First Person
The Universal Language of Fitness
Mickael Lafarge, former trainer to the First Lady of Senegal
Born in Cameroon and raised for 18 yearsbya missionary priest, Mickael Lafarge made an extraordinary voyage to the top ofthe fitnesstraining world in Dakar, Senegal, before hewas 30, even drawing the Senegalese First Lady as aclient. He arrived in Montclair ayear ago, speaking only French and knowing noone except his wife, a foreign correspondent for The New York Times. Building a new and enthusiastic clientele for his“ Smash Cardio” classes at area gyms, he says that“ Fitness is the same partout.” His wife assisted him with translation for this interview.
Building aFollowing
The priest who took me in as ababypassedawaywhen Iwas 18. Ihit the road by bus, traveling for a couple of years through Nigeria, Burkina Faso, and then Senegal, where I decided to stay. I like sports more than anything else, and I threw myself into being a personal trainer. In 2009, I won the licensing rights to the Curves franchise. We started in a garage and grew to more than 1,000 members. My wife walked into my gym, and within a month, we were together.
An American Couple
I am a permanent resident as of 2015. My wife was born in Romania, but grew up in America.
Losing Their Way To Success
In Africa, there is an issue with obesity, especially for women. When Iopenedthe gym, my first ideawas to help women lose weight. We used to say“ No mirrors, no makeup, no men.” I created a database with a personal plan for each woman, for cardio and nutrition. They followed the plans and they started to wow each other, and bring their friends to the gym. This is howthe First Lady came, with afriend.
High and Low Profiles
I did a daily exercise segment on Senegalese TV, and had a former Olympic skier, Amanda Fortier, as a client. But most of my clients had never been to a gym before. I see people now with diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure. Iam most proud when ordinary people getamazing results – building strength, increasing muscle and decreasing weight, fat and inches.
Settling In
At first, Iwas alittle scared. Iwould try to sleep and machines [ leaf blowers ] would wake me up with“ woo-woo-woo.” Now, it is better. I havesome friends and my work and routines. I amhappy. ■
— AS TOLD TO ANTOINETTE MARTIN
PHOTOGRAPHY BY DALE MINCEY
18 SPRING 2017 MONTCLAIR MAGAZINE