Movement · October 22, 2026 · 1:14
How to Start Exercising Safely After 50
Dr. Anna Schwartz explains how to find your starting point with simple tests, so you build a plan that fits you and do not get hurt.
starting exercisesix minute walk testCooper testbalancestrength testing
TLDR
- Start where you are today, not where you were in your 20s.
- Standard tests such as the six minute walk test or the 12 minute Cooper test show your cardio fitness now.
- Strength testing shows where you are strong and where you are not.
- Check your balance, including how you move from foot to foot.
- Build your plan from your strengths and weaknesses.
I am 59. In my 20s I felt invincible and I just started running. Now I do not want to get hurt and then quit. So I asked Dr. Anna Schwartz, our Chief Longevity Officer, how to begin.
In this short talk you will hear:
- Why you should start where you are today
- Two standard cardio tests: the six minute walk test and the 12 minute Cooper test
- Why strength testing matters
- Why balance belongs in your plan