WATCH: Anyone can be healthy, no matter what your age, says 62-year-old

IMAGINE a life without medication, where you dance and exercise your ailments away?

According to 62-year-old Cathrine Mathebe, founder of Bophelong Fitness Club in Hospital View, Tembisa, this is possible and she is living proof.

Mathebe travels around the country telling her weight-loss story and showcasing what her fitness club does. Through a combination of aerobics and dance moves, Mathebe helps women keep fit and become healthier.

Mathebe, women and children from the fitness club showed off their exercise moves at Festival Mall on March 17.

For over 10 years Mathebe’s health had been deteriorating and she was on various medical treatments with no improvement. She gained weight tremendously, was obese and confined to the house.

“I was sick with arthritis and high blood pressure and couldn’t walk without crutches. I was overweight,” she explained.

Mathebe said she was a burden to her family. “One day, while I was listening to the radio in my lounge with music playing, I took a broom and began moving my hips from left to right,” Mathebe explained.

From that day her life changed.

“I would play music loudly and make noise while I was exercising. I started feeling better and started losing weight. In two months I could walk.”

The 62-year-old began dancing every day and eventually moved into the garage where there was more space to move around.

“With every dance move my health improved and it started being evident to the community at large,” she added.

Before she knew it, Mathebe’s neighbours started flocking to her house to exercise with her. Today she has around 60 women coming to her house from Monday to Thursday between 4pm and 5pm. The group now exercises in the street as they can no longer fit into her garage.

In August 2016 Mathebe officially launched Bophelong (which means place of life) Fitness Club.

“I have found new life through fitness and the people who come to my classes also find new life for free. This is why I chose this name. I am not a professional trainer but I just use a combination of aerobics and Xitsonga dance moves to keep fit and chase sickness away.”

Mathebe pointed out that women of all ages attend her classes. The youngest is seven years old while the eldest is around 80.

“I have had women coming in with different illnesses and who are on different medications. Through attending these classes their health has improved tremendously.”

Eva Mametsa (58) and her granddaughter Rethabile (9) joined Bophelong in August last year.

“Rethabile was diagnosed with diabetes in 2016 and since joining the class her diabetes is under control. I was also diagnosed with high blood pressure at the age of 26 and it is also under control,” said Eva.

Mathebe’s classes are free. “I don’t want people’s money. I just want people to be fit.”

The club operates on donations and has opened a branch in Soshanguve.

“We travel while promoting a message of health and fitness to women. Showing them that through fitness they can eradicate illness.”

Mathebe added that the group would appreciate financial assistance for travelling and spreading the message of fitness.

If you would like to assist Mathebe in any way or enquire about her classes, you may contact her on 082 292 5319 or 073 747 3255.

Classes take place at 575 Luthuli Street, Hospital View.