'It is my Joie de Vivre!' Group of seniors in Kanata find way to stay fit outside
A group of Kanata seniors have found a way to stay active during the pandemic safely.
Susan Kunstadt has been a fitness instructor for nearly five decades. Her indoor classes were cancelled in March 2020 at the start of the pandemic.
"Two years ago when everything closed, even my community centre, I was thinking. ‘Am I ready to quit?' And I was not ready to quit!" said Kunstadt.
The 73-year-old says once she got the green light to gather outdoors in small groups safely, she started an outdoor, one-hour class at the Eva James Community Centre in Kanata.
"I sent an email and I said, 'Monday morning 9 o’clock at Eva James but outside, that was around March 18 (2020)' and two years later – we are still here!” Kunstadt says.
The class is free and takes place three times a week.
"This is my community service that I do – I have lived in Bridlewood for 43 years."
Kristin Timmins has come to classes since the beginning.
"I feel so much better after the exercise. You have to live in your body so you might as well exercise in it," said Kunstadt.
Lise Lajeunesse joining midway through the pandemic after encouragement from her neighbour.
"I had just retired, I came, and I got hooked immediately! Love the class, love the people it is so much fun. It is my 'Joie de Vivre!'" said Lajeunesse.
The class takes place rain, shine- or even blizzard. Even on Monday during the record-breaking storm, group members showed up.
"In ten minutes, everyone says they are sweating, we are outside – vitamin D!" says Kunstadt.
Kunstadt says the turnout and the seniors’ commitment shows just how important exercise it.
"Not just for our bodies- but for our mental health now. I am working on flexibility, balance, mobility, we have weights," said Kunstadt. "In the summer we used rubber bands-but we can’t use them in the winter, it is too cold for them, they are too stiff.”
Ruth Moreau, a regular to class, says it is a way to beat the pandemic blues.
"Totally! We are just so happy that we have this, I don’t know where we would be mentally if we hadn’t had this outdoor adventure three times a week."
Kunstadt says she has no plans on stopping teaching the class.
"I have taught fitness for 43 years, I feel very satisfied, and very proud of these elderly… nothing will stop me!”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.