Ngamije’s New Gym Reaches For The Stars

Should an award-winning author choose to establish a gym, quoting Seneca in the original Latin at the entrance of the monochromatic, utilitarian space seems just about right.

The Forge, a new gym founded by author Rémy Ngamije and his writer brother Ange Mucyo, has been open since August, and hat tips the famed Stoic before giving way to a spartan athletic arena in Windhoek’s Southern Industrial Area.

In another life, the low, yawning building was home to a paint factory, but the two have staged an impressive reimagining and chosen both a name and a motto that underscore much that they intend.

“The Forge is a place where we say you want to make and remake yourself,” says Ngamije.

“Stoic philosophy basically encourages people to toughen not only themselves but their mental attitudes to deal with adversity. It’s about recognising adversity for what it is and then trying to push through and beyond it,” he says.

“The idea being that the Martha we see now is not the Martha of her youth and won’t be the Martha of tomorrow or of three weeks’ time. You’re going to be shaped by different life challenges, obstacles and circumstances. Your body is a changing season and we encourage you to change and grow with it,” Ngamije says.

“This is a space that we hope you can come and engage in fitness and, through physical movement, you’re able to build the mental fortitude to face adversity outside of here.”

While gyms can be solitary environments, the two mean to create a space of support.

This objective extends to the elements of The Forge’s application-based membership, which includes the developing of a training programme as well as discounts on consultations with a nutritionist, physiotherapist and sports masseuse.

“We want people to embody our values. When you come here, you train with strength and honour. By that, I mean you’re trying to get through your routine as best you can on the day with where your body is.”

Standing in contrast to the stereotypes of deskbound hermit writers, scribbling away in their pyjamas and mainlining coffee or something stronger, the two see fitness as a tool for mental health and to enhance creativity and productivity.

“Fitness and exercise have always been a way of coping and dealing with stress. The same discipline you need as a writer, you’re gonna need to be part of a gym. Fitness is definitely one of those things that aids creativity. When I exercise, I think a lot about my stories, my characters, their dialogue, their conflicts and of scenes,” says Ngamije.

“In a lot of ways, fitness is also meditative. I think about a lot of the things that I am facing in my life or that I need to get through and I put them in a hierarchy and often, by the end of my session, I feel the confidence and have found solutions to face them,” Ngamije says.

“We’re also really trying to get people in tune with their physical body and to be at home within their skin because you only have this one vessel to move you through life’s challenges.”

This is not necessarily something the brothers want members to do alone.

Much like Ngamije’s work creating Windhoek’s Salsa Club and the Doek collective, literary magazine and arts organisation, The Forge plans to build fellowship.

“I’m really trying to create a community that is not only interested in fitness but is interested in being part of a supportive, non-competitive environment where you work towards your own specific goals, either alone or in tandem or as part of a group,” Ngamije says.

“Also, after two years of being stuck at home due to Covid and of exercising alone, I’m desperate to step out into the world,” he says.

“Our goal here is to provide an outlet, a space that is safe, secure, clean, sanitary and supportive, that draws people out of their shells, especially out of their corporate, working shells.”

When you enter The Forge, you are encouraged to leave the stress, anxiety and negative pressures of your world behind and focus on your health and well-being.

So much so that you are given a new name, imprinted on the kind of dog tags that lie flat on Ngamije and Mucyo’s chests.

“Everyone who joins The Forge, gets a Forge name. It’s the name of a star,” says Ngamije.

“Mine is Sirius. Ange’s is Arcturus. This star represents a goal that is far or maybe unattainable but you realise that there is no easy way from the earth to the stars,” he says.

“It’s a sign of your journey towards this other version or better version of yourself and it’s a reminder of why you’re here,” says Ngamije.

“Everyone gets assigned a name so you’re part of a constellation of stars, whether you’re one of the brightest or the dimmest, it takes all of them to make the night sky.”

Visit forgewhk.com for more information and follow @forgewhk on Instagram.

– martha@namibian.com.na; Martha Mukaiwa on Twitter and Instagram; marthamukaiwa.com

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