Former South African weightlifter Precious McKenzie fell in love with New Zealand when he was here in 1974 for the Commonwealth Games, representing England.

"I loved it so much I thought about bringing my family here," says Mr McKenzie. "When I got back to England, I said to my wife, we must emigrate to New Zealand, it's a magnificent country. I pestered her around with it, she must have thought this man has a girlfriend there, and that's why he wants to emigrate."

The four time Commonwealth gold medallist is now 77 years old, but he's as energetic as ever.

In November he's competing in the World Bench-Press and Dead Lifting Masters Championship, and is being inducted into the hall of fame.

Born into poverty in South Africa, his undeniable weightlifting prowess proved problematic for the country's apartheid government.

He describes growing up as a minority, with many not wanting him to compete with white South Africans.

"When I came along, I really dug a hole for them."

Mr McKenzie was not allowed to travel with white athletes on the same plane.

"Only when we get to the destination could I mix. Now those conditions I wouldn't accept, I put my principals before fame."

Mr McKenzie was the first man in history to have won four consecutive gold medals.

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Aerobics for 60+ with Precious McKenzie

LOS ANGELES, California Natalie Macam of Tiger Wave Yoga will hold a fundraiser at Mahasukha Center on Sunday, March 2 and 4 at 7 p.m. for children in the Philippines affected by super typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda, the strongest recorded typhoon to make landfall, with over 11 million people affected.

The donations will help support Save the Childrens Typhoon Haiyan Childrens Relief Fund. Save the Children is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit that aims to give children a healthy start, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm.

According to Macam, the organizer, The event will be an introduction to the rich

cultural heritage of the Philippines through yoga, song and dance. It will be an opportunity to share the rich folk traditions of the Philippines with the Eastern spiritual traditions of Yoga. For those who have little or no knowledge of the Philippine culture, it will provide a means to connect and learn about the culture. Ultimately the intention is to help the victims of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines and share the Philippines to the world.

This three-part event will feature yoga with live music. Filipino-American yoga teachers Amy Valdez and Macam will be guiding the yoga class against the backdrop of music from Chant/Mantra vocalist Christine Jugueta and Ron Quesada from Kulintronica who will be playing Kulintang, a Philippine indigenous instrument.

Yoga will be followed by Kapwa Kirtan Jam. Kapwa means togetherness. Kirtan is a vocal expression of devotion and prayer. This jam session will combine fun kapwa drum jam with ancient devotional bhakti yoga practice called Kirtan.

The interactive responsive form of kirtan uses ancient repetitive simple Sanskrit mantras that are sung out by the leader (commonly accompanied by musicians) and then repeated a chant will be a Tagalog-Sanskrit chant Maha Mahal. Maha in Sanskrit means Great.

Mahal, a derivative of Sanskrit, in Tagalog means love and expensive, and together these meanings unite as Great Love.

The last part of the event will feature Philippine folk dance performances by Pamana, the childrens dance troupe from Kayamanan ng Lahi Philippine Folk Arts and Barkada, a cultural dance troupe from Cal Poly Pomona.

Program Times: 4 p.m. Yoga with Live Music; 5:30 p.m.; Kapwa Kirtan Jam 6:15 p.m. Philippine Heritage Showcase; admission is $20 and presale tickets available through Event Brite: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/fundraiser-for-typhoon-haiyans-save-the-children-relief-fundtickets-10588924759

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Yoga fundraiser for Yolanda rebuilding slated in Los Angeles