These 10 Women in Their 60s and 70s Defied Every Aging Stereotype—And Their Secret Weapon Will Shock You!
Smashing Generational Stereotypes
HEATHER JACKSON, 57, remembers the epiphany that strong was the answer. As a former dancer, “every single message I got as a dancer was about being skinnier,” she says. “I was skeletal, and it was never good enough.” Years later, injuries from tae kwon do made it crystal clear to her that she didn’t have the muscle to support herself. She began going to Harlem Kettlebell Club (HKC) in New York, but in her first class, she could barely squat. Now she deadlifts 205 pounds. “Our generation wasn’t taught to go after strength. This feels so much better.”
This is the extent to which old-school messaging around exercise has failed women. “We live in a culture where you’re told that if you get older, there’s no value to you—only frailty ahead,” says Jackson. “We have some seriously badass people at the gym lifting amazing amounts of weight and not fitting into society’s idea of what they ‘should’ look like.”
Jackson emphasizes the need for a mindset shift. “Our bodies are not meant to be pretty little parcels,” she says. “Our bodies are meant to carry us through life and give us energy, vibrancy, and vitality. Heavy lifting gives you that—and gives you permission to live inside your skin differently.” What does she mean? Jackson recalls a close call with a scooter running a red light. “I was able to dive out of the way and catch myself without breaking anything or harming myself.” Then there’s the everyday side: picking up a bag of cat food (25 pounds), opening a tight jar without asking a neighbor for help, and loading a suitcase into the overhead compartment on a plane.
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