Don’t worry, be hippie!

Of all the many Blogs I post throughout the year this one is always my favourite.  And who can blame me?  Nothing gives me more pleasure than paying tribute to all our members at our annual end-of-the-year function – it’s always an honour and privilege. 

On Thursday 25 November 65 members pitched for our Summer Challenge prize giving and end-of-the year celebration and it was a night that plunged us straight back into the crazy Woodstock years!  As always, everyone went all out dressing according to our theme, and the atmosphere was relaxed and festive!

A huge thank you to all our non-Challenge members who also attended the event: Alana, Leandri, Chane, Stefanie, Tanya, Roxanne, Trudie, Estelle, Janke, Natacha, Linda. Lindi, Carol and Sandrie!

A certificate of completion was awarded to Cheryl Geldenhuys who completed her first Fitness Challenge with 43 sessions, and the following first-time Challenge members improved their body stats throughout the 9 weeks:  Handri Vermaak (36 sessions), Amanda van der Merwe with 42 sessions, who also received the Survivor award and Naslia Davids, 51 sessions (Newcomer of the year.)  

We had quite a few first-time Challenge members who improved their body stats drastically!  They are Amelia van Aswegen (46 sessions), Elsabe Rothman (37 sessions), Victoria Manoel (50 sessions), Linette Schoonraad (Challenge newcomer of the year and 50 sessions), Thandeka Soko (53 sessions), Lydia Petty (Newcomer of the year and 61 sessions), and Michelle Jansen van Rensburg with 82 sessions.

Members successful in more than one Challenge were:  Arlette Madiya (11^th Ch, 37 sessions),  Busisiwe Xaba (3^rd Ch, 41 sessions), Sonnet Kearney (10^th Ch, 37 sessions and Strongest finish award), Helen Lengenhager (18^th Ch, 36 sessions), Madeleen Roux (8^th Ch, 39 sessions), Natasja de Villiers (2nd Ch, 37 sessions), Mari Kruger (11th Ch, 40 sessions), Stephnie Kroukamp (2nd Ch, 42 sessions), Marthie Botes (15th Ch, 53 sessions), Merisha Naidoo (10th Ch, 57 sessions), Nokwazi Hadebe (3rd Ch, 62 sessions), Tracey Prinsloo (3rd Ch, 59 sessions), Michelle Odendaal (18th Ch, 63 sessions), Vickie Potgieter (5th Ch, 62 sessions), Hannelie Slabber (14th Ch, 69 sessions), Annebie Venter (17th Ch, 74 sessions), Leonie Prinsloo (16th Ch, 75 sessions), Rethia Naude (11th Ch, 94 sessions), Carien Bester (12 th Ch, 122 sessions).

The following members have been successful in more than one Challenge with improved body stats:  Ina van der Linde (8th Ch, 49 sessions), Marieta Ziervogel (9th Ch, 51 sessions), Zenta Wentzel (10th Ch, 60 sessions), Corne Kemp (13th Ch,127 sessions).

It’s always amazing to see how so many members who have taken part before, manage to make extreme improvements in their body stats in only 9 weeks.  They were:  Ann-Mari Niemand (2nd Ch, 38 sessions), Leane von Wielligh (2nd Ch, 39 sessions), Lydia Kramer (2nd Ch, 39 sessions), Cindy Kitchenmaster (8th Ch, 42 sessions), Denise Mulder (3rd Ch, 46 sessions), Esmarie Botha (2nd Ch, 46 sessions), Carina van der Merwe (4th Ch, 50 sessions), Allison van der Walt (14th Ch, 52 sessions), Jacqueline Sturgiss (2nd Ch, 52 sessions), Stella Kalp (Lone wolf award, 11th Ch, 77 sessions),  Maryka Blom  (2nd Ch, 82 sessions), Mizelle Saaiman (2nd Ch, 82 sessions), Lady B Maseko (5th Ch, 86 sessions), Gosia Snyman (16th Ch, 92 sessions), Lilian Maree (4th Ch, 114 sessions).

