Elderly man writes a letter to the Times revealing the benefits of climbing stairs

As people get older, it becomes more difficult to stay physically active and people tend to become lazy. This can have long-term adverse effects on an individual’s health, drastically affecting life expectancy. The ideal way to maintain health as one ages is to continue engaging in physical activity in any way possible to ensure a certain level of fitness. @TimesONeill shared a post on The post has 77.6K views and 3.4K likes on the social media site.

The man cited an article describing the health benefits of climbing stairs and said he was a “fit 67-year-old” because he always took the stairs. He also told those around him about the many benefits of taking the stairs compared to getting into an elevator. The man wrote: ‘A secret part of me, however, wonders whether careful analysis might reveal that the extra hours of life gained would turn out to have been spent climbing stairs.’

People who saw the post shared their thoughts about it in the comments section. @EdMRound said hilariously, “One of the arguments I often hear is that veganism would help me live longer. I don’t see this as a benefit if I had to spend the extra time on earth eating vegan food.” Another individual, @ElenaAdaal, commented: “I know that’s how it works in long distance running. The extra longevity you gain is spent running.” Although the extra time saved is debatable, there is no denying that taking the stairs is the healthier alternative.

In fact, age should not be a deterrent to staying physically fit. Jean Bailey, a 102-year-old woman, is a role model because she doesn’t let age play a role as she teaches fitness classes four times a week, as reported by The Washington Post. Bailey lives in the independent living space at Elk Ridge Village Senior Living in Omaha. The woman has been a fitness instructor for about three years now. She said most of her clients had arthritis that limited their range of motion to some extent, but they could do stretches and benefit from them.

Despite using a walker herself, Bailey is a very strict coach and is often called “mean” during her lessons. During the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown, 99-year-old Bailey led exercise sessions for Elk Ridge residents. Unfazed by her younger peers, she motivated them to take up exercise in the hallway, emphasizing the importance of staying active. Bailey’s initiative kept everyone engaged and classes continued without interruption. The woman teaches 30-minute exercise classes four days a week, all starting at 9:45 in the morning.

Before each class she starts with a prayer, so that participants have time to get dressed and eat breakfast. She emphasizes full-body movement, noting, “You’re moving absolutely every part of your body, from your hands to your toes.” In addition to helping the women stay fit, the classes have also allowed them to socialize and make meaningful friendships. Bailey reflected on this and said, “We got pretty close to that on our floor. One of us would do something for everyone. We really keep an eye on each other.’ The story has also been covered by WDRB News on YouTube.