eating habits.”
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