Over the weekend, a video by The Straits Times featuring elderly parkour aunties made the rounds online. Naturally, it caught the attention of netizens, some of whom praised the retirees for constantly challenging themselves and keeping fit, while others wondered about the dangers of taking up such an extreme exercise so late in life.
But if you had actually watched the video, 58-year-old Kimm Chai and 64-year-old Ann Tham are practicing what appears to be a very, very basic form of parkour, which involves executing balancing drills and other movements at a slow and steady tempo. Heck, it could even be mistaken as fast-paced tai chi for the uninitiated.
But what drew the respect of the viewers was these ladies’ bold determination to get fit by taking up this high-risk sport. Both have been training for two months with Move Academy Singapore, where Tham is the oldest student and Chai is the mother of one of the school’s full-time coaches.
The pair has come quite a ways since they were first featured on the academy’s Facebook page just a couple weeks ago.
Of course, with training the elderly, there are physical limits to be aware of, and even basic moves have to be made simpler. But at the end of the day, for both ladies, it’s about self-improvement.
Tham went from depending on a trolley cart to help keep her balance to walking around unaided, while Chai regained the confidence to do movements like running around and rolling on the ground — things she never dared to try before.
Age is just a number
Also crushing stereotypes, Team Strong Silvers fittingly lives by a motto that declares you’re “never too old”. Made out of men from their 40s to their 70s, the group encourages fellow senior citizens to maintain a healthy lifestyle and provides plenty of #fitspo with videos of them conducting all kinds of exercises that some people half their age may not even be able to do.
The group, which started in 2013, specializes in calisthenics — athletic training that uses one’s own body weight — and can usually be spotted doing burpees, push-ups, and squats at public places like HDB fitness corners.
Just check out 67-year-old group member Ngai Hin Kwok effortlessly working the bars at The Star Vista last year.
Equally as cool is 61-year-old Joyce Leong, the founder behind Joyriders, which is touted as Singapore’s largest recreational cycling community. Formerly a cyclist who repped Malaysia in the SEA Games for cycling, she still keeps up her fitness routine with early morning cycling workouts about six times a week with other cycling enthusiasts.
Impressive stuff.
For more active aging inspiration, check out campaigns like I Feel Young SG and Strong Mind Fit Body.
