Fitness means freedom for over 50s
Being months away from her 90th birthday hasn’t stopped Maria Lukkassen from keeping fit and well. Lukkassen is one of the oldest participants in The Lido’s fitness programme for over 50s, called Legends. Lukkassen’s daughter encouraged her to start attending the Palmerston North sessions as a way of staying active when her late husband was diagnosed with dementia. ‘‘I’m from an era where we didn’t do things for ourselves.’’ Lukkassen attends three classes a week and although she doesn’t describe herself as a ‘‘natural mover’’, she said she was aiming to keep up her fitness so she could be independent. Attending the classes gave Lukkassen an sense of belonging and she said the programme had affected her quality of life, both physically and mentally. Anthony Dyer has been running Legends at The Lido for more than two years. The programme has eight different classes, including tai chi, strength and balance and a spin session for the 95 members who attend each week. Dyer said the programme was designed to encourage fitness and wellbeing for a group of people who often felt "spooked’’ by the thought of going to a gym. The oldest member of the programme is 94. ‘‘We take on anyone over 50 to as old as they can go." Denise King, 79, goes to all eight classes and has been attending Dyer’s sessions since they started. She has used the classes as rehab following surgeries and to manage the effects of osteoarthritis. The classes had helped her regain mobility after her surgeries and having conversations with likeminded people was one of the most enjoyable parts of the programme, King said. ‘‘It makes you get out of bed in the morning.’’ Having been in some ‘‘very dark places’’ during her life, King said coming to the programme had helped her mental wellbeing. ‘‘Once you finish a class, it puts you on a high.’’ Last weekend, The Lido’s Legends programme was recognised as the best out of all the Community Leisure Management facilities offering them in New Zealand. Dyer said he was buoyed by the success and said it had motivated him and his participants to continue to work harder.