Who is Edna Sheppard? 100-year-old fitness enthusiast still does up to five gym classes a week
Edna Sheppard, a 100-year-old fitness fanatic who goes to the gym three times a week, demonstrates that age is truly just a number. For the past 40 years, the great-grandmother has been a regular at the Broadmeadows Aquatic and Leisure Centre in Melbourne's north.
Edna can do full push-ups, sit-ups, planks, barbell squats, and workouts while holding 5 kg weights in each hand, despite her age. "I do enjoy exercising, it makes me feel good and it's important to keep the body moving," Edna told FEMAIL.
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When her late husband Max retired at the age of 60 in the 1980s, she "didn't want him sitting at home doing nothing," so she enrolled them both in classes at the leisure center.
She now goes to the gym every Monday and Friday, where she participates in tai chi, aerobics, and weights classes, and she walks with the club on Wednesdays. She attends up to five classes per week at times.
"We do weights and all sorts of floor exercises, which I like," she said.
Edna enjoyed dancing and doing calisthenics from the age of three until she was in her twenties. She was also into ballroom dancing when she was younger. "At the age of 11, I won the prize for Victoria's best physical culture child," she recalled.
Edna used to attend eight classes per week, including swimming lessons and Zumba. Even on days when she doesn't feel like working out, she puts on her sneakers and goes to the gym for a training session. "I do what I can—as you get older, you need to know what you can and can't do," she explained.
During COVID lockdowns, when the gyms were closed, Edna worked out at home with dumbbells. Her main piece of advice to others is to "try hard" and "keep moving," but also to "understand your body."
"Make sure you know what you can and cannot do; it's not good to push yourself or hurt yourself," she advised.
Edna said that taking care of your body and being kind are the keys to living a long and happy life. "I've never smoked or drank alcohol, and I've always worked out as much as I could, I've always tried to get along with people and help others," she explained.
Edna's diet consists of "plain, old-fashioned good cooking," and she never eats spicy foods because she dislikes them. She prepares all of her meals herself and eats plenty of fruits and vegetables.
"Make sure to take care of your body because no one else will," she advised.
Edna and Max married in 1942, but Max died 15 years ago, and Edna believes that communication is the key to a long relationship. "You need to listen to one another, and if you disagree, talk it out, and things will be fine, I had a wonderful marriage with Max because we were always able to work it out," she said.
Edna celebrated her 100th birthday earlier this year on January 29 at the Broadmeadows Aquatic and Leisure Centre, surrounded by family, friends, and club members. "We had family from all over Australia visit, it was really nice," she said.
"Exercising has always been an important part of my life, and I'd be miserable if I couldn't do it," she concluded.