Skip to main content

Fit for life

rianamahe.jpg

Riana Mahe, an alumnus from Laie, graduated from BYU-Hawaii in 2006 with her bachelor’s degree in exercise science. Mahe, a mother to six and grandmother to 16, shares her love for fitness and the impact it had on her life. As a student in the 1980s, Mahe was living in TVA with her little family. “My first encounter entering the aerobic room was quite intimidating. This is where my addiction to keeping healthy and fit begun,” said Mahe. The aerobics room became a second home when she became a certified aerobic instructor and taught aerobics at BYUH from 1990-2004. Mahe made the decision to defer her education, and along with aerobics, she instructed various classes including kick boxing, step, body jam, and high and low aerobics. Mahe also held free aerobic classes at the Laie Stake Center for young moms for two years during 1990-1992. “My love and motivation to teach grew because keeping fit helped me to cope with being a young mom. It gave me more energy to share a healthy life with my children. Being an aerobic instructor was a way for me to give back to the community and the students who attended BYUH,” said Mahe. Eventually, in 2004, she decided to finish what she started in the 1980s and get her degree.In 2006, Mahe graduated with her EXS degree in with an emphasis in health and wellness. “While my daughter was attending BYUH a couple years back, she expressed to me how difficult her jogging class was so I woke up every morning at 6 a.m. to run with her. It was a privilege,” said Mahe. Now at age 51, Mahe continues to commit to a healthy lifestyle by running the Malaekahana bike path every morning before she tends to her second passion as a special education teacher at Kahuku Elementary School. “As of now with my age limiting my fitness capability, I have just started a different workout program with my sister Margie in her garage. We do squats with weights, boxing, push-ups, and lunges with weights,” said Mahe. Mahe said she has been able to live a quality life as a mother and a grandmother because of her decisions to stay physically active and keep healthy. Along with her fitness achievements, Mahe has participated in 12 eight-mile Aloha Runs.
Writer: Meagan Crowell ~ Multimedia Journalist