晴或雨 Morning Laughter; the Best Medicine

晴或雨

文 / 王国福

不管是晴天或雨天，「音乐氧生操」总是吸引了不同年龄、种族或宗教的居民，天天聚集在一起快快乐乐的做晨运。从星期一到星期六，早上9点至10点，居民们随着悦耳的音乐做运动；久而久之，来参加的人数也在不断增加。

听旁人常说，「音乐氧生操」看似一套不起眼的运动，但我敢向您保证其实它一点也不简单。伴随各种音乐，氧生操和缓地带动您的心律起伏，它也透过筋肉运动锻炼手脚灵活度。

我们的居民，尤其是老年人活力四射地拍打、搓揉、摆动着身体，这些动作一点都难不倒他们。更奇妙的是，在短短45分钟的运动中，这些居民看起来心平气和，呼吸起来匀而稳，做起运动毫不吃力。

其中的伸展动作，在配合适当的调息之后能帮助老人舒缓头脑和身体。他们也运用响棒和毛巾来带动各种动作。可别小看这些小工具, 好好使用的话能帮助身体关节转动，更能达到手脑并用的目的。

更令我感到意外的是，不少坐在轮椅上的老年朋友也来凑热闹。他们用心地跟随早操的动作，偶尔我们还能看见一些温馨的画面，那就是健康老人协助坐在轮椅上的朋友做比较难的动作，从而建立友谊。

我们都知道，早睡早起身体好。一起做运动不但能联系大家的友情，而且医学也证明常做运动的人会变得年轻精神。

所以，如果您也想保持健康、年轻的话，就让我们的居民陪着您一起做运动吧！

Morning Laughter; the Best Medicine

Text by: Bryan Ong

Rain or shine, since our Neighbourhood Link in Bukit Batok started operations, elderly folks of all races and religions have been gathering outside the premises, every Monday to Saturday morning, waiting to start their day right with a good workout.

Morning Music Therapy Exercise has never ceased since the day it started in 2003, and the number of participants keeps growing. Everyday, our volunteers take turns to lead the morning workout.

As more and more elderly folks gather together, it is a common sight to see lots of smiles and laughter throughout the outdoor area where the exercise is being held. Furthermore, when someone arrives, everyone will exchange auspicious greetings with the newcomer.

The entire exercise routine seems effortless to many passersby, but I can assure you that it’s no walk in the park for the weak. Music with a variety of rhythms is played throughout the entire workout, bringing one’s heartbeat up and down. A series of movements is taught, where one needs to coordinate both hands and legs movements all at the same time.

You will be surprised how lively our elderly folks can get when the music starts rolling. Punches, kicks, squats, these are some of the common movements repeated in the exercise. And surprisingly, no one seems to be out of breath anytime during the routine.

Accompanying the vigorous exercises, the workout consist of yet another less tedious side. Proper stretches, together with appropriate breathing, calms the mind and body of the elderly folks. Simple items such as wooden sticks and towels are also being used in the exercise routine to help increase blood circulation.

Seeing such captivating exercise, our wheelchair bound elderly friends also join in the fun. They can be seen trying with utmost effort to follow closely the movements of the workout. Occasionally, we can also see some heart warming sights, when other elderly folks assist their wheelchair bound friends with the trickier movements.

It’s a well known fact that those who work together hand-in-hand will bond together. Medical evidence confirms the health benefits of daily morning exercise. Not only does it keep one healthy, it makes one look younger as well.

So, if you want to improve your health, look good and enjoy the company of our friendly elderly folks, do join us!

让艺术治疗您的心理问题 A Lesson of ‘Art Therapy’

文/傅金环

今天这一堂课，老师协助大家重见久违了的童心。

每人一张雪白的画纸，围成一圈轮流传给身边的人在纸上作画。有人画了一轮明月，旁人加了几颗星星，蔚蓝的天空有了个大太阳，又飞来了一群小鸟，你喜欢绿草如茵，我给它加上一些虫虫。接着，画里又添加一所老屋子。他说房子不能没人呀！于是旁人就在屋内画了两个人。所有的图案都可以是天马行空的幻想图。

乐龄同学都成了老顽童。原本自己开始画的那一幅，传回手中已经面目全非、毫无焦点、杂乱无章，但也乱中有序；但可爱的是，不管画得像不像，美不美，就在那个过程中，大家重新享受童年时光，我们都乐在其中！

A Lesson of ‘Art Therapy’
Today’s lessons, the instructor helped us to recall, recover our long-lost image of childhood.

Each was given a sheet of paper, and followed the instruction to draw his own. He passed it on to other partners who sat in a circle to continue to draw on it. Some drew a full moon; next one added a few stars. Some drew a shining hot sun in the blue stars. His partner added a flight of birds, grass field, some insects if you like. Later, you might draw an old house, and your friend helped to add two persons staying in it. All the pictures look nice. It might be imaginative as a heavenly steed soaring across the sky.

Well, most of us were acting like an old fogey. When the original piece that we drew earlier came back to our own hands, wow! It had changed a lot, although, no focus, quite disorderly, but it still presented something. It was fascinating and funny. No matter how it looked like, good or bad, but all of us really enjoyed doing it. We all have enjoyed this drawing lesson vicariously like back to childhood innocence.