Why Biokinetics?

I’ve always been interested in health and the health sciences.  My own experience with lower back pain as a child has interested me in the rehabilitative aspect of healing. From a young age I’ve enjoyed sport and more recently I’ve learned to appreciate the importance and benefits of fitness and physical activity as a key part of overall wellbeing. I feel biokinetics is one of the best ways to help people heal from illness and injury, achieve their health goals, and feel strong and empowered through exercise and physical activity. It also means I don’t need to work a corporate job to earn my living. 

Where did you study?

I did both my undergraduate degree and my honours degree at the University of the Witwatersrand 

What are your goals going forward?

• To keep learning and developing my skills and myself as a person and as a health care professional 

• To make small differences in people’s lives through my profession

• Further my studies by pursuing a master’s degree at some stage

• Eventually open my own practice.

Who is Mishka outside of Biokinetics?

I’m a young woman trying to navigate her way through life and enjoy it to its fullest. My spare time is consumed with spending time with loved ones, games nights with friends, Netflix, watching sporting events, and enjoying good food. Feeling strong makes me feel so good about myself and so I aim to be in the gym 6 times a week; focusing on strength training. I’ve also started to get back into running, and more recently I’ve started doing yoga. I am passionate about youth and gender empowerment and consider myself a feminist.

What would your advice be to students who want to go into Biokinetics?

• Do your research; in my experience many people start studying biokinetics with the wrong idea of what it is, or with only knowing half of what it’s about.  
• Do it only is there is a passion for it. This is not the type of job you should just be doing as a means to earn money. Working with people on their personal journeys requires commitment, enthusiasm, patience, and a love for what you are doing.
• Study hard…university is not easy (at least not at Wits)

What have you enjoyed about your experience so far at WSMC?

• The people I work with. I am so fortunate to be working in a place where there are so many different professions to learn from. I am even more fortunate that these people are friendly and willing to give their time and knowledge to help me learn and become a better health care professional.
• The patients I have gotten to know and work with. It is so exciting to see people progress, get better and achieve their goals.
• I have realised that I really enjoy working with the young people and children, and I’m lucky that a lot of them come to WSMC.