Fan Ya Mazoezi

"Fan ya mazoezi heelie ooh way na uzima wa afya" is translated as "Do exercise that you may have good health/well-being". I hesitantly spoke this phrase to the people at the clinic after reviewing prescription medication instruction. Some had no idea what I was saying because of the unfamiliar syllable pronunciations within the words. Others smiled and nodded because they knew this "A" American was trying to make connections by speaking their language. However, none had really given much attention to the statement being made.. 

The Maasai are a physically active people. Their daily tasks place them in a very high category for Phyical Activity (PA) in comparison to the numbers in the U.S. They far exceed the recommended amounts of PA set by the  American College of Sports Medicine or American Heart Association. These people walk more than 30+ minutes a day and perform muscular endurance activities for hours by carrying water, food, etc on their heads. We frequently do PA to improve our capacity to carry out basic activities with ease, for example, you walk on the treadmill to improve your ability to walk to work or up the stairs. What we consider activities of daily living they would consider everyday living. Can I make it real for you? To get to the clinic, people had to walk 6-7 miles one way and this did not include the miles they tread earlier that day to get water or go to the market. 

These people are already very active and I knew that prior to coming. Yet, I was determined to find a way to connect and as much as I tried on the first day I only captured the attention of a few Maasai. Most of the interest in exercise for improving health came from the other members of the medical staff and our driver. I found this to be exciting because they would become essential in recommending exercise for others. I gave them jump ropes and exercise bands to sample and eventually keep for their own personal use. Each of them found the tools promising in the fact that they could assist them in improving their activity level.  In our down time, I taught them how to properly use the exercise bands. Competition soon arrived as they challenged each other to see who could jump the longest or highest. The use of jump ropes became a reminder for them to do activities they enjoy. I told them they didn't really recognize they were exercising because they were too busy having fun.  However, I was determined to introduce the concept of using exercise as a form of medicine to prevent and treat illness and disease in the Maasai … that's the reason I made the trip - Right? 

We were a little late arriving to the campsite on day 2 but at least two dozen Maasai were there awaiting our arrival. This day created some special moments for me. The first began with a woman who appeared to be in her 70's maybe early 80's who suffered from lower back pain. She walked holding a large staff in hand. She was not your typical 70 year old, this woman and her friends walked 6 miles to the site and would take the return 6 mile journey back to their village.  

The woman's consultation papers recommended she receive exercise instruction to minimize her back pain. I taught her basic stretches to improve flexibility and upper and lower body exercise to improve muscular strength. With each progressing exercise she laughed out loud making these loud jubilant sounds. She particularly enjoyed the hip rocking movements I used to help decrease back stiffness. She was excited to learn and she was just what I needed that day to draw attention to exercise. Everyone that watched smiled and laughed with her. Little to say she was the beginning of the Maasai Exercise Movement.

On this day I was able to introduce physical activity and exercise as a way to improve health. I assume the other women inquired how she was able to Fan Ya Mazoezi (do exercise) because the next 25-30 women that came through our tent had back pain and needed exercise.