Ageing well: why staying active is the key to longer life – you’re never too old to start exercising
- Dave Lau is 75 years old but has the spirit and vitality of people half his age – and is an example of how staying active can give you a longer, healthier life
- Active ageing is a global trend, propelled by action film stars Dolph Lundgren and Donnie Yen’s popular workout videos on social media
On a recent afternoon at a yoga studio in Hong Kong’s Jordan neighbourhood, Dave Lau Wing-ming is about to attempt to fly – performing gravity-defying acrobatic arts moves suspended from a silk hammock with the guidance of an instructor half his age.
Lau is proof it is never too late to get in shape, nor to let age, or other people’s ideas of ageing, be an excuse to not try something new and challenging.
“If I can handle physical fitness activities usually for young people, then we are not that different,” says Lau, who has been married for 50 years to his 71-year-old wife, and is a role model for his three grown children and teenaged grandson. He exercises for four hours daily, starting with morning tai chi and stretches followed by jogging and gym workouts.
Lau is part of the healthy ageing revolution that is gaining popularity globally. The coronavirus pandemic threw the spotlight on the trend, reflected in the popularity of senior celebrities’ workout videos on social media that aimed to raise spirits of those in lockdown without access to gyms.
