BLAINVILLE — A Zumba instructor who goes by the name Hélène Antidote provided some joy for a group of seniors at the Résidence Le Nobilis on Friday.
The residents, who have been isolated in their apartments because of the coronavirus, flocked to their balconies to be led through a series of exercises led by Antidote, whose brightly coloured outfit wouldn’t have been out of place at a Cirque du Soleil show.
“It wax really great,” said Ophelia Roy. “When they gave us our rainbows (signs with a rainbow motif and the word “ça va bien aller”), it really touched me. It’s very nice.”
Roy said it was good to feel a sense of community with her fellow residents even though it was limited to greetings exchanged at a distance. She noted social distancing is taken very seriously at the independent living complex.
“We don’t see each other,” explained Roy. “We’re not allowed to visit. We mostly go out on our balconies. We can talk to each other, but this is the first time I see people walking around outside.”
Roy and her fellow residents are aware of the importance of exercise and she said she has been heeding her children’s advice and getting outside to walk in addition to doing some exercises in her apartment.
“I try to to keep busy because usually we have a lot of activities here, but they’ve been cancelled,” Roy said. “Zumba, I do every week.” The residence has an indoor swimming pool and an exercise room, but both have been closed by government decree. An onsite café and hair salon are also shuttered and the isolation extends to a ban on visitors.
“It’s scary, but what can we do, nothing,” Roy said when asked about the pandemic. “I’m very disappointed that people are not listening. If everyone had stayed home, we would be okay.”
Armande Beauvais was also among the participants in Friday’s class and, while she enjoyed the lesson, she had one minor complaint.
“It was fun, but it was rather cold on this side of the building because the sun isn’t here yet,” Beauvais said. Her apartment is on the north side of the building and the balconies are in the shade in early afternoon. Roy’s apartment is on the south side and she and neighbours were treated to sunshine for their class.
Beauvais said the order to isolate has forced her to change her exercise routine.
“We can’t exercise as a group, but I try to do some exercises in my apartment, even if it’s not very large, and I try to come and walk outside every day, especially when the weather is good,” Beauvais said. “If not, I walk through the halls.
“This was good and we’re also expecting to go outside on our balconies and sing but, when it’s cold, it’s’ not easy,” Beauvais said.
The important thing, Beauvais said, is she’s healthy and she’s trying to stay healthy.
“I’m 81 and, thank God, it’s not too bad.”
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