“Waseem has literally brought my body back to life after serious heart failure. He is highly professional, encouraging and addresses individual needs without losing sight of rehabilitation goals. He doesn’t push, he convinces. So much so, that you want to continue training even when your medical condition has long improved. That’s the thing: It is fun to exercise with Waseem! “
–Anonymous
“At the beginning of August 2018, I was 25 kg overweight, I was smoking 40 cigarettes a day (and had been smoking for 40 years) and was at the edge of having developed Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. I was on several medications for asthma, and had, in 2018, had bronchitis three times. There were days that I was unable to climb a single flight of stairs without resting half-way.
I had taken an early retirement in order to travel and to enjoy my life, but I came to realise that this was not possible if I could not breathe. I stopped smoking on 17 August, and on 20 August, joined the Chronic Disease Programme at the Sports Science Institute of South Africa. I was fortunate enough to have Waseem Choonara assigned as my biokineticist. At that time, I had never been in a gym before. Everything, from the language and terminology, to the machines and how they operated, was foreign to me.
Waseem was patient and kind and somehow managed to encourage me to extend myself and push my limits without my feeling as though I were in boot-camp. His gentle encouragement and warm humour, enabled me to navigate this new space. It was a journey of discovery for me, and I had a most knowledgeable and experienced guide.
Building on what I was achieving, he challenged me to achieve what I had not considered possible. His inter-personal and communication skills are extremely well-developed. He is very organised and reliable. And very affable and professional.
It is three years later, and my lung capacity and airflow have improved remarkably. I use only an inhaler, once a day. My bone mineral density has also improved. I have lost 25 kg and my weight has stayed constant for two years. In 2019 I walked across Portugal and into Spain. In addition to attending daily classes at the gym, I walk between 35 and 40 km a week, mostly on Table Mountain.
Waseem has instilled in me a love for exercise, and I revel in my new-found fitness and the strength and suppleness of my body. I have never been so healthy. And I can breathe!
It is a cliché, I know, but my life has really changed. I credit Waseem with making this possible. I could not have done it without him.” – Helen
“There are a handful of people, who I can say legitimately have played a significant role in saving my life and who continue to be part of what will be a lifelong journey. Waseem just happens to be one of those people. In September 2020, I tested as Covid Positive and to cut a long story short, after a month of severe illness, a 25kg weight gain, both fluid and weight, and with no previous serious health issues, I was diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy, simply put, heart failure. At 10% functionality, I knew that I had a tough journey ahead of me. With thanks to medication, I was able to improve to 28% heart function. I knew that I needed to start making changes to my life and engaged with the Sports Science Institute to begin (what I call) Cardiac Rehabilitation. The Gods were smiling on me that day, when Dr Suter, one of the founding partners of Cape Sports Medicine, recommended I work with Waseem Choonara. Considering Dr Suter’s long standing reputation, I knew that if he was recommending this guy, then he must be good.
When working with Waseem, you are not just benefiting from a world class Biokineticist, who has successfully not only converted me to exercise, but is the only professional in the industry, and I have had many, who has been able to get me to a point where I enjoy training, where it isn’t something that I HAVE to do, but something that I want to do. You are also getting someone very caring, compassionate, and extremely dedicated not only to his profession, but to his clients. These attributes have been evidenced in many ways. From a phone call the day after I couldn’t make it to a session due to being unwell, to check how I am feeling, to relentless encouragement and reminders to follow through on my own personal commitments, whether that be an appointment with the nutritionist, a check in with the doctors, because he genuinely cares and genuinely wants you to be the best and healthiest you can be.
He has an uncanny ability to read his clients with precision and knows the right ways to help you get the most out of your training. He is keenly aware that one size doesn’t fit all and that we all respond in different ways and is able to tailor his programmes, in advance or on the fly, to what works best for you. He is clearly an expert in his field, not only evidenced by referrals to him, by recommendations to engage with him (my husband is a soon to be client) but also by the results that he gets, or rather “you” get.
Waseem took me on as his client twice a week, progressing to 3 times a week,m working with me slowly and carefully, to improve my cardiovascular function and I have had the privilege of being his client for coming up to 6 months. I was cleared for training without medical supervision in August 2021. I now don’t see Waseem 3 times a week, I see him 4 times a week and consider myself lucky that he is happy to have me as his client. He has improved my physical condition and beyond measure, improved my quality of life. With the right medication and an exemplary Biokineticist, I am now at 53% heart functionality, a number that would not have been possible without the care, encouragement and rehabilitation Waseem continues to provide” – Justine Persson (née Webb)
Waseem Choonara Biokineticist 