• ALLong brings exercise videos to Facebook to help their members and communities to continue to be active in the confines of their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic
• For now, the participation cost of being part of ALLong has been dropped to encourage as many people as possible to benefit from the program

Exercise scientists from Active Living Longer Incorporated (ALLong) based at Charles Sturt University in Bathurst are continuing to support their members by allowing access for the broader community through training videos on Facebook.

A not-for-profit organisation, ALLong’s objective is to support older adults to maintain active lifestyles and retain functional independence through strength and balance training.

CEO of Active Living Longer Dr Eevon Stott said she made the difficult decision to postpone face-to-face sessions in Bathurst and Orange on Monday 16 March ahead of distancing measures announced to curb the spread of COVID-19.

“Upwards of 30 members have been attending the twice weekly ALLong sessions at Bathurst, and the age range of our members place them at a greater risk,” Dr Stott said.

“Even if just one person was to be infected with COVID-19 on account of our group, that was going to be one too many.”

Dr Stott, an adjunct research fellow at the Charles Sturt School of Exercise Science, Sport and Health, said her tech-savvy workplace learning students came up with the idea of uploading custom exercise videos.

As Dr Stott explained, “While our normal program involves 40 minutes of gym work, we also get everyone together for a group body weight and balance and flexibility segment, which is the component that we are able to continue to deliver online.

“When people are couped up at home, this form or exercise is particularly helpful to keep them mobile and feeling positive, with exercise inducing endorphins assisting mood and the sense of having achieved something.”

Mr Poppo Boer, who has been attending ALLong since for more than 12 months, reports, “My fitness and overall wellbeing has improved since joining Eevon and Team ALLong, because they have the knowledge and provide the necessary guidance with patience and lots of smiles.”

Dr Stott said the video sessions have elements of Tai Chi and body weight exercises.

“Our members are aged between 50 to 75 years, and they know how to work within the limits of their own abilities, while younger people are able to follow along with these videos, although the fitter ones may find that they are not being challenged physically,” she said.

“When the COVID-19 protection measures are lifted, we look forward to resuming our group ALLong sessions.”

More information about ALLong can be found on Facebook at

https://www.facebook.com/activelivinglonger.