Special mention is always made of our members who manage to reach their personal best ever body stats.   We are especially proud of: Rita Kemp (Oldest challenge member, 12th Ch, 43 sessions), Tehila Slabber (8th Ch, 44 sessions), Rina Clifford (6th Ch, 46 sessions), Annecke Fourie (5th Ch, 55 sessions), Berdine Meyer (4th Ch, 61 sessions), Marinda Rautenbach (6th Ch, 60 sessions), Riana Jacob (6th Ch, 61 sessions), Izelde Zwarts (15th Ch, 69 sessions), Betsie Vermeulen (11th Ch, 71 sessions), Liezel Nel (Early bird of the year award, 9th Ch, 72 sessions), Melinda du Plessis (18th Ch, 72 sessions), Martie Badenhorst 1(2th Ch, 74 sessions), Stacey du Toit (19th Ch, 76 sessions), Lizelle Botha (18th Ch, 78 sessions), Juanita Dedekind (6th Ch, 84 sessions)

The social media shares are not compulsory in our Challenges, but those members who manage to share every post during the 9 weeks, are awarded.  The following members each received a specially made Mirna’s Aerobic Studio coffee mug.  They shared all 21 posts:

Berdine Meyer, Carien Bester, Corne Kemp, Denise Mulder, Esmarie Botha, Gosia Snyman, Ina van der Linde, Jacqueline Sturgiss, Juanita Dedekind, Lady B Maseko, Liezel Nel, Lilian Maree, Mari Kruger, Maryka Blom, Michelle Jansen van Rensburg, Riana Jacob, Stacey du Toit, Stella Kalp, Vickie Potgieter.  Congratulations to Maryka Blom, the winner of the R500 lucky draw!

Members who managed to complete more than 90 sessions each received a gift back or voucher.  They are:  Gosia Snyman (92), Rethia Naude (94), Lilian Maree (114), Carien Bester (2nd most sessions 122), Corne Kemp (Most sessions 127)

Throughout the Challenge, participants accumulate extra points by seeing clues and quotes in the Blog, weekly videos or newsletters.  The members who managed to earn all 19 possible points also received a gift bag:  Betsie Vermeulen, Corne Kemp, Esmarie Botha, Gosia Snyman, Lilian Maree, Lizelle Botha, Melinda du Plessis, Riana Jacob.

We always applaud all those Challenge members who complete every weekly Mini-Challenge successfully.  They each received a beautiful Mirna’s gym bag: Betsie Vermeulen, Corne Kemp, Esmarie Botha, Gosia Snyman, Hannelie Slabber, Izelde Zwarts, Juanita Dedekind, Lady B Maseko, Lilian Maree, Linette Schoonraad, Lizelle Botha, Marinda Rautenbach, Melinda du Plessis, Michelle Jansen van Rensburg, Mizelle Saaiman, Rethia Naude, Riana Jacob, Stacey du Toit, Tehila Slabber, Vickie Potgieter.

Throughout the 9 weeks, a weekly Mini-Challenge winner was crowned, except for two weeks when everyone had to complete 5 workouts and a YouTube workout instead.  On Thursday we paid tribute to every Mini-Challenge winner again:

1. QUEEN OF PLANKS: MICHELLE JANSEN VAN RENSBURG
2. QUEEN OF TOILETROLLS: MIZELLE SAAIMAN
3. QUEENS OF STEP CHALLENGE 2021: CARIEN BESTER, IZELDE ZWARTS, NASLIA DAVIDS, MARTHIE BOTES

4. QUEEN OF CHAIRS: IZELDE ZWARTS
5. QUEEN OF DANCE: STACEY DU TOIT
6. QUEEN OF BALLS: ANNECKE FOURIE
7. QUEEN OF PARTNERS: BETSIE VERMEULEN

MINI-CHALLENGE QUEEN 2021:

RUNNER UP:  Michelle Jansen van Rensburg

WINNER:  Izelde Zwarts

Special recognition was given to those members who managed to score full marks in every department of the Challenge.  They received a gift voucher each:  Corne Kemp, Esmarie Botha, Gosia Snyman, Lilian Maree, Riana Jacob.

