Winters in the UK are hard for me, when it’s raining all the time and the days are darker.
But I make sure I move every day and get outside when I can.
Activity for me is life, something that’s important for my body but also my brain. It doesn’t have to be running or doing sports. Cleaning the house, watering the garden, playing with the grandkids, doing the shopping, walking to the mosque – it all counts.
As a Muslim, I pray five times a day and that too is a way of moving, helping me with flexibility and circulation.
I’m fortunate to live in a peaceful community in Wolverhampton with my daughter, her husband and their three lovely kids. My family are extremely important to me.
I often do the school run and I love to play football in the garden with the grandkids and take them for long walks in the park.
It's wonderful to have the park on our doorstep where you can get out into nature, go for a walk or a run. Just seeing the water and flowers makes me happy.
But there’s also an outdoor gym and I use the equipment every day in the warmer months. It keeps me strong so that I can do things like carry my granddaughter around, and it’s a sociable thing to do with friends.
I’m currently having treatment for knee problems, and using the equipment is a gentle way to keep my joints moving and build my strength up.
Playing and doing sports such as handball was central to my life growing up, and I think you can play at any age. I’ll go down the slide just like my grandkids and I like skipping with a rope.
It’s not just about connecting with my grandchildren and friends. It’s about living my life to the full.
When I have fun through movement, I feel more energised during the day and sleep better at night.
I also feel more at peace, which complements my life of faith.
That’s the message I’d like to pass on to other women out there.
When you make an effort to move, it makes it easier to live, to sleep and to pray.
