Regular exercise classes at the Mercy Health Wellness Centre are helping music lover Christos Fakos stay active to the beat of his favourite tunes.
“I’m a musician. I used to play the guitar and the santoor — which is similar to a xylophone,” Christos says.
“I played for choirs and in community centres and schools. I used to play at the deaf and blind school and for a long time, I played at the old Mercy Hospital for Women in East Melbourne.”
“My instrument always made me good friends. A lot of people had never seen a santoor before but people listen and it reminds them of happiness.”
Client Christos Fakos attending exercise class at the Wellness Centre at Mercy Place Keon Park
Now in retirement, Christos gets his musical fix at his weekly strength and balance class at the Mercy Health Wellness Centre.
“I do an exercise class once a week. I love the music,” Christos says.
“Christos and I often sing songs while we exercise,” Mercy Health Physiotherapy Assistant Janine Miller explains. “He is always laughing and joking. We have lots of fun.”
Janine says that classes at Wellness Centre help clients like Christos stay active, feel stronger and maintain independence as they get older.
“Exercise is very important for healthy ageing. The Wellness Centre is very client-centred and the staff put a lot of care into the exercise programs for our clients,” she says.
“There’s a lot of goal-setting too. Whether it’s being able to do the gardening or walk to the shops — every client has a goal that we try to work toward.
Our aim is the maintenance of muscle strength and balance but if medically able, we do see improvement and clients often leave classes feeling stronger and happier.”
Physiotherapy Assistant Janine Miller in class with Christos
Janine says the classes also provide an opportunity for Christos and other Wellness Centre clients to connect socially, while other clients prefer the flexibility of online classes delivered via Skype.
“Christos prefers to come in when he can. He loves to mix with his friends here and he is very caring about the other clients that come in. He often respectfully encourages others in the class.”
“If I miss a class, it makes me a different person,” Christos says. “I come here feeling sad but after five or 10 minutes at the Centre, I always feel much better.”
Last reviewed October 26, 2022.