COVID no barrier to health aim

The COVID-19 pandemic may have put a halt on some forms of exercise, but it certainly has not affected the Woodstock West Retirement Village residents’ qi gong classes.

Since the start of the pandemic, restrictions on gatherings meant the classes were no longer able to be held in the clubhouse, so amateur qi gong enthusiast and teacher Hilda Daumuller took to the village driveway.

“I had been taking the classes at the clubhouses once a week for the last year before COVID-19,” Ms Daumuller said.

“With restrictions in place I wasn’t willing to cancel the class so we decided to hold it outside on our driveways and we much prefer it.”

Ms Daumuller said the half-hour sessions have great health benefits for the participating residents.

“We are all elderly people and breathing is very important for us girls,” she said.

“One lady could hardly breathe before participating in these classes, she would go for a walk and come back out of breath, now she has no breathing problems at all.

“Qi gong helps fill your lungs with fresh air and empty them completely, it has immense health benefits for our immune systems.

“At the end of every session we tell ourselves we are healthy, beautiful, strong and full of vitality.”