The Next Step: Inspiring Others
Given how much fitness transformed his life, Owen now wants to inspire others to get moving, too. In addition to writing his book on fitness for older adults, he regularly gives fireside chats, and he’s produced three documentaries. The latest, Virtuous Circle: A Roadmap for Living Better Longer, is about how adopting one healthy habit, like strength training, can lead to others, like eating more nutritious foods, improving sleep, and managing stress.
As remarkable as Owen’s story might seem, Rogers emphasizes that he’s not an anomaly. “We know that people in their seventies, eighties, and nineties can gain muscle and cardiovascular fitness. Just because you’re starting older doesn’t mean it’s not possible,” she says.
Even if you use a wheelchair or have visual or auditory impairment, there are many accessible ways to improve your fitness, Rogers says.
She advises anyone with cardiovascular, metabolic, or kidney disease; symptoms like chest pain, dizziness, or breathing problems; or concerns about their bones (like severe osteoporosis or past spine fractures) to first get an evaluation from their primary care physician. Then start exercising slowly, as Owen did.
If you can afford it, Rogers recommends working with a personal trainer or physical therapist who can give feedback on your form. Above all, listen to your body. “If you need an extra rest day, that’s okay,” she says.
Many people ask Owen for his secret to fitness. His answer? Having fun. “It doesn’t matter what it is,” he says. “It could be hiking with friends; it could be doing tai chi or yoga or Pilates; it could be pickleball. Just find what works for you.”
He’s convinced that anyone who embraces an active lifestyle won’t regret it. “Once you see how good it makes you feel, I promise you’ll never go back to your old self,” he says.
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