#wellness routine

At 80 years of age, Linda Kelly maintains health through a proactive lifestyle and fitness routine.

(Photo supplied - Linda Kelly)

Linda and her dog enjoy the health benefits of walking.

(Photo supplied - Linda Kelly)

‘At 80, my fitness is rated “excellent” for my age – these 11 exercises keep me strong and mobile’

Linda Kelly has been active her whole life, running half-marathons, scuba diving, skiing and hiking mountain trails

At 80, Linda Kelly maintains the fitness level of someone decades younger, with an activity history that includes 5Ks, cross-country running, and a lifelong commitment to movement.

'My activities shifted with every environment, but somewhere I could always ride a bike, walk a dog, or dance to Jane Fonda tapes while cleaning the house,' says the Alaska resident. 'I never played team sports, yet I learned to ski downhill and cross-country, scuba dive, snorkel, hike mountain trails, and run everything from 5Ks to half-marathons.'

Her son Jacob, a doctor specialising in preventive and performance cardiology and an endurance athlete, measured Linda' fitness level on a treadmill to find out her VO2 max – the maximum amount of oxygen your body can use during intense exercise. Linda’s result of 30.7 ml/kg/min was outstanding for her age group and would still be commendable even for someone in their 50s.

'It's inspiring to know that she's been successfully [active] for 40 years longer me. I'm only just picking up some habits and traits that she's had to teach herself,' says Jacob.

'She's passed along her behaviours and traits to so many people – her family, her sisters, her students [Linda was a former teacher]. These everyday activities and behaviours have added up over life.'

Linda Kelly's 11-move strength and mobility routine

For over 16 years, Linda has started every day with a 20-3o minute 'yogandizing' session. 'It's a term I coined because it blends exercises from yoga poses, Tai Chi, and ballet. I added these over the years to heal a muscle injury or strain, a herniating spinal disk, or to support arthritis,' she said.

To form the routine, she's taken tips from books like 7 Steps to a Pain-Free Life by Robin McKenzie and Total Fitness in 30 Minutes a Week by Laurence Morehouse and Leonard Gross and advice from her son Jacob, a cardiologist and endurance athlete.

By Kate Cheng

Women’s Health - June 29, 2026

Shared from Apple News