A New Sports Instructor Encourages Forssa Residents to Get Moving

The City of Forssa is strengthening its sports services with a new position for a sports instructor. Janica Mastomäki, 24, who started in the role at the beginning of February, brings with her expertise particularly in health promotion and exercise counseling.
 
 Mastomäki originally comes from Nurmijärvi. She graduated as a sports instructor from the South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences in Savonlinna, where her studies focused on various sports-related projects and health promotion.

“During my studies, I became especially interested in lifestyle changes and how physical activity can support overall well-being. Supporting holistic well-being is what I find most meaningful in this field,” Mastomäki says.

Before moving to Forssa, she worked in Kankaanpää on the Finland on the Move project. She now works in the sports services of the City of Forssa.

Young Adults on the Move

Currently, Mastomäki’s work focuses particularly on a project that develops group-based exercise counseling for young adults aged 20–29. The target group includes young people who are unemployed and have little physical activity in their daily lives.

“At the moment, we are mapping out needs. The aim is to organize low-threshold activities for those who do not get enough exercise in their everyday lives. The idea is to offer enjoyable group activities and, through that, opportunities to try different sports,” Mastomäki explains.

The activities may include various ball games or other shared exercise trials. The project is carried out in cooperation with Forssa employment services, and participants can join, for example, by contacting Mastomäki directly. The activities will begin during this spring.

In the future, the project is intended to expand to other age groups as well, such as working-age adults and those approaching retirement.

Finding Your Own Way to Move Is What Matters Most

In addition to project work, Mastomäki’s duties also include sports instruction. According to her, working in the City of Forssa’s sports services is diverse, and tasks vary greatly.

“The field of sports is a broad network, so workdays can be very different. At the moment, activities include gym orientation sessions for working-age adults and seniors, but many things are still in the planning stage,” Mastomäki says.

Physical activity has been an important part of Mastomäki’s life for a long time. She has played basketball the longest and has also worked in Savonlinna as a coach and referee in the sport.

Mastomäki has a simple piece of advice for starting exercise:

“It’s worth starting from what interests you personally. The most important thing is to find a way of moving that you enjoy and to begin gradually—for example, through everyday physical activity and by setting small but concrete goals.”