Windhoek
When former Namibian footballer Rudi Louw injured both his hamstrings last year, little did he know that greater things awaited him.
It was during his stay at home after his injury that the idea of starting a boot camp was conceived. And in June last year it was up and running with an initial 10 people.
“I was just at home so I gained a lot of weight. Training for me is a lifestyle so that’s what drove me to start a boot camp,” Louw told New Era over the weekend. Now a year later, the Rudi Louw boot camp attracts over 40 people in the summer and over 20 people in winter and the majority of them are women, Louw says. “It was not difficult to reach out to people because I am well known,” he shared.
Louw has one coach whom he described as dedicated. Exercise is important, he said, adding that the benefits include strengthening the immune system.
“It is healthy to train and it will help you not get old quickly. Look after your body now so that it looks after you when you are old. It will also help you not get sick easily,” he adds.
Thirty-two-year-old Cordullah Kahambundu said she joined the boot camp in April because she wanted to get back in shape after giving birth last year November. Kahambundu says she wants to live healthily and there is no better way to do that than to exercise.
Cloudina Venaani has been at the boot camp since February this year. Both Kahambundu and Venaani say they love the boot camp because there are people to assist with the exercise.
And Louw said “boot camp is not easy. It is very intense.”
Venaani has since lost more than 10 kg in weight. “I can see a lot of changes even in my skin. My attitude is very positive and I am less agitated,” says Venaani. She adds that exercise generally improves people’s postures amongst many other benefits.
She says women tend to neglect their bodies because of the many responsibilities they have to attend to and they end up gaining weight, and getting tired and depressed too easily.