At the Tamil Nadu Government Music College, below the shade of blooming mango bushes, a gaggle of senior citizens are gathered to practise the age-old Tamil martial artwork kind, Silambam. They cautiously be taught footwork and mix it with the round motion of the bamboo employees whereas the teacher, additionally a senior citizen, walks across the group usually correcting his college students’ kind. For these few hours, age shouldn’t be some extent of dialogue right here.
Chitra Subramani, a 60-year-old former dance instructor, was among the many senior citizens who signed up for the course. “I have always been interested in learning different kinds of art forms, not just dance. The Tamil Nadu Government Music College opened up the Silambam course while I was still working, and I applied to join just for fun,” she says of this one-year course with certification. The Music College additionally has different people artwork kind programs like Oyilattam and Thappattam in their curriculum which are open for senior citizens now, due to a latest revision of age restriction for college kids.
Whether through structured courses or private exploration, an rising variety of older adults are selecting to remain engaged. While beforehand, elders usually took up hobbies like knitting, weaving and indulging in day by day soaps, the retired technology of the twenty first Century are deciding to spend their time with martial arts, water sports activities, visible artwork or educating themselves about finance.
Some of those hobbies supply bodily advantages, however their emotional and social influence is usually extra vital. According to a 2023 research printed in the scientific journal Nature Medicine, pastime engagement amongst adults aged 65 and older was related to higher psychological wellbeing, together with fewer depressive signs, larger self-reported well being, larger happiness, and elevated life satisfaction.
Senior citizens taking part in a drawing and portray workshop
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
“Older people get lonely unless they do something with their time. Something that is therapeutic for them, and helps them re-discover their talents. We identify and locate such elders, and try to include them in activities such as painting, yoga and more,” says Sabita Radhakrishna, founding father of Udhavi, an NGO and networking platform for senior citizens in the town. “We also conduct a workshop on the nitty gritties of life insurance. Elders are often unaware of these things, so we organise interactive talks,” she says, including that these workshops are performed in collaboration with a senior options start-up referred to as Grey Up.
Another pastime that older adults are flocking to is tech schooling. Dexterity with smartphone has turn out to be a necessity to guide an unbiased life. Organisations like HelpAge India, Easy Hai and ElderAid Wellness have specialised assist guides and programs in digital literacy. “When we look at the elder care sector, it is very lopsided towards healthcare. During COVID, people realised the importance of digital literacy. Unfortunately, due to a lot of online scams, elders have been afraid of getting too friendly with technology, but we help them,” says Santosh Abraham, founding father of ElderAid Wellness, including that they’ve guides which are mailed or despatched by way of WhatsApp for subjects starting from ordering groceries to figuring out on-line scams.
Senior citizens taking part in a drawing and portray workshop
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
Fun, casual actions like karaoke nights, movie screenings, and neighborhood singing classes are additionally turning into well-liked methods to bond. “We do quite a lot of musical nights where we get a live band to play songs from old films, and a lot of elders enjoy them and sing along. One time, we had a 90-year-old throw her walking stick and stand up to dance,” says Sabita, laughing. All actions carried out by Udhavi are broadcast on their WhatsApp teams, and seniors can register to affix these teams, through the NGO’s web site.
Sound physique, sound thoughts
Movement can be a key factor in lots of the hobbies taken up by senior citizens. At the Academy of Modern Danse (@academy_of_modern_danse on Instagram), Kokila Hariram conducts a weekly class on the Russian Cultural Centre tailor-made to senior citizens. “We have a Bollywood dance class for ladies in the morning and a lot of mothers and grandmothers join this class. Most of my adult classes are for salsa, ballroom, or jive, and I have elders over 60 joining those,” she says. “Everything they’re doing uses muscle power, and that stimulates the brain.”
For 71-year-old former English instructor Meena Thomas, learning salsa helped thrust back oneliness whereas additionally protecting match. “I am not disciplined enough to go to the gym or workout, but I feel like this kind of exercise make me happy. I always thought I had two left feet, but Koki told me anyone can dance. She can make a door dance,” she says including that she picked salsa as a result of she discovered some mates who had joined the category. Meena began dancing when she was 63.
These dance courses are populated by each ladies and males. P Mahalingam, 71, chairman of Door Sabha Nigam Limited, has at all times been a person of rhythm. “I used to learn Kathak, but had to stop because of some health reasons. I joined salsa classes when I was in my mid 50s, then learned tabla,” he says.
Senior citizens learning conventional artwork of Silambam courses at Tamil Nadu Government Music College, RA.Puram in Chennai
| Photo Credit:
B. Jothi Ramalingam
As a lot as dance is for the thoughts and physique, water is just too. With the tough summer time settling in, swimming and water-based workout routines are turning into well-liked health choices for older adults. “Many senior citizens who have joint pains are advised to walk in water by their physiotherapist because water is easier on the joints. You weigh less in the water and are able to move more easily,” says Jeffery Vardon, who conducts water aerobics courses tailor-made for senior citizens.
Women doing aqua aerobics with Jeffery Vardon’s directions at Hotel Savera.
| Photo Credit:
RAGU R
While older adults might face hurdles — from digital literacy and mobility points to monetary planning — neighborhood outreach and tailor-made help programs can go a good distance. As the strains between ageing and exercise proceed to blur, hobbies are proving to be instruments for self-discovery, connection, and vitality. In reclaiming their time through curiosity, many older adults as we speak are proving that retirement shouldn’t be an finish, however a return — to self, to neighborhood, and to all of the issues that make life really feel full.
Published – April 30, 2025 03:52 pm IST
