Local gym helps senior citizens stay active

An enthusiastic trainer from Spruitview offers free training sessions for Kathorus senior citizens at Spruitview Library.

He holds the training sessions weekly, on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, between 07:30 and 08:30.

Mandlakayise Khumalo (60), the founder of Mandla Gym, is an administrator at a local clinic at Spruitview, where he met most of the gym members.

He said the gym has over 300 members. There is a demand for it in other townships, including Thembisa, Katlehong and Daveyton.

“It has helped many senior citizens to improve their health, as the majority of these elderly people do not go to the clinic anymore,” he added.

He further noted this has become a concern for the clinic manager, who arranged for the senior citizens to collect their medicine and do vital check-ups, including body temperature, blood pressure and pulse- and respiration rates at the gym.

“I get positive feedback from the gym members when they get check-ups at the clinic. The nurses often ask them how they were able to boost their health and immune system when they notice the sudden enhancement in their health,” said Khumalo.

He said, “When I started the gym I did not foresee it growing to this magnitude and this is mainly because it is free.

“I understand that senior citizens depend on grants and I cannot expect them to pay me. I am passionate about fitness. I live for it.”

Khumalo said he is not a qualified fitness trainer, but was intensively involved in sports while he was still living in Soweto. One of the sporting codes he participated in is karate, where he obtained a black belt.

“I do not have papers for fitness training but I apply the experience I gained from my sports background,” he said.

Lindiwe Mokoena (60) said since she joined the gym in November 2022, she has become more active.

“I see this, particularly at home, in things I could not do, like kneeling and sitting on certain chairs. I can do those things now because I feel my muscles are relaxed. I can do a lot of things now.

“I used to sleep during the day, but since I started training I do not pass out during the day. Even when I skip training, I find myself working throughout the day. I have more energy,” said Mokoena.

She said when she came to the gym she had a wheezing chest and within two months of training it cleared.

“When sleeping the wheeze used to irritate me, but lately when I checked my vitals with my doctor she was very happy. She said my chest is clear. I am taking fewer tablets than before. Nowadays I only take vitamins.”

Sandeleni Ndodana (54), shared she is a breast cancer survivor and could not lift her hand due to the operation.

“I could not use the washing line at home. I had to buy those low-lying washing lines, but now I can use old ones again,” said Ndodana.

She said the healing process is better, even though there are exercises that she cannot do because of the operation across her chest.

“I am healthy compared to what I have been before. My wheezy chest and the fatigue are gone. I do almost everything myself,” she concluded.