One needs to understand the pressure put on the heart and lungs by overweight and lack of exercise. Both these are pertinent to people who are over 70 years because many tend to sit back, eat more, and indulge themselves in table games or, like me, on the computer. Hours of sitting is extremely unhealthy and one day a voice inside me told me to join a gym. This was completely unexpected and obeying that voice was the best thing.

That voice inside is well-known to me because of memory of reincarnation and link to the Universal Spirit, the real God. It has given me a job to do which is the reason I spend long hours at the computer. Over the last 30 years or so exercise involved only garden maintenance and walks, aside from house work.

Now the command was received and a local gym for women only received me with open arms. Aside from a fortnightly fee of $38, well affordable on a pension, there are PT classes that include one for healthy heart. It is held twice a week and is basically very enjoyable.

The exercises are simple and over the course of 45 minutes involve little weights, steps, and ball movements, such as throwing and catching. Sometimes there is also some square dancing type movements that help with balance. Stretching and flexing of muscles has become now a daily routine with me.

On the other days the gym provides all forms of equipment for those who want to work-out. For me the bike is my favourite although many use the walking and rowing machines. Other equipment allows stretching of muscles in the neck, back, and legs, which I also find useful.

Building up muscles that have disappeared over the years of inactivity is one of my achievements and being able to get up from the ground when I fall over is another. Since starting at this place my balance has improved to the point where there have been no falls at home whereas before I would trip and fall over anything in my path.

It is something for older people to consider. Don’t sit around and wait for death to catch up with you but enjoy yourself doing physical training and show the world what you are made of. The other benefit for me has been the great friends made while exercising – a real bonus.