Women are frequently told that as we get older, we should take it easy.
Women are advised to slow down and do movement practices that are less intense or difficult — things like walking or gardening, yoga or tai chi. things that are not as hard or challenging on our bodies. We’re encouraged to be gentle on our bodies because we are getting older and as a result, we are becoming more fragile and more weak. Some even say there is nothing to be done, really, about age-related decline in muscle mass or bone density. It’s going to happen anyway, why bother?
At the same time, we’re also told that we need to stay healthy as we age, particularly to protect against some of the scary illnesses that can happen as a result of poor health — like cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes.
What’s with the mixed messages?
The fact of the matter is that in order to prevent the frailty and the age-related illnesses, there are some things that can really help and a big one is regular movement. And even more specifically, regular movement that challenges your body.
The goal shouldn’t bet be to lean into the frailty and the narrative that insists weakness is a given as we get older. We should push back against it.
We should aim to get stronger. We should aim to challenge ourselves. We should aim to continue to move and grow as we get age.
My intent in building this app is to create a space where women can move their bodies quickly and efficiently, while still building strength. I want women to feel confident and capable as they age, rather than breakable and weak. I also want women to have access to fitness and movement practices that don’t constantly remind them to restrict calories or workout extra hard (or both) in service of getting smaller or slimmer.
I want women to focus on what a regular movement practice can actually give you:
A healthier body and more active lifestyle
Moving with greater ease as you age
Stronger muscles and bones
Aging in a body that doesn’t feeling diminished but vital
For the past two decades, I’ve dedicated my life to teaching movement, working with women across a broad spectrum of age and experience. I've taught teenagers and older adults and everyone in between.
But lately I especially love working with women around my age (45) and older.
There's nothing quite like seeing a woman surprise herself with how strong she actually is, when she lifts something heavy off of the floor or over her head or simply get into a yoga pose with more ease than ever before.
My hope is that this app will help give women more confidence in themselves as they age, by reconnecting them with their own capacity for strength and power. All women deserve to not only feel strong, but to BE STRONG.
I hope you'll join me here to build a daily movement practice and challenge the narrative that suggests weakness is our destiny as we get older.
Let's reclaim our strength, together.
