​​​​OUR BEAST (MEMBER) OF THE MONTH - OCTOBER 2016

​​​OUR BEAST (MEMBER) OF THE MONTH - SEPTEMBER 2016

This month we’ve been inspired by: CANDY SOINE
Joining an already fit group can be intimidating and demotivating. Not for Candy. She made it her personal mission to catch the group and set the pace. She comes streaming in from work, one sock and shoe on and the other in tow, and plunges head first into the warm up- only to surface again at the end of the session. She has gained enormous amounts of fitness and strength- and heaps and bounds of confidence in her ability too. It’s a pleasure to coach such determined woman – she has much to teach us all. 

Here’s a little about what makes Candy tick….
  1. Name, Age and Occupation, family? Candice Soine, 34 years young. I am a receptionist for an awesome Insurance Company. Married with 3 crazy minions.
  2. When did you start with VUKA, and why VUKA? I started in June 2016, I have heard so many amazing things from friends who are with Vuka. 
  3. You work-out to/for what? I work out to keep fit and healthy. They are like a family to me. Amazing people.
  4.  Have you reached those goals? I have not yet reached my goals, but on my way to them thanks to Bianca. 
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5. Your greatest personal fitness achievement? Losing 25 kgs in just over a year, no personal trainers or special diets, just self motivation. Doing the Waterra 12km OCR 2016 on my own and finishing it!

6. Words of wisdom/motivation:
Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it. Charles R. Swindoll

​​OUR BEAST (MEMBER) OF THE MONTH - AUGUST 2016

This month we’ve been inspired by: RICHARD JOHNSON
Shees, where do we start…? Rich has always been a top contender on the bike, making that connection between man and machine seamingless. But since he started at VUKA we’ve seen him aspire to another level. Pushing even harder and giving the competition a proper hiding. His fitness and strength has come along so quickly, and the effort he puts in returns with interest.
In the meantime, Rich has also added a baby Johnson to the tribe, and he’s commitment to contend on his bike has kept him attending every class.
He had a very unique skill managing to balance sleepless nights, nappy changing, business, his training, and winning races.

Rich, youre a legend and we love having you train with us. We’re so proud of you and how far you've come.
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Here’s a little about Rich….
  1. Name, Age and Occupation, family? Richard Johnson,
    33, Self employed at our family business Johnson Bros Furniture
  2. When did you start with VUKA, and why VUKA? Started Vuka in May 2016 because it was close to home and had friends there and getting great results so decided to try it out.

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3. You work-out to what? I work-out to be more competitive at the Enduro’s or whatever other event/race we enter and doing all this aiming at completing the Roof of Africa at the end of the year.
4. Have you reached those goals? I think I am getting to my goals. I have always entered races and relied on my “natural” type fitness to get me through and now with training I am able to ride faster but keeping it safer.
5. Your greatest personal fitness achievement?  2 x Comrades
9 x Dusi canoe marathons
3 x Non Stop Dusi’s Canoe Marathons
Homeward bound 2015 ( 275km one day mtb race)

6. Words of wisdom/motivation:  
​"Train hard, race easy."

​OUR BEAST (MEMBER) OF THE MONTH - JULY 2016

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This month we’ve been inspired by: Natalie Cook
Why we’re impressed: Nats has been one of our most consistent clients, and we’ve seen her make much progress over the months. Come rain or shine, Nats, without a doubt will be waiting for us, ready to go!  She puts her head down and gets the job done.
Nats is so passionate and enthusiastic about her training, and gets so involved that often we have to explain to new-comers that she, in fact, doesn't work at VUKA. She always has a smile, and she has always got something positive to say. We also consider Nats our herbal health professional. Whenever we have an ailment or injury, Nats has the perfecrt cure.
Nats… Thanks for your input into us and our community. Thanks for the chats afterwards, and thanks for the delicious sneaky treats you bring from time to time.


