When Jo Richards, 52, son Rowan set her the task to get in shape, he may not have realised just how seriously the yoga instructor would take it.
In the space of three months, the Hindmarsh Valley mum dropped nearly 20kgs and “got seriously strong” as a daily visitor to Anytime Fitness, where Rowan, 21, worked. But along the way, she went a bit further, learning the ropes of bikini and body building modelling with a view to entering a competition.
A couple of weeks ago, Jo put her work, or workouts, to the test and entered the 50+ category of the I Compete Naturally State Competition…. and won! “I didn’t even expect to compete, let alone win,’’ Jo said. “I wasn’t into the gym and I was getting all fat and menopausal and weak.
Rowan said ‘you need to do something’ so I did,’’ the Joyful Path and Happy Cow Yoga instructor said. Rowan also competed in the championships running fourth in the Under 23 and fifth in the first timer body building categories.
He celebrates his recent 21st birthday on Mother’s Day on Sunday with friends, mum Jo and dad Mark.
“They see that I have got strong and I’m loving being strong and doing more around our farm than I could before,’’ Jo said.
