When 60 feels better than 45

Recently, a client of mine, Adam,* told me about a hike he used to do with his kids 15 years ago, when he was 45. The hike was close to their timeshare in the mountains. Though it was short (less than a mile to the top), it was steep—and when he reached the top, he was winded, his legs and lungs burning, the view overshadowed by his difficulty catching his breath.

*Not his real name

He spent the holiday with his son in those same mountains, except this time it was at his mountain home instead of a timeshare. His son wanted to go back and do the same hike he had done as a teenager with his parents.

They hiked to the top quickly, and when they arrived, Adam looked around, his breathing only slightly faster than it had been at the bottom. His lungs and legs felt strong, like he could keep hiking uphill for miles.

The next day, he did a hike that was less steep but included a sandbag crossing over a river. He and his wife (who I also work with) initially balked. After a moment, they decided, “Why not try? What’s the worst that could happen?” He scooped up their French bulldog and she scooped up their pug. They navigated the sandbags with ease.

Once they got to the other side, they noticed several people watching from across the river, debating whether it was safe to cross. Seeing Adam and his wife make it across—dogs in arms—these onlookers decided to give it a go, inspired by two people older than they were who managed it without a problem.

Adam realized on that trip that he was more fit and capable at 60 than he had been at 45.

What’s fascinating about Adam is that when we started working together four years ago, he didn’t have any weights or exercise equipment. We began with a broomstick and a chair.

Things progressed quickly. He now has weights that range from 3 to 40 pounds, as well as some stretchy bands. He still has the broomstick and the chair—and while the broomstick doesn’t get much use these days, the chair continues to find its way into his routines.

He recently added five minutes of morning movement to his day, which helps him feel less achy and more invigorated before he sits down at his desk. He walks, he hikes, and last February—shortly after his 60th birthday—he gave up drinking. He has lost 54 pounds and feels better than he has in years.

I played a very small role in this story. Adam started seeing me begrudgingly, at the request of his business partner, who has worked with me for many years. Adam noticed the benefits quickly and encouraged his wife to begin working with me about a year later. She also began begrudgingly—but now, they regularly look at each other and say, “Thank you, Jenn,” when they find themselves picking something awkward up from the floor or hopping across sandbags carrying their dogs.

I simply hold the space and show them it is possible to lift, bend, balance, and move in a variety of ways.

It’s a small thing to have a one-hour appointment with someone once a week, especially when there are 168 hours in a week. But what’s amazing is that the roughly 49 hours a year Adam spends with me have created a ripple effect.

It’s easy to forget that moving your body is an opportunity—to explore the world more fully, to get out of your head, and to experience something else.

A healthy mind and a healthy body are not separate.
They are a pair—each allowing connection to the world, and to each other.

What might be possible for you this year?

Your next decade can feel stronger than the last.
What tiny step could you take today to start that journey?