SINGAPORE, March 30 — In a corner of suburban Singapore, Betty Boon vaults a guardrail, crawls underneath a slide, executes forward shoulder rolls and scales a steep slope, finishing the course to applause.
“Good job!” the 69-year-old’s coach cheers.
This is “geriatric parkour”, where around 20 retirees learned to tackle a series of relatively demanding exercises, building their agility and enjoying a sense of camaraderie.
Boon, an upbeat grandmother, said learning parkour has aided her confidence and independence as she ages.
“When you’re weak, you will be dependent on someone,” she told AFP after sweating it out with her parkour classmates in suburban Toa Payoh, under the shadow of government-built apartment blocks.
“I feel more alive, it’s a whole new world.”
This photograph taken on March 17, 2026 shows Singaporean elders warming up before a parkour training session in Singapore. — AFP pic
The discipline has gained a devoted following of senior citizens in the city-state, which is among the world’s fastest-ageing countries.
Singapore is projected to become a “super-aged” nation this year, meaning the proportion of residents aged 65 and above exceeds 21 per cent.
By 2030, one in four Singaporeans will be aged 65 and above, according to the health ministry.
As the society greys, various activities and industries have mushroomed up to cater to seniors’ needs, including social activities and group exercise classes.
Coach Tan Shie Boon, 33, said he was initially met with scepticism when he started offering parkour classes for older students in 2017, especially due to the risk of injury.
But his idea was to share manoeuvres that could help seniors with their balance, stamina and coordination.
