My 87-year-old mother has always been active, regularly golfing, cycling, and even rollerblading well into her 70s.
So when I, a 62-year-old trainer, asked her to do some mobility movements with me, I was surprised to see she struggled to get up from the floor.
With patience, I guided her through the steps until she could do it herself. After over 30 years of training together, it was one of the first times I consciously thought about how her movements have changed as she’s aged — along with how I want to age myself.
She’s shown me that she can be disciplined and committed to her health while still enjoying life, reinforcing my belief that mindset shapes how we age just as much as movement does.
Here’s how working out with her has shaped the way I view aging.
She’s taught me that health is a lifelong commitment
Long before I created Janet Osborne Fitness, my online fitness platform for all ages, or included my mom in my Instagram videos, we regularly exercised together.
When I was 34 and working as a personal trainer, she told me she wanted to be strong and independent as she aged, so I made her a 30-minute step-and-strength workout video. She consistently did it five days each week, inspiring me to create new programs for her.
Without either of us realizing it, this routine had become a meaningful part of our relationship. It gave us a reason to talk, check in with each other, and share something uniquely ours.
Now that she’s 87 and focused on longevity, I tailor her plan to prioritize strength, balance, mobility, and stretching so she can complete everyday tasks like getting in and out of a chair, walking up the stairs, opening heavy doors, carrying groceries, and even getting up from the floor.
Our workouts have made me slow down and value modifications
Training an 87-year-old has taught me to meet her right where she is.
I offer modifications, guiding her through slow and small movements. For example, overhead presses aren’t comfortable for her, so she does front raises and lateral lifts instead.
She practices exercises between sessions to improve her form and then shows off her progress the next time I see her. After habitually practicing single-leg stands, she went from needing wall support to balance on one leg for 10 seconds to standing unsupported on one leg for 40 seconds straight.
She doesn’t always stack all of the moves in one long workout. I’ve noticed that she sprinkles movement throughout her day, whether she tests her balance while waiting for the elevator, squeezes in some calf raises in the kitchen, or pauses for a mobility break on her walk.
For years, my classes were very intense and lasted at least one hour, but working out with her has shown me that a shorter spurt of focused movement can also be effective.
It’s inspired me to go from chasing extremes and intensity to focusing on consistency.
She reminds me to find joy in movement
We work hard on our fitness without taking ourselves too seriously.
My mom occasionally mixes up her right and left, and we often freeze mid-movement and burst into giggles. Her sense of humor is one of her greatest strengths, and I think it’s a big part of the reason she’s aging so well.
During our workouts, I’ll sometimes ask, “Are you smiling, Mom?” She’ll reply, “I’m concentrating!” before breaking into a huge grin.
Those moments — the laughing, gentle teasing, and shared pride — make every session feel special.
My mom is consistent in her approach to health outside of the gym
When it comes to diet, my mom prioritizes simplicity, and she’s always been this way.
When she was raising me, she made everything from scratch, from doughnuts to shepherd’s pie. She even grew vegetables in our backyard and built our meals around simple, whole foods.
At 87, she focuses on eating enough protein, getting plenty of fruits and vegetables, and drinking green tea daily. She works to fuel her body in a way that supports her energy and independence.
Looking back, her instinctive approach to food is what sparked my own interest in nutrition years later.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to see food as a powerful tool to embrace rather than something to restrict. She’s proven that it can help keep a person feeling strong, energized, and independent as they age.
Exercising with her has shown me that aging can be active and connected
I’ve always viewed my mother as an inspiration. Even so, I was surprised by how deeply she inspired everyone else watching our workouts online.
When our first video gained traction, people left comments saying they saw their own parents, grandparents, or older selves in her.
Some said she gave them hope; others said she made them cry. Many told me they hadn’t exercised in years but were going to try again because of her.
I didn’t expect so many people to need to see someone in their 80s moving, laughing, modifying, and doing their best. She makes exercise feel possible again.
Working out with my mom has become one of the greatest joys of my life. It brings us closer, keeps her moving, and reminds both of us that it’s never too late to take care of our bodies.
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