'I like to party': 100-year-old Ontario woman's key to a long life
An 100-year-old Ontario woman says dancing is one of the keys to living a long life.
Earlier this week, Jamiran Ali celebrated her milestone birthday and sat down with Global News to share her secrets to staying and feeling young.
Born in Trinidad and Tobago in 1918, Ali came to Canada in 1972 when she was 54. She worked in a Toronto gym as a locker room attendant, and began working out regularly, doing 100 sit ups each morning, for nearly 18 years.
“I would advise anybody to do that,” Ali said. “It keeps you more firm and everything.”
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Ali has 10 children, 30 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren. After losing her husband in 1992, she lived with her son until he passed away years later.
Now, Ali lives in a Mississauga condo, and is still in charge of her own banking, medications and still does most of her own housework and cooking. In the summers she walks across four lanes of traffic to do her shopping, and in the winter when the weather is bad, she does laps in her condo’s hallways to stay active.
Eating vegetables and getting enough sleep are crucial to staying healthy, as well as staying surrounded by loved ones.
Along with her family and friends, Ali’s neighbours and a social worker come to check on her regularly.
“When you are happy, you never feel alone,” Ali said. “I feel young – I don’t feel old at all.”
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This weekend, Ali will celebrate her 100th birthday with a big birthday bash hosted by her family.
“I like to party,” she laughed. “I like to dance. It’s important to keep you active and you get to meet all kinds of friends.”
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