Every year at our end-of-the-year function we pay tribute to those members who manage to reach or maintain a body fat percentage under 20 percent.  We call them our elite athletes and in 2021 they are: Carien Bester, Comien de Villiers, Gosia Snyman, Izelde Zwarts, Marieta Ziervogel, Michelle Jansen van Rensburg, Stella Kalp.

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS:

MEMBER OF THE YEAR: CORNE KEMP

AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR: CARIEN BESTER

CONQUERORS OF KILOGRAMS:

– Juanita Dedekind (-4kg)

– Berdine Meyer (-4,3 kg)

– Maryka Blom (-4,3kg and -4 WHR)

Best improvement from end of Winter Challenge to start of Summer Challenge

Maryka has lost 12,3kg since May (SHE ALSO WINS 2 MONTHS NUTRITION COACHING WITH MARINE)

– Lydia Petty (-5,4 kg) Biggest drop in Visceral fat -4

She managed to lose 9,6 kg since August (SHE ALSO WINS 2 MONTHS NUTRITION COACHING WITH MARINE)

BIGGEST DROP IN FAT PERCENTAGE: MICHELLE JANSEN VAN RENSBURG (-3,2%)

BIGGEST DROP IN FAT PERCENTAGE: GOSIA SNYMAN (-3,2%)

SPECIAL RECOGNITION – SUMMER CHALLENGE

– Elsabe Rothman (Lost 9,7 kg since August) (SHE ALSO WINS 2 MONTHS NUTRITION COACHING WITH MARINE)

– Lizelle Botha (Best ever body stats at age 67)

– Jacqueline Sturgiss (lost 7,6% body fat since May 2021)

Top 10 SUMMER CHALLENGE 2021

(In no specific order):  Betsie Vermeulen, Melinda du Plessis, Mizelle Saaiman, Lilian Maree, Linette Schoonraad, Gosia Snyman, Izelde Zwarts, Michelle Jansen van Rensburg, Juanita Dedekind, Stacey du Toit.

OVERALL WINNERS SUMMER CHALLENGE 2021:

1^ST PLACE:  GOSIA SNYMAN

2^ND PLACE:  MICHELLE JANSEN VAN RENSBURG

3^RD PLACE:  IZELDE ZWARTS

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN 2021:

1. Liezel Nel (Lost 20 kg since February 2021)
2. Marinda Rautenbach (Lost 15 kg since Sept 2021)

YEAR CHALLENGE WINNERS 2021:

1^ST PLACE:  JUANiTA DEDEKIND

2^ND PLACE: STACEY DU TOIT

3^RD PLACE: TEHILA SLABBER

Best Dressed:

A huge shout out to Anton and Mari for all their help with the special video presentation, and Mari for all the designs and weekly schedules, Erika Nel for the beautiful pictures, Odette from Party Fusion for always having my back, and Nicci from DP designs.  

A special, heartfelt thank you to all our sponsors:  Schalk from ProBag, Sweatgear, Hannes Zwarts oogkundiges, Melinda from Footworx, Amanda from Manna en Kwartels, Nutrition Coaching with Mariné, Sonnet from Mizpah Beauty, Else-Marie skoonheidsalon, Carol and Natie from Burlec, Carien from Avon, Vickie from Justine, Rethia from Herbalife and Cherry Infusion, Allison from Blush models and Perfect Water. 

I would like to thank Schalk, Eswee and Mariné, for their love and support, always, and to every member of our studio, every Challenge member, and every precious Zoom member, for always showing up, and for always willing to be part of all my crazy plans and ideas.

…In her book “Uncaged Wallflower” Jennae Cecelia says: “Surround yourself with people who don`t just ask how you are doing.  Surround yourself with people who make an effort to make sure they are part of the reason you are doing so well.”

I firmly believe that in 2021, at Mirna`’s Aerobic Studio, we have gone further, because we believed, not only in ourselves, but also in each other.  And for that, I am grateful beyond words.

Yours in fitness

Mirna

082 779 0507