My mom watched me lift for a year without saying anything. Then one day she asked, "mujhse hoga kya?"
I signed her up the next day before she could change her mind.
First week was rough. She was scared of every machine. She thought dumbbells were only for men. She wore a salwar kameez to the gym because she didn't own workout clothes. She couldn't do a single bodyweight squat without holding onto something.
Her trainer was a young woman who knew exactly how to work with an Indian aunty who had never exercised formally. No shouting, no intensity - just "aunty, aise try karo" with patience I wouldn't have had.
Now she deadlifts 20 kg. She does 10 bodyweight squats without holding anything. She walks on the treadmill for 30 minutes at an incline. Her knee pain, which she blamed on age, has reduced. Her confidence in her own body is something I've never seen before.
The best moment was when she called her sister and said, "mein gym jaati hu ab." The silence on the other end was priceless. Indian aunties and gym culture may seem a mismatch, but it works.
She still wears the salwar kameez sometimes. The trainer doesn't mind. Nobody at the gym cares. She lifts and puts down weights and she's stronger than she was 6 months ago.
If your parent has ever said "mujhse hoga kya," the answer is yes. Their body is more capable than they've been told. They just need someone patient enough to show them.
And another one of my moms.
Did your mom also change her diet?
Let's go!
Wish I could convince her too. I've tried many times and failed.
I'm so happy for you. I really want my mother to join the gym and focus on fitness, but I live abroad and can't oversee her daily.
Make sure your mom gets enough protein in her diet, otherwise she could lose muscle.
Kudos to you for introducing her to working out and not feeling embarrassed about her gym wear or her ability to lift. You're a great child.
My mom is 60 and started going to the gym after she retired. She's so strong now, thank God. She works out consistently for 2 hrs every day, lifts heavy and holds a plank for 4 full minutes. After years of feeling tired as a primary school teacher, she now has much better stamina and rock-hard abs. I'm so proud of her for simply trying something new and daunting. She's an inspiration to every young person in her gym and they keep telling her that, which makes her feel part of a community.
Your mom is awesome and you're awesome for getting her to the gym. In some European countries, the government recommends resistance training for older adults. It's especially important for them.
Love it. My mother, 65, has rejoined the gym for the first time since Covid because she wants to prepare for her Vaishno Devi and Kedarnath yatra later this year with her Gita study group.