Fitness After 60: Expert Advice and Inspiring Routines for Aging Well

Several notable Canadians shared their fitness advice and routines for aging well.

According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, falls represent the leading cause of hospitalization and death for adults aged 65 and older. Data from Osteoporosis Canada shows that muscle mass decreases by approximately 3 to 8 per cent after age 30, with steeper declines occurring past age 60.

Health Canada advises that individuals aged 65 and older accumulate 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous aerobic activity each week.

Jane Barratt, a 70-year-old physician and aging expert based in Toronto, spent more than 20 years as the secretary-general for the International Federation on Ageing. Her daily routine at her local YMCA involves resistance training and balance exercises designed to preserve functional independence.

“Mobility and cognitive function are the keys to a longer life. Having an extended lifespan holds minimal benefit if your physical health and capabilities are compromised,” Barratt told The Globe and Mail.

Susur Lee, a 67-year-old celebrity chef and restaurateur, manages the physical demands of high-volume commercial kitchens through a strict daily schedule. Alongside morning dog walks and personal training sessions, Lee practices yoga six days a week for sessions lasting up to 90 minutes.

“The restaurant business can be physically demanding. I want to show my team that it can still be done positively. I believe in schedules and try to keep that mindset when moving forward,” Lee told The Globe and Mail.

Molly Johnson, a 67-year-old jazz singer and former ballet student who is not a gym member, adopted a series of 22-minute online workouts featuring light dumbbells and balance movements. The accessible routine helped her build endurance for performances at venues like Massey Hall while alleviating chronic physical discomfort.

“I don’t have back issues any more. I used to have sciatica, even a bit of arthritis in one of my hands. It flared up when I wasn’t able to do those workouts for a week or so,” Johnson told The Globe and Mail.

Peter Sellers, a 69-year-old author and bookstore owner in Toronto, underwent a hip replacement procedure earlier this year.

“Physicians said that despite my lack of consistent exercise for over twelve months, my physical condition was far superior to that of many other patients arriving for hip operations,” Sellers told The Globe and Mail.

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