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Age is Not a Barrier for This 100-Year-Old Great-Grandma Who Still Goes to the Gym Three Times a Week
Superheroes don’t always wear capes. These days, you can even expect to find them at your local gym!
Meet Edna Sheppard, a 100-year-old super grandma who ticks all the boxes of your average superhero. She has regularly attended Broadmeadows Aquatic and Leisure Centre in Melbourne for over 40 years.
Edna Sheppard has been a loyal member of her local leisure centre for 40 years now. Source: Hume City Council Youtube Channel
Despite her age, Edna is still capable of doing full push-ups, sit-ups, planks, and squats all while holding 5kg weights in both hands. Well, that certainly puts us to shame!
'I do enjoy exercising, it makes me feel good and it's important to keep the body moving’ she says in an interview with the Daily Mail.
Rather than having her late husband Max sit at home doing nothing when he retired at age 60 back in the 1980s, she signed them both up for classes at the leisure centre. Ever since that fateful day, Edna has been regularly attending gym classes and doing floor exercises with the other members.
She goes to the leisure centre every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday - participating in tai chi, aerobics, and weight classes. She goes for regular walks with other members and has even attended swimming and Zumba classes.
‘I do what I can - you need to know what you can and can't do as you age,’ she says to the Daily Mail. ‘Try hard’, ‘keep moving’, and ‘understand your body’: these were her main pieces of advice for anyone looking to maintain their fitness as they age.
Even when the gyms closed down during the Covid lockdowns in early 2020, she still managed to exercise regularly at home using her own dumbbells.
‘Take care of your body and be kind’ is Edna's secret to living a long and healthy life.
‘I have never smoked or drank alcohol and I've always exercised as much as I could’.
‘Make sure to look after your body, because no one else will do it for you,’ she said.
Recently, Edna celebrated her 100th birthday at the Broadmeadows Aquatic and Leisure Centre together with her family, friends, and other members of the club.
Edna celebrated her 100th birthday at the Broadmeadows Aquatic and Leisure Centre along with friends, families, and other members of the club. Source: Hume City Council Youtube Channel
She was awarded lifetime membership status by the Hume Leisure Centre and the Hume City Council on the joyous occasion.
Finally, Edna mentioned that exercising has always been a part of her life and that she would be ‘unhappy if she couldn’t do it.’ Well Edna, we’re going to stop making excuses and do some sit-ups right now!
