Motsi Mabuse
She feels good in her body again
Motsi Mabuse at the fitvia event in Munich
© Fitvia
After having a baby, many women feel pressured by body shaming. Motsi Mabuse promotes a healthy path.
Motsi Mabuse (40) is very busy, sits on the jury for the German and British versions of “Let’s Dance” and runs a dance school. She is also active in the summer holidays: at an event organized by the tea manufacturer fitvia, where Mabuse presented the new Cold Brew editions, the professional dancer spoke to spot on news about self-love, nutrition and the pressure women are exposed to after having a child. That also happened to her after her daughter was born in 2018.
Dear Motsi, how are you currently spending the summer months?
Motsi Mabuse: Very different. For the summer I have decided to take a lot of time for myself to just experience myself. I am currently renovating a lot at home, dancing, teaching online and of course spending a lot of time by the sea. And above all, I try to draw a lot of positive energy from nature. I also enjoy going out again and taking part in events like today’s fitvia lunch and enjoying a delicious iced tea. Especially with the summer temperatures it is absolutely important to drink enough – it’s all about hydration!
You recently started a self-care challenge, what exactly does it look like?
Mabuse: It is actually an investment in yourself! Simply doing something good for yourself and feeling empowered by a great community. Part of the team consists of a mental coach, a nutritionist and special guests who inspire the participants. In addition, the challenge naturally includes fitness programs, which, however, largely consist of dancing – this creates a completely different connection to your own body and yourself.
What do you pay particular attention to when it comes to nutrition?
Mabuse: How we eat contributes significantly to our physical health. Of course, it is not always easy to integrate a healthy and balanced diet into everyday life. However, it is important to me personally to eat a balanced and healthy diet. I keep noticing how easy it actually is and how good I feel about it. In the mornings, it is very important to me to drink enough to get my body going. In the summer I also like to drink cold brewed tea – such as the fitvia Lemon Coldbrew Tea.
Is there a calorie sin that you could never do without?
Mabuse: Pasta is simply an indispensable dish for me! For that I prefer to do an extra unit of sport.
How important is sport to you?
Mabuse: For me, sport is the perfect balance. Sport, especially dancing, is essential for my mental health. A healthy mind is only at home in a healthy body. And vice versa, of course.
You recently criticized the after-baby-body discussions with clear words. Why is there still so much pressure on women today?
Mabuse: Of course, social media plays a key role here. There are women who, shortly after giving birth, with a perfectly hardened body, seek confirmation on platforms such as Instagram. This of course puts enormous pressure on other women who have just had a child. But there are also women who accept and love their body as it is after giving birth. Who give themselves the time to get back in shape. For me, that is the right approach too.
How much did you feel this pressure yourself?
Mabuse: That always depended on my current mental health, because as a competitive athlete I dealt a lot with my own body. The pregnancy has naturally changed it. I’ve learned to love my body anew and it’s just an exciting feeling.
Do you feel good in your body today?
Mabuse: Yes, after a long time I definitely feel good in my body again and I am very proud of it.
What advice can you give to women who have doubts about yourself and your body?
Mabuse: To analyze and determine where the pressure is coming from. If you want to change something, you can do that too. But you shouldn’t forget to look at what’s going on in your head and which voice is leading this conversation of doubt.
What values would you like to pass on to your daughter later on?
Self-love, self-confidence, your own opinion, courage, empathy and not being influenced from outside.