Businessmen Keep Fit

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 28008, 30 June 1956, Page 3

Businessmen Keep Fit

In all shapes and sizes they come to the businessmen’s keep fit class at the Y.M.C.A. on Monday and Thursday evenings to wage war on increasing girth, on flabby muscles, or to restore a diminishing physique. The a*es of this bend of enthusiasts is as varied as its physical makeup. They range from the 20’s to the late middle-aged.- and they all revel in the pleasure of up to 75 minutes of activity under the direction of the “Y’s” physical instructor, Ray Thomson. Perhaps at the upper limit of the age group is George Graham. Now in his late fifties. George showed that age is no bar to the enjoyment of physical exercise and fitness. At the end of the class he was frisking about the gymnasium playing indoor basketball with an activity that would have done credit to a Canterbury Rugby forward. Not every businessman has the inclination to play golf or indeed the time to get ample return for his subscription. Others may not have the time for regular organised team sports or the robustness for the hurly-burly of the more vigorous games involving bodily contact. To some the “Y” class is a convenient alternative. The class starts with the first arrivals at 5 p.m., and others join in the activities as they arrive from their work. The cares of the office are soon lost in a variety of activity ranging through padderminton, formal exercises, Swedish form drill, team games and indoor basketball.

Although all this sounds tiring, there is no need to be over-awed by the list, for while everyone is encouraged to take part in and enjoy the wide range of activity, no-one is expected to go beyond his capabilities.