We're loading the full news article for you. This includes the article content, images, author information, and related articles.
When organisers posted a TikTok promoting 45-minute pilates sessions, the video amassed 2m views. Now plans are afoot for female classes and youth clubs It’s early afternoon on a gloomy day at the Jamia Usmania mosque in Bradford and a group of mostly elderly men have finished their midday prayers.

In a revolutionary blend of faith and fitness, elderly worshippers are tackling loneliness and lumbago one squat at a time.
It starts with a prayer and ends with a plank. In the hushed, carpeted halls of the Jamia Usmania mosque in Bradford, a quiet revolution is taking place that challenges every stereotype about elderly men, religion, and physical fitness.
Instead of dispersing after the Zuhr (midday) prayers, a cohort of retirees—some with pacemakers, others with double-knee replacements—are rolling up their thobes to engage in 45 minutes of grueling core work. Led by 69-year-old instructor Zafar Kayani, this "Pilates after Prayers" initiative has exploded from a local curiosity to a viral sensation, amassing over 2 million views on TikTok and sparking inquiries from as far away as Malaysia and Canada.
The scene in Bradford resonates deeply with the reality in our own communities, from Eastleigh to Mombasa. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like hypertension and diabetes are ravaging the elderly population, exacerbated by a sedentary lifestyle. The mosque has always been a center for spiritual health; Kayani proves it can be a center for physical survival too.
"They are coming here for their spiritual health," Kayani explains, his voice echoing in the prayer hall. "Then getting that physical exercise and mental wellbeing, and they are connecting with each other."
The program is deceptively simple but profoundly effective. It tackles the "silent killer" of old age: isolation.
The genius of the Bradford model is its accessibility. There are no expensive gym memberships, no judgement, and no special gear required. "They can just join in the class in whatever they are wearing," Ilyas notes.
As Kenya grapples with its own healthcare crisis, perhaps the solution isn't just in building more hospitals, but in unlocking the doors of our community centers. Zafar Kayani calls his students "men of steel," and as they hold their butterfly poses on the mosque carpet, it is hard to argue. They are rebuilding their bodies, one prayer and one pilates stretch at a time.
Keep the conversation in one place—threads here stay linked to the story and in the forums.
Sign in to start a discussion
Start a conversation about this story and keep it linked here.
Other hot threads
E-sports and Gaming Community in Kenya
Active 9 months ago
The Role of Technology in Modern Agriculture (AgriTech)
Active 9 months ago
Popular Recreational Activities Across Counties
Active 9 months ago
Investing in Youth Sports Development Programs
Active 9 months ago