A 73-year-old British man has become a hit on social media for his lockdown-friendly workout videos.
Rajinder Sing, otherwise known as the ‘Skipping Sikh’, wants to inspire people, especially older citizens, to keep healthy and fit during the coronavirus pandemic.
"I'm not an expert but if you do five minutes skipping honestly it's like running three kilometres. Just skipping inside your house or in your garden. You don't even need trainers, just a rope," he told CNN.
A keen runner himself, Mr Singh wasn’t sure how he was going to stay active when the strict lockdown was announced in Britain.
But after finding an old skipping rope at home, he began filming daily videos of his workouts and posting them YouTube - hence his nickname ‘Skipping Sikh'.
As his online following continued to grow, he diversified his workouts to include sprints in the garden, weight sessions with watering cans, or simply mowing the lawn.
Mr Singh acknowledges he’s no spring chicken, but wants to show older people age is not a barrier to being active.
“I love to serve others and if I can help elderly people exercise regularly, and it potentially prevents them from falling ill, then I feel my duty as a Sikh to serve is being done,” he said.
Mr Singh said Sikhs in particular are suffering in isolation because they cannot visit their Gurdwara - a Sikh temple- due to the virus outbreak.
Mr Singh said he hopes the videos would also alleviate loneliness and keep the Sikh community connected - for those missing their daily social outings, food and prayer.
In one of his videos the caption read: "Raj Singh the skipping Singh in isolation, aged 73 and wants everyone to get involved as he sets the skipping challenge! Get involved and lets fight Covid-19. God bless you all."
With his daughter helping him manage all of his social media, Mr Singh has also set up a fundraising page for the British National Health Service (NHS). It’s already raised just short of AU$10,000.
He said helping others was in his blood, and a pillar of the Sikh philosophy of sharing and giving.
"As long as I can help this country or other people, I will carry on. That is my principle,” Mr Singh told CNN.
“I love doing this kind of thing, helping and volunteering, this is in my blood.”
The ‘Skipping Sikh’ also took inspiration from viral sensation ‘Captain Tom’, the 99-year-old war veteran who made headlines after raising more than AU$40 million for the NHS by walking 100 laps of his garden.
Captain Tom and the Skipping Sikh have reportedly spoken over the phone, praising each other for their efforts.
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