SATURDAY, AUGUST 20, 1977
PHYSICAL FITNESS CLASS FOR THE AGED
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MRS. CHU PUT-CHUN IS 77 YEARS OLD. SHE WALKS WITHOUT THE AID OF A STICK- HER GRIP IS FIRMER AND SHE AVOWS THAT SHE FEELS A LOT HEALTHIER NOW.
ALL THIS, MRS. CHU ATTRIBUTES TO A COMMITMENT TO KEEPING AN APPOINTMENT WITH A MORNING PHYSICAL FITNESS CLASS ORGANISED BY THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.
AT THE CRACK OF DAWN, EVERY MONDAY, WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY, MRS. CHU PREPARES FOR HER 7.15 A.M. RENDEZVOUS WITH 40 OTHER ELDERLY WOMEN AT THE KING GEORGE V MEMORIAL PARK IN EASTERN STREET, WESTERN DISTRICT.
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THE FITNESS EXERCISE COURSE LASTS FOR ONE HOUR AND IS CONDUCTED BY A PART-TIME YOUNG INSTRUCTOR OF THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE.
THE FITNESS COURSE FOR THE AGED IS ONE OF THE MANY THAT TAKES PLACE IN VARIOUS PARTS OF HONG KONG AND IS DEVISED TO PROMOTE THE HEALTH OF THE OLD PEOPLE WHO, OTHERWISE, HAVE VIRTUALLY NO ACTIVE EXERCISE, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE POINTED OUT.
+MOREOVER, THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE OR PROPER PROGRAMME OF PHYSICAL FITNESS,+ HE ADDED. THAT IS WHY THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE HAS STEPPED IN TO TEACH THEM.+
THE FITNESS CLASS STARTS OFF WITH A 15-MINUTE WARM-UP EXERCISE, FOLLOWED BY A 10-MINUTE BREAK, MISS LAM STU-CHUI, THE INSTRUCTOR, EXPLAINED.
THEN THE COURSE CONTINUES IN AN EXERCISE-BREAK-EXERCISE ORDER FOR ONE HOUR.
THE EXERCISES ARE NECESSARILY SIMPLE AND NON-VIGOROUS, SUCH AS LEG LIFTING, ARM STRETCHING, MOVING OF SHOULDERS AND NECK AND DEEP BREATHING. THIS IS TO ENSURE THAT THE PARTICIPANTS, WHOSE AGE RANGES FROM 60 TO 78, ARE NOT EXHAUSTED.
SINCE THE COURSE STARTED IN APRIL, THERE HAVE BEEN ABOUT 90 ELDERLY PEOPLE TAKING PART, MR. CHOW STU-LUN, ASSISTANT RECREATION AND SPORT OFFICER IN CHARGE OF CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT SAID.
COMMENTING ON THE COURSE, MR. CHOW SAID IT NOT ONLY ACHIEVED THE PURPOSE OF PROMOTING THE HEALTH OF THE AGED, BUT ALSO IMPROVED THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE OLDER RESIDENTS IN CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT,
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