When the COVID-19 pandemic forced 90-year-old Tessa Sollom Williams inside her eighth-floor apartment in Washington, D.C., the former ballerina began taking notice of outdoor workout classes happening on the rooftop of nearby Balance Gym. Each day, she settles in next to her window, observing gym-goers in their socially distanced workouts from around 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., sometimes with a cup of tea in hand.
"These are very challenging times, and I was so inspired to keep teaching my socially distanced, rooftop yoga classes and maybe even wave to Tessa if we see her in her window," adds Singh.
Once the mural is finished, Maier tells Shape that Sollom Williams and her daughter will join one of Balance Gym's rooftop dance aerobic classes "to celebrate the completion and get to know each other."
"We feel like she's a friend and member at this point," he says.
