At a time of year when many of us are grudgingly thinking of embarking on a new health and fitness regime, a south London great-grandmother shows everyone ‘how it’s done’ with her drive and enthusiasm for keeping active.
Mary Marson, aged 94, from Surrey Quays takes part in Zumba exercise classes three times a week at Wavelengths Leisure Centre in Deptford and has done so for several years. “I have no problem joining in and I can do everything in the routine,” she chuckles. “I can even bend down and touch the floor! I love the music – it really gets me motivated.”
Mary grew up in Jamaica and came to the UK aged twenty-seven, spending nearly three decades living in the borough of Lewisham. Although she worked as a tailor at Simpsons in the West End of London for a while, she gave up work when she became a mum. She attributes her excellent health to a combination of ancestry, a nourishing diet and an upbeat outlook.
“I was very sporty as a child and was always picked for the baseball and rounders teams – whether I liked it or not!” she recalls. “When I came to England, I couldn’t wait to see snow and I was very happy when I did. I’ve always been a very positive person, which also helps keep me healthy – I just cannot feel ‘old’! I also grew up eating mostly organic food and have good genes – my parents also lived to be old.”
Getting to know people at the centre and feeling part of the community is an important aspect of keeping fit, Mary adds, and points out that sitting at home would not be as beneficial to her health and wellbeing.
As a result of her lifestyle, she lives completely independently and says she doesn’t suffer from any health complaints apart from the occasional cold. Her four children, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren are very proud of her and also make an effort to keep fit themselves.
Wavelengths is run by charitable social enterprise GLL under the ‘Better’ brand. Staff view Mary as part of the family and every year, make a big fuss of her on her birthday with balloons and a cake.
Fitness instructor Topaz White who leads the Zumba classes comments, “Mary – our ‘She-ro’ – has always been our inspiration! Her continuing participation in our classes shows us all that exercise is the key to longevity of life! #BeMoreMary”
Mary advises other senior citizens to be brave and try out sports and activities. “A lot of them may be motivated by fear,” she notes. “They might think, ‘I can’t mix with younger people’. People can make themselves ill by sitting in a chair all day, thinking they can’t do things.
“I would tell them to join in – they will probably become an inspiration to those younger people. They won’t regret it!”
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