​Here’s a little about Our Nats….
  1. Name, Age and Occupation, family? Natalie Cook, 41 entrepreneur, Wickedly Healthy Food owner, BARS Practitioner, animal rescue.  Mother to Michael and Gregory and wifey to Jonathan
  2. When did you start with VUKA, and why VUKA? I’m part of the VUKA furniture..lol.  Been here from the beginning and love love love it!!  I trained with BBop before she was VUKA and just stayed on as she created this amazing brand of exercise and expanded it.  It’s convenient for me and not being a gym bunny, (don’t like being indoors) I just adore the outside fresh air boot camp option in the mornings.
  3. You work-out to what? I work out to stay fit and healthy plus as a busy person I need the energy boost that a morning workout provides.
  4.  Have you reached those goals? Yes absolutely, and always making more goals.
  5. Your greatest personal fitness achievement?  Being able to chat the whole way on a trail run.  Also being able to keep up with the kids. 
  6. Words of wisdom/motivation:  "Its not what we do once in a while that impacts our life, its what we do regularly.  So eat well and exercise regularly so you can enjoy your treats.  Don’t deprive, just exercise! There really is no such thing as can’t.  Therefore the only thing is I can…And always always have fun!"

​OUR BEAST (MEMBER) OF THE MONTH - JUNE 2016

This month we’ve been inspired by: Portia Ntuli
Portia joined us at VUKA early this year. She used to run past our studio in the evenings and stare at the crazy people exercising on the veranda, and we would shout words of encouragement and joke with her to come join us sometime…
Something hit home, because soon she popped in to try her first class, and from there the rest is history…
Portia doesn’t miss a class. If boot Camp is on, you can count on seeing Porch's happy eager face. Ready to tackle whatever is thrown at her with an iron will determination like you have never seen before. Even staying a little longer from time to time, to finish what’s set before her.
Since she joined, we’ve seen her get stronger and stronger each month, and her constant attendance and determination has definitely paid off.
We’re proud of Porche for many reasons, not only because she is the definition of consistency, but also because shes a constant encouragement to others during the session. 
Portia, keep up the effort you tirelessly put into each session and the results will keep speaking for themselves.

​Here’s a little about Portia….
  1. Name, Age and Occupation, family? Portia Zoh Ntuli, I'm 28 years old. I am aMedical Technologist @ Grey’s Cytology Lab. 
  2. When did you start with VUKA, and why VUKA? I joined VUKA Fitness in March 2016, because I wanted to be fit and lose some kilos. 
  3. You work-out to what? When I used to exercise on my own there were exercises that I couldn’t manage or figure out, so I needed assistance and I really wanted a toned body. 
4.   Have you reached those goals? I have lost some weight since I started at Vuka, and I am able to maintain it. I also have learnt a lot about exercise, by becoming aware of my form i am able to train on off days on my own. 

5.  Your greatest personal fitness achievement?  Running 10km races every year. 

6.    Words of wisdom/motivation: 
“Keep your thoughts and your mind positive.
Believe in yourself, know that you can do anything. ”…

​OUR BEAST (MEMBER) OF THE MONTH - MAY 2016

This month we’ve been inspired by: CLIFF FREEMAN
Why we’re impressed: Cliff, we want to say that you have really impressed us and inspired us with how you have thrown your body and soul into fitness; resulting in a great mental shift and physical progress in the short space of time you have been with VUKA Fitness.

Here’s a little about Cliff…
1. Name, Age and Occupation, family? Cliff Freeman, I'm 57 yrs old.
I'm the General Manager Emma Barter Victoria Home.
Married 26 years. 2 daughters; 25 and 22, 1 son; 20.
 
2. When did you start with VUKA, and why VUKA?
End of October 2015.
Ant Goldstone and Jeremy Diedricks encouraged me to come.
I am for ever grateful  for these two guys, and to all the other friends that I have made, and of course Justin and B who are the best trainers.
 
3. You work-out to what?
When I started coming to Vuka my weight was around 115kgs.  I need to be fit and healthy for my grandchildren that are yet to come LoL.
The guys that come to the 5 am sessions have taught me what commitment is, not just in fitness, but other areas of life as well.  Ant Goldstone has become one of my anchors.
4.   Have you reached those goals? Most certainly yes. I was 115kgs now I am maintaining between 94/96 kgs. I have become more focused in general.

