Its a sight to behold more than 250 seniors exercising in the food court at Richmond Centre. The News watched as 63-year-old fitness instructor Lisa Yeung encouraged the crowd to keep moving.
Many of these active participants have been coming Monday to Friday for two decades. At 8 a.m., fitness buffs come out to take part in a combination of Tai Chi, Lunk Tung (a more vigorous form of Tai Chi), dance moves, stretches and other forms of low impact exercise.
The founder of the nonprofit Richmond Wellness Club (RWC) is 93-year-old Wei Foung Yuan. When I retired in my 70s, I was bored and wanted to make new friends. I learned different forms of exercise in Hong Kong so I thought, why not do it here?
In the summer of 1989, he, along with his longtime friend Sek Kwong Hui, decided to begin an exercise class as a way to help others stay healthy. It began with about 50 participants in a park. In the winter, the group moved into the Thompson Community Centre.
In 1992, the popularity of the club outgrew its space. (Today, the group still hosts one class at the community centre.) Thats when Ping Chu, who at the time worked for the Heart and Stroke Foundation, saw the group at a festival and asked if they could team up.
I then asked Richmond Centre if we could hold the classes there and they agreed, said Chu.
Its membership has grown over the last two decades from 50 to more than 460 registered members. Every day, between 250 and 300 enthusiasts participate in the daily exercise. Although many are in their twilight years, there is a spattering of 30- to 60-somethings from all walks of life who join in.
There are even some seniors who bring their grandchildren, said Kitty Tang, secretary of the RWC.
During intermission, attendees can take part in a line dance. There are six volunteer instructors and classes are different every day.
Richmond Centres administrative body provides free T-shirts to members who have attended 200 sessions, prints membership and attendance cards and donates part of the yearly $12 fee to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.
But the club is about more than fitness. Many friendships have been formed.
After the class, many of the people love to have coffee or breakfast together, said Tang.
Vivacious 70-something Susan Eng teaches three times a week and loves everything about the club. It keeps you young, strong and healthy, Eng added.
Lily Chan, 78, joined the first day and then took on the role of president 15 years ago.
I still do the exercises every day, said Chan. I love it its a great social event.
Dominic Ng, 77, has been coming for six years now. He credits the exercise routine for his zest for life. I found out about it through friends of mine and I decided I should come, said the retired RCMP officer. I also play table tennis and work in my garden.
To celebrate the clubs 20th anniversary, it is hosting a sold-out dinner on Aug. 13. For more information, call Tang at 604-808-7736. Everyone is welcome to join free drop-in classes Monday to Friday at 8 a.m. at Richmond Centre.
