Music Makes the Exercise Easy

July 2010

A former DJ’s mix tapes are helping motivate Pacific people to move more in Counties Manukau.

Otara-born Vivienne Tonga is a Pacific Physical Activity Leader with the Counties Manukau Active programme, one of the initiatives supported by the Creating a Better Future strategy which is helping our communities to lead healthier lives.

But it’s Tonga’s skills as a DJ which have really been motivating Pacific people over the past few months.

Tonga, who loves music and also plays the drums, has some experience as a nightclub DJ. She would be thrown into the spotlight by good friend and DJ Fast Eddie, to be groomed and build her confidence.

Now Tonga is putting her musical skills to use by mixing tracks to play in her physical activity classes. She chooses popular beats and uses a mixing programme at home to deliver sounds which will appeal to participants.

“The majority of my music is Pacific – it will have a Pacific feel, Pacific beats, songs that they recognise… Everyone’s looking for an excuse not to exercise so you try and accommodate them, to make sure they don’t have an excuse not to come,” she says.

“You have to connect with your audience. If I’m going to exercise to something, I want to exercise to something I like. It suggests that there are psychological barriers and that you can overcome them.”

And the results are paying off. An external case study of Tonga’s work, undertaken by Synergia, noted that participants loved the music because it was “in tune” with their cultural backgrounds.

“Everyone can relate to the music,” one participant said. “It’s not just Samoan, it’s Tokelauan. Everyone can relate to the beat.”

Tonga is currently putting together a 30 minute track incorporating different tempos on request from a power walking group, her Mum is moving to the music at home and feedback at classes has been amazing. She has already compiled two CDs and is currently working on a third.

“They love it and they want more. I can’t keep up. The key thing is that they want to exercise themselves and that’s the best thing – that they feel empowered.”

Tonga, who is soon to become a certified fitness instructor and personal trainer through Netfit, runs Body Fuse and Box Circuit classes for Counties Manukau Active. Body Fuse incorporates dancing and boxing with Zumba while Box Circuit concentrates on strength and cardio training. The free classes, held every week in Otara and Papatoetoe, can attract up to 60 people aged from four to 84.

Counties Manukau Active is supported by the Counties Manukau District Health Board through Creating a Better Future and the Franklin District Council, the Papakura District Council, the Manukau City Council, SPARC, Counties Manukau Sport, ProCare and Otara Health.

For more information about Tonga’s classes, visit CMSport.