If you knew me when I was younger, you might be astonished to find that at 67 years old, I’m a fitness influencer with over 60K followers—and I just completed a solo canoe expedition in the Canadian wilderness.
I played a few sports in school as a child, but I smoked as a teenager and didn’t exercise until absolutely necessary.
My fitness journey truly started during my second pregnancy, which began when my first kid was just four months old. I stopped smoking when I discovered I was having my first child at the age of 21. If I was going to be in charge of two children, I reasoned, I needed get in shape. I began working out every day using the TV shows that were available at the time.
I discovered that exercise was a blessing that helped me manage the responsibilities of raising two kids and working full-time for the Ontario Government while my husband put in long hours at work. I became so engrossed in it that I enrolled in a YMCA fitness teacher course and began instructing a few classes each week. For around ten years, I kept up my at-home workouts while I was still teaching.
I was looking for meaning after I retired at age 59, and I discovered some unexpectedly on social media.
I created a reel in March 2024 declaring my intention to perform an eight-week pushup training series. I performed an air squat for the entire minute-long video, and it went viral, garnering over a million views. The majority of my about 61,000 followers are women over 40, and even more are over 50.
People seem to like that I make it light-hearted. I really believe in performing mobility exercises every day, which I post on Instagram. I also like hearing from individuals about how the exercises have improved their range of motion or helped them feel less discomfort. On Mondays, I teach people how to perform various rope flows, which are non-jumping workouts that use a weighted rope that you move around your body to help with shoulder mobility, core stabilisation, and balance. It also helps your brain. I am also an ambassador for Slush Ropes.
Even if social media has ingrained itself into my life, I also value taking a complete break and walking into the woods—literally.
When my kids were little, we spent a lot of time camping together, but by the time they were teenagers, we stopped going. My spouse and I resumed our relationship once they grew up and were living independently. Every September, we travel to a little campground in North Algonquin Park in Ontario, Canada, which serves as a major starting point for canoe routes.
I was fascinated when I watched this woman paddle off alone in a boat in 2017. A couple more I saw the next year. What a statement! One woman arrived after a trip with a pink boat! The fact that women were spending days in the bush by themselves astounded me. I also made the decision to do it myself.
The thought of going on this solo canoe expedition filled me with energy, yet fear began to set in.
I felt as though I was searching for reasons not to go. I had been really taken aback by a guy who was stalking me in the campground around that time. I felt very exposed. How could I go out alone, I began to wonder? What should I do if someone shows up with malicious intent? I therefore declared that this was off the table and that I would not place myself in that situation. However, it was as though a light had gone out.
I came to the realisation that not going on this trip would be a lifelong regret.
You know what, I’m going to do it. I couldn’t back out, so I started telling people about it and posted it on social media. In the months before the trip, I increased the frequency of my squats and lunges and utilised heavier weights. Rather of simply once a week, I practiced my balance and quick footwork three times a week. To make sure I travelled in awareness and peace, I also started meditating every day.
I chose a route that would require me to paddle eight lakes, and because of the lengthy portages through the forests between the lakes, they were less used, particularly during this season (September). Since I was carrying everything with me, I packed little equipment and just brought lightweight, freeze-dried food.
I was in a euphoric state for weeks after returning. The journey was incredible, and taking it was incredibly empowering. At the time of that journey, I was 65. I felt compelled to write a book about it because I wanted women to know that they could achieve any ambition. It’s about overcoming the fear and the process.
I’m satisfied for the time being, but I might go on another canoe trip in the future.
At 67, I continue to be very active now. I typically walk 12,000 steps a day while doing mobility exercises. Every day, for five, fifteen, or twenty minutes, I either jump rope or perform a rope flow. I use my chinup bar to perform a chinup each time I descend to the basement. It should not be a chore.
My grandkids and I recently went rock climbing, and I’m thinking of taking lessons. I’ll always keep up my daily workout routine, making adjustments as necessary if problems occur. You never know what life will bring. Staying in the game and enjoying life to the fullest is what it means to me!
I advise people to create a sustainable plan. In my sector, we occasionally hear that “there are no excuses,” but that is untrue. Sometimes it simply won’t happen, and that’s okay. Take action. Additionally, don’t let ageism stop you. While planning my vacation, I did encounter some of that, but I don’t think any of it was deliberate—it’s regrettably engrained in our culture.
People often fail to recognise their own ageism. However, there is so much out there for you if you are still alive.