Zuko Komisa
Andy Maqondwana, host of Kaya 959’s Feel Good opens up about her wellness journey.
Andy talks about her experience with SWEAT 1000, which stands for Specialised Weight Endurance Athletic Training. The “1000” represents the calories burned in a groundbreaking 1-hour workout.
She explains that her decision to join SWEAT 1000 was inspired by her realisation that traditional gyms can be an uncomfortable place for plus-size individuals.
When did you start working out at SWEAT 1000?
“I started forming a relationship with SWEAT 1000 back in Cape Town, I think during that time I was also going through a few things. Being at the gym raised my mental health, and for me, I find it a safe space to find my fire back. I took some time off when I arrived in Johannesburg, and it was late last year when I had an encounter. I had entered the weird space, which typically happens when you enter your 30s when you realize that your metabolism is changing. I could see the progression over time, that something is different, something is going on. “
What did you find special about the SWEAT 1000?
“SWEAT 1000 has been a great space for me, it has high intensity, it is painful every single time, and I think I enjoy that. I enjoy being in a class with people with different fitness levels. It is a group session and everyone has their own unique experience and I enjoy that. There’s no individual attention, however, it is your very own mental process that you’re putting in, there are instructors screaming instructions, but it’s you and your mind that tells you, just one more. It feels like actual pain, but towards the end you realize, I just did that, and tomorrow, little by little you improve on the next thing.”
“My only responsibility is to show up”
“When it comes to SWEAT 1000, I realised that my only responsibility is to show up, and what we do there is none of my business, the trainer has said that, but I know for a fact that he is going to push us, and I also have a job of pushing myself and applying myself. I don’t ever have to go to the gym and have to think about which machine I have to go to. The exercise in itself for me is already an exercise, I don’t wanna think about how I need to do these many reps, my responsibility is simply to show up and also to finish.”
Most recently Andy was joined by members of the Kaya 959 family who participated in the exciting exercise at the SWEAT 1000.
“It has opened up a world for me to be more active in different ways”
“I have found myself, I have found my fire, I have found my dedication. I have found discipline, there’s value in discipline in life. It has definitely helped me even diet-wise, I am now making more conscious decisions, you’re not doing it for 2 or 3 months, you’re doing it to have a better lifestyle. I am also now even more interested in doing more exercise activities like hiking” and walking, I want to do more park runs. Everything has increments, you start little by little”
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