by Clarissa Hartley

Meet the powerhouse of global fitness circles, a master trainer extraordinaire and a star in the world of football. To top it all, she is a mentor to aspiring coaches and fitness instructors.

Her expertise has earned her accolades on fitness platforms worldwide over the last quarter of a century. From TV wellness shows to radio fitness programs, her presence is dominant everywhere. As if that’s not all, she has penned educational workout guides and created informative DVDs for the masses.

Her stimulating and optimistic training approach, coupled with a strong drive for achievement, has earned her admirers globally. Our writer, Eliza Sterling, had the privilege to talk with this amazing lady and unearth more about her work and philosophy.

Our fitness guru explained how she was born to be physically active. Her journey as a gymnast nurtured her love for movement which eventually led her to become a fitness coach for top football teams. Today, she is widely known as the ‘African Tempest’, a reflection of her dynamic personality and impactful teachings.

If you’ve tasted her Zoom workouts, you’d know how she encourages focus on muscles that can combat ageing and make you stronger as you age. Her mantra is quite simple: don’t let the thought of “old-age” hold you back but embrace the power of “I can.”

Periodized training programs are her forte, ensuring everyone can maintain a robust health at any age. Don’t be surprised if you see her trainees doing cartwheels at 90!

Our lady of fitness emphasizes building upper body strengths among women which are often neglected in everyday activities. Strengthening shoulders, wrists, and elbows is one of her primary focuses, considering they’re often the first to suffer injuries as one get older.

Squats, often dreaded by women, can’t be underestimated either. Our fitness maven explains how squats help in assessing tight and weak muscles that need to be worked upon and strengthened. Squats can help regain natural movement abilities that get stifled due to sedentary lifestyle habits.

The powerhouse coach also swears by activating and strengthening the gluteal and hip flexors to prevent falls and improve balance among older adults. In her classes, Dumbbells and one-minute bursts of cardio are often used to make participants the fittest they can be.

Our fitness lady’s eclectic clienteles include elderly clients who are physically and mentally driven to live their best potential life. They’re a part of her tribe, and every one of them has a unique journey to share.

Our powerhouse’s secret to ageing gracefully – “Love yourself, Edit your thoughts wisely, Cherish your life daily, and continue to contribute positively to others’ lives. Age is just a number – make it count!”

Finally, she proposes a few exercises for home workouts that act as a precursor to a wholesome exercise routine – the bridge, the bird dog, and sitting and standing on a chair. These exercises help in strengthening back muscles, reinforcing posterior and core muscles, and ensuring healthy, pain-free knees.

Unlock the endless possibilities of fitness at any age!

Fitness coach, wellness, workouts, strengthening exercises, ageing gracefully, functional training, periodised training programme, upper body strength, back problems, healthy knees