No gym? No problem for Matawai

The Mana Matawai took part in a town versus country Primal Fitness Annihilation Challenge last weekend. Flooded roads meant some members could not get to training at Matawai Memorial Hall. Those who could get through were team leader Tess Shaw and Robyn Tomlinson (holding a plank position), and at back, Shana Abbot, Mark Shaw and Adeline Bordet Sanson. Picture supplied

A Matawai fitness group without a gym battled a town-based team in a circuit challenge last weekend.

The town and country clash was supported by the Hear4U charity advocating for better mental health, wellbeing, and suicide prevention.

Matawai’s 10-person team boasts farmers, partners, contractors, and mothers.

The group’s fitness workout space is Matawai Memorial Hall, which has none of the normal gym equipment and machines to train on, said Mana Matawai team leader Tess Shaw.

“Despite the lack of facilities up here in Matawai, the magic of this group is its resilience and determination.”

Hear4U general manager Krissy Mackintosh said it was the first time in the two-year history of Primal Fitness Annihilation Challenges, that a team without easy access to a gym has entered.

“It’s been heartwarming to see Tess taking the initiative for the betterment of the community during the hardest of years.”

Most Annihilation teams prepare by attending classes at Hear4U’s charity partner gym Primal Fitness in Childers Road.

“That wasn’t an option for the Matawai Mana whānau who face travel distances of up to 150km and travel times of an hour and a half, to get to Gisborne, and that’s only if SH2 is open,” Mrs Mackintosh said.

“While our ‘Challenges’ have featured teams with rural people in them before, this remote team is unique, and there seems to be a growing demand from rural areas for this kind of thing.”

Tess Shaw is a farmer, hairdresser, and mother of two. She loved the short burst of fitness classes hosted by EIT in Matawai last year. After the classes wound up, she started hosting them herself.

“I’ve always loved working out, but it’s so hard to stay motivated during a Matawai winter.

“I didn’t want the momentum to stop.

“When something like this is made available in our rural community, then people make an effort to go.

“Signing up for a Primal Fitness 8-Week Annihilation Challenge was a way to lift spirits and help push through winter.

“It takes guts and determination to get through what we, and many people in our region, have been through, and so it seemed like a good time to boost our mental health.”

Despite not having access to a gym and machines like treadmills, chest presses, and rowers, the Matawai crew has slowly accumulated some mats and weights (through EIT) and medicine balls, kettle bells, and jump boxes (through Hear4U).

Mana Matawai participant Robyn Tomlinson, 38, is competitive with every sport she’s ever played. But she admits to lacking inspiration when it comes to personal fitness.

“People say ‘use the internet’ but I’m not self-motivated like that. Group things motivate me. We are lucky to have Tess doing this for us up here.”

Mana Matawai teammate and mother of two Ana Shaw could not do sit-ups when she first came to a fitness session.

Ana says the regularity of the sessions and the fact they are just 20km from her Motu home, motivates her to go. She has added running to her weekly fitness activities and last month achieved her goal of running 10km.

She said her fitness levels have increased and that made the running goal more achievable.

“It also made me want to set bigger goals — like the Primal Fitness Annihilation Challenge.”