WATCH: Senior citizens promote healthy ageing

A group of active senior citizens called ‘Dintwana’ (unofficial name) from Ext 28, Vosloorus, gathered at 07:00 for a walk from to the clinic on October 20.

According to the trainer Gerald ‘Ntwana’ Motsene, the group was only recently formed and its objective is to promote healthy ageing.

He said there is a need for senior citizens to come together.

“They need to socialise and have fun instead of sitting at home alone. People who take medication every day should train so that they are overpowered by illnesses and it helps them to stay mentally fit,” said Motsene.

Easter Radebe (62) said she was chubby when she started training but right now she lost a bit of weight and she is fit.

“My blood pressure was high but now it is moderate. It shows that the gym is helping me and I feel healthy. I used to sit at home and sleep and my heart rate was fast but since I started exercising a lot has changed,” said Radebe.

Masabata ‘Soweto’ Mogatla (58) said the gym is important for healthy living.

“When I began training in 2018 I had severe pain, today it is gone.”

She advised non-active senior citizens to join and begin training immediately.

“It does not matter how old you are it is never too late to start training. When you train you even reduce the intake of medicine. Pills kill us because these are drugs and chemicals but when you train you can detox naturally.”

Nyaleng Mabena (66) shared the same sentiments, citing that she has asthma but she hardly uses her inhaler.

Motsene said they train four times a day between Monday and Thursday. He said they work with the Department of Sports and the Department of Social Development.“My job is to promote a healthy lifestyle for senior citizens in our townships. I train three groups, the over 60 years and the youth, as well as the Extension 28 group,” said Motsene.

“This is not limited to the over 60 group, anyone can join. My goal is to have a centre that elders can use to exercise every day.”