Movement · October 22, 2026 · 1:26
Strength and Balance Keep You Independent
Dr. Anna Schwartz explains why resistance exercise and balance work protect your mobility, and why people who have been inactive gain the most.
resistance exercisebalancemobilityindependence
TLDR
- Losing mobility can put you on a quick deadline.
- Dr. Schwartz says resistance exercise is incredibly important. Body weight, bands, dumbbells and machines all count.
- Muscle strength and muscle mass decline rapidly as we get older.
- People who have not been active gain the most when they start, even at age 80.
- Pair resistance exercise with balance work, because losing strength means losing balance.
I read a book called Being Mortal. It says that as you lose your mobility, you are on a quick deadline. So I asked Dr. Anna Schwartz, our Chief Longevity Officer, what we should do besides cardio.
In this short talk you will hear:
- Why resistance exercise is so important
- Ways to do it with body weight, bands, dumbbells or machines
- Why muscle strength and muscle mass fall fast as we age
- Why people who have been inactive get the biggest gains
- Why balance work belongs with strength work