Helping senior citizens keep fit and healthy

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“Ageing is just another word for living.”

This famous quote is often attributed to American-born actress Cindy Joseph.

Nothemba Mlungwana, a former schoolteacher, is among a group of grandmothers who have embraced Joseph’s famous words.

They are aiming to live well by transforming themselves into fitness queens who stay healthy through exercise, a clean diet, lots of water and regular walks.

But for Mlungwana, 66, it was not always like this. For a long time, there were moments when her back threatened to fail her.

“My back was always playing up and it would be extremely difficult to get out of bed in the mornings,” she said.

“I would first think about it and spend a lot of time trying to visualise ways I could get up without compromising my back.

“Getting out of bed became somewhat of a chore in itself. For a long time, it was not something I really looked forward to at all.

“Sometimes, I would lie there for about half an hour just thinking about what I had to do.”

Not too far from her home in Mthatha’s Northcrest residential suburb, one of her neighbours, 66-year-old Thembisa Craig, also a retired teacher, had her own health struggles to contend with.

Sometimes she would complain of heavy and painful arms, especially after doing laundry by hand.

“Sometimes, I could not even lift my right arm,” she said.

That was until the two grannies joined the Agape Training Centre, an NPO set up by businesswoman Pamela Maya in their neighbourhood.

The centre offers exercise activities to pensioners in many residential areas within King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality’s ward 8.

Over the months, Agape has morphed into a fitness club for senior citizens in areas including Northcrest, Norwood and even Highbury village.

Its secretary, Qaqamba Kuboni, said they usually took 5km walks with the grannies on Mondays, followed by some aerobics on Wednesdays under the guidance of former Mthatha Health Club gym instructor Sipho Fas, and on Fridays they did another 5km walk.

“So far we have more than 60 active grannies in our group. We saw a lot of elderly women who are retired and now just sit idle at home with nothing to do,” Kuboni said.

Craig and Mlungwana were among the first to join. Some of the women were struggling with their health while others had suffered a stroke.

Some were even bedridden and spent most of their time lying under covers.

But as soon as they joined Agape, their lives were transformed — they could spring out of bed and join other grannies on their weekly walks and exercise.

Agape founder Maya said the idea of a fitness club for grannies came after she witnessed a retired woman in Northcrest who lived alone.

“She was dying from boredom and I would often visit her.

“We started with just three grannies months ago after speaking to our [KSD] ward 8 councillor [Makhosandile] Majeke who gave the whole thing his blessing.”

Maya said they wanted to teach the grannies to knit clothes and other skills but having their own venue still remained a huge challenge.

And, since the grannies trained in an open field, it meant they had to postpone training when there is inclement weather.

“It’s summer now and this means more rain which makes it difficult for everyone. They now have to skip more sessions,” she said.

Maya described the pensioners as an  enthusiastic bunch and said they could not stop raving about how keeping active had transformed their health and their bodies for the better.

Some of them used to be lecturers, schoolteachers and nurses.

The group has built so much camaraderie among themselves that they often visit those who are not able not to join physically in the regular walks and assist them with exercising in their own homes.

Some of the members are as old as 90. Some have been hit hard by a stroke and have difficulty getting  out of bed.

But they get regular visit from the other grannies.

Craig said the camaraderie was amazing — it kept everyone going.

The group recently went on an 8km hiking trail.

The fun-filled day also saw them competing in relays.

Craig, a 100m and 200m sprinter in her younger days, said they  had loads of fun and  she actually won all her sprint relays.

When she is not able to meet up with other grannies, she feels sad.

“When I am with these women I am at my happiest. It was raining earlier this week and I could not go and it was the saddest thing for me.”

Gym instructor Fas said while it was tough for them  when they first started the exercise programme, many had now mastered the routines and developed more endurance and stamina.

He participated in all sorts of sports, including boxing while growing up in Gqeberha.

He also played as a striker for popular teams such as Bush Bucks and Tembu Royals.

“It was not easy when we started this journey. Remember, some [grannies] had ailments but their attitude was also positive.

“They love my training. I always ask how they feel and try not to push them very hard.

“As you know, medical bills are very expensive nowadays. Some no longer have to constantly go to doctors.

“I advise them on what to do and what to eat as well,” he said.

Mlungwana and Craig recruited other grannies to join, working closely with Maya and Kuboni.

Nearly 90 elderly women are now part of the Agape programme.

Mlungwana said they continued recruiting more women in their ward.

The programme was more than just about ensuring they stayed healthy and fit, it was about helping with advice, exchanging ideas and, most importantly, building lasting friendships.

She said the programme had given many of them a second chance at life.

“It is not important that we are retired. This has shown us that this is not the end of life.

“Hence, I would say we [every elderly person out there] need to embrace this second chance that God has granted us.

“We are showing young people that they can also wake up and do something meaningful with their own lives instead of just thinking about going to taverns.

“We are now like sweet 16-year-olds. It means God will bless us even more,” Mlungwana said.

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