Moving for Life – The Way I Like It

AMCS provided us with a trained gentle exercise instructor who initially worked at our premises on Monday mornings and a yoga instructor every Thursday. From 2020 until now, they’ve taught us on Zoom.
AMCS provided these free programs, which has benefitted our members mentally, physically and socially. They still cheerfully look forward to the classes every week. Many of them could not go out or meet their friends in person but could do so online via ZOOM. They usually have a quick chat before and after each session, in the comfort of their home. What a bonus these programs have been for the seniors of our community! They otherwise would have been isolated, lonely and perhaps depressed during lockdown.

Over the last 18 months, our members engaged in the activities of Moving for Life – The Way I Like it, supported by AMCS. During the entire lockdown period, our members took part in the weekly exercise classes. Our members very much enjoy these sessions, and the instructors are interactive and targeted for our members’ needs. Several called me to express their personal satisfaction and the benefits of this activity. Moving for Life is important for positive ageing to keep our members active and healthy.

For the last two years, AMCS was amazing with the exercise programs, hydrotherapy classes, yoga, Zumba, dancing, community outings, gardening, meetings and cultural festivals. Even during the pandemic, our members were engaged in physical activities, and AMCS supported us to keep active, healthy and stay connected without isolating. Moving for life changed the lives of our members’ physical and mental health.

Moving for life brings up to 20 seniors together every Monday to enjoy health and wellbeing sessions, which include light exercise and meditation, information sessions, crafts and activities. It improves the health and fitness of our members. Your ongoing help is greatly respected and will enable the service even during COVID-19 lockdown. Our members enjoy and always look forward to the exercise sessions.
We genuinely value your support for Samoan seniors to access these services and reduce the risk of exclusion.

Moving for Life – The Way I Like it had tremendous benefits for our 60 members. On behalf of our association, thank you.
Lockdown confined our members to their homes the majority of last year with no face-to-face meetings since March 2020. The weekly exercises were extremely useful for them to keep fit, active and energetic. The exercise instructors’ guidance was helpful and easy to understand with positive feedback from members. They have benefitted immensely with their physical health and endurance.

Moving for Life – The Way I Like it is very fruitful and it was our privilege to be part of it. We have 15–30 members from Glenroy and 20 members from Lalor, Thomastown and Epping.
The project helped build up good relationships, socialising skills, physical fitness, mental health and wellbeing, and emotional support for seniors. English is their second language. We’ve seen the communication skills for seniors’ improve. Their confidence developed throughout the course of the project. The seniors were entertained, made new friends and enjoyed themselves. They became fitter with more confidence to move around. In future, our seniors would love to join a variety of activities including Zumba and yoga, and quarterly excursions.