By Chris Totobela
August is a month to celebrate women, and Grocott’s Mail will this month feature a number of women in sport who are doing their best in their communities.
Kicking off the National Women’s Month series is a feature on aerobics icon Vuyokazi “Miss Fitness” Smaile who got attracted to aerobics while she was busy with her afternoon jog.
A few years ago, while jogging home, Smaile heard music playing inside the old Indoor Sports Centre in Joza, and decided to pop in and investigate. She has never looked back since.
She started aerobics in 2010 under male instructor Zipho Nkomonde and rose through the ranks to become one of the senior instructors in Makhanda.
Smaile told Grocott’s Mail how aerobics changed her life. “I tried something new that I didn’t even think existed, a fun way of exercising where one can just express herself freely.” She also talked about her future plans. “I would like to train young people and teach them how to become instructors.”
Vuvu, as she is affectionately known in aerobics circles, is the first African woman in Makhanda to become a professional instructor and instruct in bigger events usually held in big cities. “One of my many highlights in this sport is to share the stage with some of SA’s prominent and well-known instructors such as Mamiki, V12, Noxee, Sbari and Steamy, just to mention a few. My dream is to open my own aerobics academy and encourage young people to take this sport seriously.”
Smaile also shed light on her work with the Joza Aerobics and Fitness Club, including her decision to take a break from the club.
She is now with the Rhodes University Fitness Club and her focus is to help the club in the best way she can, and says she is happy to be part of the club.
However, she did not rule out any possibility of working with her former club again in the future.
Smaile also thanked her supporters. “I would like to thank everyone who has supported me from day one, especially Makhandans who have showed me love unconditionally.”
She has been a true inspiration to many young women in Makhanda and continues to be a shining light for many of them with the good work she is doing in the community.
