The Unstoppable Mrs J

Fit, active and utterly healthy at 81? You bet! Meet Mrs Jagjeet Singh – the senior go-getter who gives you zero reason to be otherwise.

Mrs J with her husband, children and grandchildren. (Mrs Jagjeet Singh pic)

If there’s a senior who charges full force at everything she takes on in her eventful life, it would be Mrs Jagjeet Singh, aka ‘Mrs J’. And the 81-year-old Mrs J does it with grace and energy, leaving people in awe of her dynamism. In her own words, the sprightly Mrs J stays busy with “101 activities that keep me active, healthy and my mind sharp.” She isn’t exaggerating. The underlying string that laces Mrs J’s achievements and experiences is the unstoppable zeal for whatever she takes on. Her early professional achievements include co-authoring 14 English Language textbooks, bringing international debates to Malaysia, and writing a popular newspaper column for seven years. She wears just as many hats right now: actively advocating a healthy and active lifestyle and conducting regular counselling and public speaking sessions. “I often wonder why people say they’re bored at home,” Mrs J says. “Twenty-four hours isn’t enough for me! I’m quite happy that I do not have to go out in this age of restrictions. I’d continue way after one in the morning if I could.” There’s no holding back with this extraordinary, vibrant and passionate senior. During the lockdown between June and August last year, she penned a how-to titled ‘My 7 Secrets to Staying Young’. “I wrote, edited, proofread and published the book by myself,” she says, describing the book as “pearls of wisdom for youthful longevity and happiness.” Mrs J divulges that she completed most of her tertiary-level education at a later age. “I sat for my A-Level when I was 32, as a mother of two boys aged seven and nine and holding other jobs. The last time I had written an essay was when I was 20 at teachers training college.” Mrs J completed a degree in English and later a master’s in English Linguistics. “I felt very young learning and never wanted to stop. After a few years, I won another scholarship to study in Singapore. It was an ASEAN scholarship for a post-master diploma in Advanced Research and Study in Linguistics.” These days, Mrs J spends much of her day counselling people of all walks of life. “I still get calls from followers of my previous newspaper column. They ask me for advice on work-life balance, relationships and even domestic issues. I have an ear for listening. People want you to listen. They calm down when they know you’re not judgmental.” The free counselling has extended to online talks on improving memory, ageing gracefully and adopting a healthy lifestyle. The motivational coach also hosts a fun weekly online dance session. “I just want to reach out to as many people as possible.”

The author penned ‘My 7 Secrets to Staying Young’ in two months during lockdown last year. (Mrs Jagjeet Singh pic)

Mrs J reveals her secret to longevity includes staying physically active. She developed a love for walking and trekking in her early 60s as her health became a priority. “We initially practised at the Batu Caves steps. Traversing the steps six times in an hour was a breeze for me even then.” She soon took on more challenging rambles with her husband and family, “conquering” Negri Sembilan’s Gunung Angsi, Mount Kinabalu and eventually the lower levels of Mount Everest’s basecamps “seven or eight times.” The skilled walker collapsed one morning after an Everest trek. “Over the years, I had damaged the cartilage in both my knees from descending too fast every time I went walking or trekking. Doctors said I needed knee replacement surgery, but I wasn’t keen on any invasive operation,” she recalls. Mrs J then discovered Nordic Walking, an enhanced walking technique that uses specially-designed poles to work the upper body and legs. Deciding against surgery, she travelled to Melbourne to learn the basics from an Austrian Nordic Walking coach. “My coach found me to be good at it and suggested I train to teach people back home, so I stayed on a little longer.” As Malaysia’s first certified Nordic Walking coach, Mrs J has instructed hundreds of enthusiasts and led numerous excursions locally and abroad in the decade since. She claims that the activity cured her knee problems. “The beautiful thing about Nordic Walking is that it’s a low-impact activity. With the right technique, the poles absorb most of your weight. Twenty minutes of Nordic Walking equals 40 minutes of a brisk walk! It’s great for body alignment and posture.” Mrs J is proud of the spin-off health activities she has organised single-handedly. “I’ve taken groups of up to 150 people to Fraser’s Hill and Janda Baik. And we have other trips waiting – one to Jitra and Gunung Jerai in Kedah for 45 people and another for 150 enthusiasts to Pangkor Laut Resort.”

Malaysia’s first certified Nordic Walking coach has led numerous excursions. (Mrs Jagjeet Singh pic)

Mrs J’s priority is not simply longevity but healthy longevity. “Being inspired isn’t enough. You have to transform. I stress heavily on willpower and discipline. You know you must exercise but doing it every day – that’s willpower. That leads you to be healthy and hopefully have few issues to be worried about as you age.” Nothing fazes this human dynamo who insists on starting her day early with a Nordic Walking routine. “I still cook, and I can’t help but cook for my children and grandchildren too,” says the grandmother of five, who weighs in at a lean 52kg.

At 81, Mrs J is highly active online and often hosts talks on improving memory, ageing gracefully and adopting a healthy lifestyle. (Mrs Jagjeet Singh pic)

Mrs J leaves those half her age envious of her passion for life and willingness to overcome new challenges. In addition, she’s determined to stretch herself in different ways. These qualities attribute to her success and youthful outlook, making her somewhat a poster girl for active ageing. “I hope what I practice as well as preach will inspire others to commit to change no matter what their age. People want to know how I keep active, healthy and youthful. If I can encourage people to be active just a bit, that makes me very happy,” she says.