JHB West - Feb 22

fabulous
Age is just a number. Which is a very
easy thing to say when you’re still in
your 30s or entering your 40s. But at
50, society says you are supposed to
slow down as you enter the so-called
middle-age years? Oh, heck no! That
couldn’t be further from the truth. Well,
not for Marna Grobler, business owner,
avid athlete and now also a qualified
health and wellness coach.
“So many women I talk to see turning
50 as an ending. Almost like you’ve
reached your sell-by date. But I believe
50 is just the beginning. Now, after
years of putting family and children
first, it is your time. Time to get your
mojo back! Pursue your passions. You
really don’t have to fit into the mould
of others’ opinions or the fluctuating
standards of society.”
It was during lockdown when Marna
could not work that she decided to
keep her mind busy and generate
some sort of an income by going back
to studying.
“With my teaching background and
love for sport and people, it made
perfect sense to study health and
wellness coaching, combining these
two passions. Since then, I’ve launched
Body in Bloom Health and Wellness
Coaching. We focus on fitness, weight
loss, reducing stress, achieving a better
work-life balance, prioritising self-care
and how to practise a positive mindset.
There are various programs, from a
motivator package to meditation and
even one for menopause.”
That’s not all. Soon after hitting the
half-century mark, Marna launched a
50andMe lifestyle concept website. She
You are never too old to start something new. And
Marna Grobler proves it. When she turned the big
5 - 0, she refused to allow her worth to have a use-by
date. Instead, she reinvented herself, her life and career.
And she is happier than ever.
felt there was a need for a platform
where women could connect, interact,
and find everything they might need
to help them grow older, while feeling
fabulous and not being overwhelmed.
On the site you’ll find health, wellness
and lifestyle articles and tips, shared by
Marna and professionals that are part
of the 50andMe family. And there is no
stopping Marna yet.
“It’s still a fairly new brand ... I have
so many plans that I’m permanently
starry-eyed. There are plans for a FitFlo
Fitness for a cause event, our NPO
that gives back to the community
by means of fitness events. Then
our newly launched Pink Ribbon Ink
campaign that will run throughout the
year, assisting breast cancer survivors.”
In between meeting clients and
bride-to-be appointments, doing
one-on-one fitness sessions Marna
also manages to fit in time to train six
days every week ... be it cycling, open
water swimming, running or strength
training. There’s even talks about
running the Comrades Marathon and
doing the Ironman 70.3 in Mosselbay
later this year. Now that’s #goals!
“Funny enough, I was never really a
sporty kind of girl when I was younger.
I did a bit of netball at school and of
course the compulsory PE classes
where I was always back of the pack
and trudged through the classes.
After school, I started studying for
my teacher’s degree. I became a fullblown
student with loads of takeaway
food and no exercise. The most I
would exert myself was a fast walk to a
class when I was late. But some health
issues, later on, made me realise I need
to make a change.”
And she did just that. She started
to run, and today she is the proud
owner of a Comrades marathon
green number and has four half
Ironman triathlons under her belt. So
it comes as no surprise that Marna is
also a finalist in the Woman in Sports
category for the Woman of Stature
Awards in March.
“Yes, I am passionate about sport and
healthy living, but that doesn’t mean
I don’t enjoy a good glass of wine or
bubbly with my girlfriends.”
At home, Marna is the no-makeupno-shoes
kind of woman, who loves
to spend time with friends and family
and play board games. Living life to
the max is what she is all about.
From solo jumping out of an
aeroplane, skinning dipping after
a long run to aiming to become a
contestant on Survivor, one thing is for
sure, for Marna life is mind over matter
... never allowing stereotypes and age
to limit her potential or what she can
achieve. Cheers to that!
Details: 50andme.co.za, info@50andme.
co.za or follow @marnafitat50 on
Facebook and @marna_fitat50 on Insta.
12 Get It Magazine February 2022