Singapore’s retirees are embracing parkour to boost agility and confidence, challenging stereotypes about ageing and physical activity.
SINGAPORE: In a suburban fitness corner, 69-year-old Betty Boon vaults a guardrail and scales a slope, finishing her course to applause from her coach and classmates. She is part of a growing group of retirees in Singapore practising “geriatric parkour,” a tailored version of the dynamic discipline.
Around 20 seniors meet regularly to tackle a series of exercises designed to build agility, balance and camaraderie. Boon, a grandmother, says learning parkour has boosted her confidence and independence. “When you’re weak, you will be dependent on someone,” she told AFP after a session in Toa Payoh. “I feel more alive, it’s a whole new world.”
The activity has found a devoted following in one of the world’s fastest-ageing nations. Singapore is projected to become a “super-aged” society this year, with over 21% of its population aged 65 and above. By 2030, one in four Singaporeans will be in that age bracket.
Coach Tan Shie Boon, 33, faced initial scepticism when he started offering senior parkour classes in 2017. He tailors all stunts to match his students’ capabilities, with participants aged from their early 50s to 83. “The whole point of parkour is to improve your agility… you’ll be faster in your reaction,” Tan said. He noted that improved coordination can help prevent severe injuries from falls.
Retired banker Irene Chuah, 67, insists the discipline is for every age. “When people hear the word parkour, they think it’s only for youngsters who can jump from rooftops,” she said. “We don’t do that. We jump over benches.” Chuah credits her training with helping her avoid injury during a recent supermarket incident, where she nimbly jumped over an overturned trolley.
The classes focus on practical movements like crawling, rolling, and traversing inclines. Retired kindergarten teacher Ling Ying Ying, 66, said the training helped her mop the floor on her knees “like we used to do when we were young.” For many participants, the activity has revitalised life after retirement.
“After parkour, I can go line dancing, and I can remember the steps,” Chuah said. “You dare to do a lot of things that you think only young people can do.” Boon has even become a playground icon, teaching her grandchildren and their friends how to jump and roll. “Since then, I became like the favourite grandmother,” she said.
