“This organization embodies what I think I am as a person: someone who helps to uplift women,” Takyiwaa said.
PGS is a national organization that began in 2011 to support former first lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move!” campaign — an initiative with the goal of reducing childhood obesity and encouraging a healthy lifestyle among children. The organization’s BU chapter began in fall 2015 and became an SA-chartered organization in 2017. Takyiwaa has been involved with PGS since it first arrived on campus.
“PGS is a way for teen girls to get active while making fitness fun,” Takyiwaa said. “We have a ‘sweat sisterhood’ to build bonds. You don’t have to feel intimidated to work out by yourself or to go to the gym if you don’t have the funds — we provide that free access for you to be active.”
Through the sweat sisterhood and fitness parties or sweat shows — weekly exercise workshops held every Friday — PGS enables participants to engage in open discussions about obstacles they may face in today’s society, to learn about nutrition and how to lead healthy lives, and to celebrate women who use their platform to promote a healthy lifestyle.
PGS is rapidly growing and currently has 19 university and two graduate chapters, while serving over 20,000 participants in eight cities across North America. The organization is also active on many social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, which people can follow to learn more and stay up to date on events.
Takyiwaa joined PGS in the beginning of her junior year as the workout coordinator. She is also a group fitness instructor at the East Gym, where she teaches Zumba and Booty Boot Camp.
“I’ve always been into fitness, I’ve been dancing my whole life,” she said. “I think your health is the most important thing to you. If you don’t have your health, you really don’t have anything.”
She is also a huge proponent of putting your health first.
“Self-care [and] self-love is free,” she said. “It’s easily accessible to everyone. It should be your primary focus. If you are not taking care of yourself, you can’t take care of others.”
To learn about Takyiwaa’s favorite workouts, click here.