I’m Not Training To Look Younger. I’m Training For Life in My 60s and Beyond

Step-Ups with dumbbells strengthen your legs so you can climb stairs with ease.

What Functional Fitness Has Taught Me About Aging Well

I'll admit it.

When I first joined a functional fitness CrossFit class called Thrive, designed specifically for older adults, I wasn't exactly excited about everything on the workout board.

Some exercises made perfect sense.

Others...

Not so much.

And then there were burpees.

If you've ever done one, you probably understand.

Every time they appeared on the board, I'd think, there must be a better way.

Finally, I asked my coach the question that had been nagging at me.

"What does a burpee have to do with my everyday life?"

His answer completely changed the way I think about fitness after 60.

He smiled and said,

"We're not just exercising. We're preparing you for life."

Functional Fitness Is About Living Better

Before joining Thrive, I thought working out meant burning calories or building muscle.

Now I understand it's something much more important.

It's called functional fitness—training your body to do the things you do every day.

Carry groceries.

Lift a suitcase into an overhead bin.

Walk through airports.

Climb stairs.

Reach into the top kitchen cabinet.

Get up off the floor.

Travel confidently.

Play with grandchildren.

Remain independent.

Every exercise we do has a purpose beyond the gym.

Once I understood that, I stopped looking at workouts the same way.

The Exercise I Hated Most

Back to those burpees.

My coach explained that one of the greatest threats to our independence as we age isn't simply getting older.

It's falling.

One fall can change everything.

A broken hip can mean surgery, months of rehabilitation, or losing confidence to travel or even walk around the neighborhood. After surgery, there is no guarantee that you’ll ever be the same as you were before you fell.

The goal isn't to expect a fall. The goal is to build strength, coordination, and confidence so your body is better prepared to react if life throws you off balance. Repetition and muscle memory remind you to use your hands, your core, and your hip strength to break your fall. You learn to fall so that you don’t fall willy nilly.

As my coach reminded me,

"A broken wrist is better than a broken hip."

That perspective hit me hard.

Burpees—and their modified versions—help us become stronger getting down to the floor and, just as importantly, getting back up again.

They're not punishment.

They're preparation.

And Here's the Good News...

If you're thinking,

"There's no way I could ever do a burpee."

Neither could many of us when we started.

One of the best things about functional fitness is that every movement can be modified.

Some people use a bench. Others perform a simplified version.

Many of us do inchworms, walking our hands out into a plank before walking them back and standing again.

Every version builds strength, coordination, and confidence. Progress—not perfection—is the goal.

Every Exercise Has a Purpose

One of the biggest surprises for me has been discovering how each movement translates directly into everyday life.

PVC Shoulder Mobility

We spent time every class using a simple PVC pipe to open our shoulders and stretch our chest.

It doesn't look impressive.

But after years of sitting at a computer, driving, and looking down at my phone, it's helped improve my posture and made reaching overhead feel easier.

Farmer Carries

Every class begins with a farmer carry.

We simply walk while holding weights at our sides.

It turns out we're practicing carrying grocery bags, luggage, laundry baskets, and shopping bags without straining our backs.

Who knew?

Step-Ups

This one may be my favorite because I immediately saw how it connects to travel.

Step-ups strengthen your legs, hips, and balance.

They make climbing stairs easier.

Stepping onto curbs feels more confident.

Boarding buses and trains is less intimidating.

Walking through historic cities with uneven sidewalks and climbing the steps to breathtaking viewpoints suddenly feels a little more manageable.

Every traveler over 60 should appreciate the value of strong legs.

Jump Rope

I'll confess—I hadn't picked up a jump rope in decades.

Even modified jumping drills improve coordination, timing, rhythm, and footwork.

Those are skills that help us react more quickly when we lose our balance or need to navigate uneven ground.

Dumbbells

Strength training isn't about showing off. But toned muscles are a plus.

It's about lifting your suitcase into the overhead compartment, picking up your grandchild, moving a heavy planter, carrying a 40-pound bag of dog food to your car, or carrying boxes into the house without asking for help.

Rowing and the Bike

These build cardiovascular endurance without putting unnecessary stress on our joints.

And endurance matters.

Whether you're spending a day sightseeing, walking through an airport, or exploring a national park, you want enough energy left to enjoy the experience—not just survive it.

Planks, Hip Strength, and Stretching

Strong hips improve balance.

A strong core supports nearly every movement we make.

Stretching keeps us mobile enough to keep saying "yes" to adventures.

Again, it's not about looking younger.

It's about moving better.

See Functional Fitness in Action

Curious what a senior CrossFit class really looks like?

Here's a peek inside one of our Thrive classes. You'll see everyday people, including me —many of us in our 60s and beyond—working on strength, mobility, balance, and confidence. There are no elite athletes here. Just people investing in their future, one workout at a time.

I hope it reminds you that you're never too old to start moving.

▶️ Watch the class by clicking here.

The Biggest Lesson I've Learned

At 62, I'm not training to compete.

I'm training for independence.

I'm training so I can continue exploring the world.

I'm training so I can carry my own luggage.

I'm training so I can climb the stairs to that little café with the amazing view.

I'm training so I can get down on the floor with future grandchildren—and get back up again.

I'm training so my body keeps saying "yes" to the life I want to live.

I’m training to remain The Rebel I want to be.

That's what exercise has given me.

Not just stronger muscles.

A stronger future where a nursing home is not an inevitability.

Find A Functional Fitness Class In Your Area

Here's the best part. Functional Fitness classes are everywhere. CrossFit gyms often have senior focused classes. So does the YMCA and most individual gyms across the country. Find a gym in your area, walk in and introduce yourself and ask if they have Functional Fitness classes available.

If you work out independently at home, work the moves I’ve laid out for you into your training. Maybe you’re not ready yet. That’s ok. But start working up to joining that gym.

Youtube is your friend. Search for the movements I’ve shared and you’ll see exactly how to do them.

Take the stairs.

Carry your own groceries when it's safe to do so.

Practice getting down to the floor and back up.

Work on your balance.

Lift weights that challenge you.

Stretch.

Walk.

Move.

Because every bit of strength you build today is an investment in your independence tomorrow.

And isn't that what aging well is really about?

💙 Rebel Rule

Don't train to look younger. Train to keep saying yes to remaining the Rebel you are and the life you love.

With Rebel Love — Jeannie

Join the Conversation

Have you discovered an exercise that suddenly made sense once you understood how it helped in everyday life? I'd love to hear about it in the comments. I’m always ready to try something new and I bet everyone is this community is too.