5.    Your greatest personal fitness achievement?  At the age of 12  I was awarded the gold , silver, bronze Duke of Edinburgh awards for swimming.  At 25 I ran a half marathon.
Nothing since then!!! 

6.    Words of wisdom/motivation: 
“When you embrace who God says you are,
You are set free of being,
Present-Past and YOU  become
Present – Future”…

​OUR BEAST (MEMBER) OF THE MONTH - APRIL 2016

This month we’ve been inspired by: Kim Casalis
Why we’re impressed: Kim came from the jolling life of JHB, without much fitness under her belt.. little did we know that Kim would go from ZERO to HERO! Her commitment to never missing a session, giving everything she’s got and some at every session, and her constant smile and enthusiasm is something to be admired!
 
Here’s a little about Kim….
  1. Name, Age and Occupation, family? My name is Kim Maitin-Casalis  I am 28 years old and I am the proud teacher of a Grade 2 class at St Nicholas School.
  2. When did you start with VUKA, and why VUKA? I joined the Vuka fitness family in February because I wanted to do something different for my fitness and I wanted to do something team based.
  3. You work-out to what? I work out for obvious reasons like health and fitness but also for enjoyment and most importantly to reach my own personal goals. I was KZN champion for two years running for my sprinting and I would very much like to get back to that some day soon.
  4. Have you reached those goals? I have reached my small immediate goals but I am still a work in progress and I have bigger goals that I am still determined to reach.
  5. Your greatest personal fitness achievement?  These fitness achievements may not be big to other people but to me they were. One of my achievements is being able to do proper push ups without too much difficulty. Attending boot camp consistently is also an achievement for me. As well as improving my running time for a 5km run.
Kim's words of wisdom/motivation: "My best advice is that you set daily, weekly and monthly goals. All of which should be different to each other and not too difficult to reach. For example: a daily goal for me would be to smash the program at Bootcamp for that day doing every single exercise properly, a weekly goal for me would be to attend all four days of Bootcamp and a park run , and then a monthly goal would be weight loss. You must remember that you can motivate yourself and self discipline is key. Believe in yourself, remain determined, and enjoy every minute of it all."
 

​OUR BEAST (MEMBER) OF THE MONTH - MARCH 2016

This month we’ve been inspired by: Caryn Anderson
Why we’re impressed: Caryn’s taken her fitness to a WHOLE new level, and in the process she’s taught us a thing or two about motivation and commitment.  It`s been inspiring and rewarding to watch her  personal and fitness growth.
 
Here’s a little about Caryn….
  1. Name, Age and Occupation, family? Caryn Anderson, 28, General Manager at ROAG Events, a 2.5yr old daughter (Kailia)
  2. When did you start with VUKA, and why VUKA? October 2015. I went to Mauritius for work with a Mariska that does warrior races and I told her how I am not enjoying my normal gym and not motivated at all and she started telling me about warrior and I loved the sound of it. She encouraged me to get back into a good exercise routine and suggested i phone Bee as she is not just one of the best warriors out there, but an excellent instructor and she will give me the challenge I need to keep going and push boundaries. So I phoned Bee when i got back and went to see her the very next day and joined up.
  3. You work-out to what? Well..I work out to cope with the everyday stresses of life. My workouts are my psychology sessions, my time to concentrate on myself, my time to push my boundaries, my outlet after a hectic day, my time to prove to myself that no goal or dream is unreachable.
  4. Have you reached those goals? My goal posts keep moving as I keep reaching my goals and thanks to Bee and Juz every single goal up to date that I set has been reached!
  5. Your greatest personal fitness achievement?  Definitely be being able to complete Warrior races. I have never been a runner and doing the warrior race with the run (10km+) and challenging obstacles on top of that is by far one of my biggest achievements.


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Caryn's words of wisdom/motivation: Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is GREATER than any obstacle! Your mind is the most powerful muscle in your body, keep your thoughts positive and you can achieve anything!