Getting Fit Gardening Back to the garden as restrictions bring the weightlifting Elders closer as a family
The closure of gyms should not be an excuse for athletes. There are many things that could be done at home, says Weightlifting Fiji coach Henry Elder. Following the announcement of the restrictions on sporting events and tournaments, Elder has resorted to gardening to keep fit at his Salima Street, Suva, home.
This was not new to him, but a daily routine in his childhood days when his parents moved to Suva from Savusavu.
His family had planted varieties of vegetables and root crops back in the 1970s and 80s.
“It’s exciting, home gardening is something that I have not done in a long time,” he said.
“We grew up waking up at 4:30am every day, filing our knives at 5am and started gardening at home. “We used to do that before we go to school and after school as well.
“So we are just starting now, thanks to the Ministry of Agriculture for the seedlings, they have just started to sprout now.”
Besides home gardening, Elder is grateful that this time has brought his family closer.
“We have a lot of family time, time to re-evaluate ourselves.
“We are spending a lot quality time with our family. We talk about how we can better ourselves when things open up.
“It is not the end of the world yet, so we have to work with whatever is given,” Elder added.
Elder and his wife Della are regularly in touch online with several clients regarding bodybuilding tips and training techniques during this time of sports restriction.
He is available online if people need fitness and training advice.
“We still have clients who contact us through Facetime,” he said.
“There are a lot of things that people can do during this time when we are restricted, basically training in the confined area of your home.
“There are lots of exercises they can do and government has given us freedom to do some training outdoors like running.
“It depends on what sports they participate in but there are lot of body weight exercises that people can do to maintain their strength level and flexibility.
“I’m also online, so if people need some advice, then send me messages on Facebook or email me, or can contact me through my fitness page.”
Elder has a gym in his garage where his children trained with Weightlifting Fiji rep Merewalesi Vusonitokalau.
He was training the Fiji weighlfting team in Samoa earlier this year. They returned in March as national borders were starting to close due to the coronavirus pandemic. The weighlifters were preparing for the Oceania Championship to be held in Nauru.
It has been postponed, to either September or October depending on the improvement of the coronavirus pandemic.
The date of this Olympic qualifying event is yet to be confirmed.
The three elite lifters who are part of the team are Merewalesi Vusonitokalau, Patrick Tawake and Helen Sepus.