Senior citizens from the Sigodiphola Dobsonville Meadowlands Community Gym (SDM) believe that age is nothing but a number- they proudly declared that they were able to outpace most of the teenagers without breaking so much as a sweat.
Thoko Phakathi (66), who is an SDM member, did not shy away from the challenge and said, “I always wake up at about 5 o’clock in the morning to prepare for my morning gym four times a week. We do stretch ups, a variety of exercises and sprint every morning which keeps me active every day.”
According to the active senior, she joined the gym in 2015 and has never looked back. Phakathi said before joining the gym, she was plagued by a number of ailments like high blood pressure, sugar diabetes and joint pains.
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“Since I started attending this gym club with fellow senior citizens, the pain is gone and I’m in healthy,” she said.
Her gym partner, Dumile Maloka (67) said the chronic aches and pains they experienced before, have become a thing of the past. She urged other seniors to join the gym because it’s free and open to both sexes.
Maloka said their membership is opened for people from 41 years and above. Gym instructor Nomvula Maseko (53) said that despite their commitment, the gym is experiencing a few challenges.
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“We do not have training equipment like soccer balls, handballs, skipping robes, stress balls, bags and other training necessities. We urge the local business community to sponsor us with the training equipment,” said Maseko.
Ward 47 councillor Tebogo Mhlari is also a member of the gym since joining last year.
“We train regularly in the morning at Dorothy Nyembe Park and this is a great initiative for the elderly. They have started long ago by heeding the call made by the State President, Cyril Ramaphosa of living healthier lifestyles.”
Anyone interested in sponsoring SDM should contact Nomvula Maseko.
