PULSE

A retired ballerina is getting older folk to socialise and have fun doing Pilates

Suppleness isn’t a big stretch for the aged

Dancing as the ugly stepsister in Cinderella last year, retired ballerina Janet Lindup got to flaunt the effervescent sense of humour she had to temper in her career as prima ballerina, starring in ballets like Swan Lake and Giselle. Now her talent to make people laugh is a drawcard for her Pilates classes, particularly for the 70-year-old plus and 80-year-old plus students, who come every week to her studio in Tokai in Cape Town.

“I first came to Janet’s studio about 10 years ago,” said retired surgeon Eric Harley, 78. “She has a light touch that makes it fun — despite the Pilates.”

Repeated studies have shown the benefits of exercise and social networks for longevity, and these classes are an example of how the two converge to improve quality of life.

Lindup started the class gently, with routines to stretch out the stiffness that gets increasingly pronounced with age. Lying on the floor lifting and tucking knees, rolling side to side, and toe tapping got people warmed up.

But gradually she extended the movements, encouraging people to push (sometimes) mutinous limbs as far as they could safely go, while engaging the core muscles crucial to posture and preventing back pain.

When she retired from the stage at 35 years old, Lindup trained as a Pilates instructor. Her experience since she began teaching in 2001 has given her insight into people’s range and limits.

She said: “What we do in Pilates looks and sounds like nothing, but it is very difficult to isolate muscles in the correct order.”

Theraband resistance bands and different sizes of balls were whipped out during the evening class I attended, to help people stretch a little further .

Two couples in the class, who have been married for 50 years, were among those joking and motivating each other not to give up when the demands

intensified. Lindup’s focus is improving her students’ flexibility and strength no matter their age. “I try to show the importance of posture and balance,” she said. “Pilates is very close to ballet, and I teach six hours of ballet a week.”

Susan Sulzer said she started

Pilates about 15 years ago when she developed neck and shoulder problems and she has found it eased the pain.

One of Lindup’s students, 79-yearold Rudolph Skibber, is a long-time fan who would never miss a performance of Lindup’s. He had a herniated disc about 20 years ago and the chiropractor suggested Pilates.

He struggled to practise enough on a mat at home said his wife. Skibber said: “I’ve always loved Janet and now I won’t miss a class.”

At only 48, Kathy Sutton is not a regular of this group, nicknamed the “drinking class” for their post-class occasional wine tastings or birthday celebrations.

“They are possibly a bit louder but very supportive,” said Sutton, after attending the 70+ group when she missed her normal one.

The joy of strong social networks with ageing is as important, if not more, than other healthy behaviours, researchers have found. A recent study showed loneliness and social isolation was as bad for health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day or obesity, increasing the risk of death by 30% or more.

This 70+ group are defying the odds, looking at their festive spirit. “Pilates can be boring,” said Lindup. “I want to see people moving correctly and having fun at the same time.”

And that’s her motto. She had no qualms about prancing back onto the stage as the comical ugly stepsister en pointe in Cinderella, exactly 20 years after she had danced the lead role — and “retired”. LS

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