For 16 years, these Mitchells Plain oumas have been keeping fit by holding regular exercise sessions.
The group of 50 aunties started the Beacon Fitness Club, and three days a week they get together at the Lentegeur Sports Field.
Chairperson Sherien Allie, 58, says: “The initial plan was to keep ourselves healthy, but we have become more than that. We support soup kitchens and do donations to charity organisations, all from our own pockets.”
The exercise sessions take just over an hour and include aerobics, running, dancing and, of course, stretches.
Their instructor, Elaine Hendricks, sources the exercises.
The club also has tailor-made uniforms.
“We have three different uniforms which I make by myself,” says Sherien.
“The uniform is not only for training, but also when we do outreach programmes. We also have regular outings and we have a uniform for that, too.”
The Daily Voice joined the club on Wednesday morning and watching their vigorous moves from a distance, one would think the oumas are much younger women.
Zuleiga Adams, who is turning 60 in November, says the lockdown made their health deteriorate as they could not meet up.
“I have high blood [pressure] and arthritis. When I could not train with my members, I felt my health getting worse,” she says.
“My high blood levels were going up and now I’m happy that outdoor training is allowed and I am back like a spring chicken.”
Zuleiga explains that most of their members are unemployed: “So if one of us has no electricity, we help.”
The club is open to any and all age groups.
“We are open to everyone who wants to keep healthy,” says Zuleiga.
“Our dream is to have every senior citizen practising a healthy lifestyle here in Mitchells Plain, even if they are not part of us. We want people to live longer.”