Did you catch that article in The Guardian? It’s called “The ninetysomethings who revolutionised how we think about strength training” by Michael Joseph Gross — and honestly, I can’t stop thinking about it.

Here’s the gist: back in the late '80s, a doctor named Maria Fiatarone had a wild idea. She was working with residents at a Boston nursing home (average age: 88!) and thought, "What if we got them lifting weights?"

And I mean real weights. Not soup cans. Not resistance bands. Heavy weights. Think: 80% of their one-rep max kind of strength training.

Everyone thought she was out of her mind.

But get this — it worked. Like, really worked. One woman, 92 years old, tripled her strength in just eight weeks. “I have become younger,” she said. “Now I walk better than my daughter, who’s only 72.” (Iconic.)

What these studies showed was that even in our 80s and 90s, our muscles are still capable of growing. Strength isn’t just a young person’s game — it’s a human one.

“The cliché of inevitable decline – as age increases, function wanes – turned out to be false,” the article says.

This hit me hard — and I want you to hear it too: it’s never too late to get stronger.

But here's the thing we have to talk about…

A lot of the women I work with — and maybe this is you too — want to move more, want to lift weights, want to feel stronger... but things like prolapse or incontinence are getting in the way. And that’s not in your head. It’s real. It makes movement feel scary, or awkward, or downright impossible.

The article doesn’t talk about pelvic health — but I will. Because if we want to actually follow in the footsteps of these powerhouse 90-year-olds, we’ve got to talk about the whole picture.

When your pelvic floor isn’t functioning well, it's harder to lift, squat, or even walk with confidence. And if you're constantly worried about leaking or pressure, how likely are you to sign up for strength training? Not very.

So let's be real: strength training is amazing. Essential, even. But pelvic health is what makes it possible.

“Changes in muscle function are not maintained in the absence of continued training,” the article says.

Yes — and I’d add: training won’t happen at all if your body doesn’t feel safe.

So what do we do with all this?

We start simple. We honor where we’re at. We don’t let fear (or outdated fitness culture) make us feel broken or past our prime. And we remember that strength is a tool for freedom, not perfection.

Strength training isn’t about chasing youth. It’s about reclaiming power — in our bodies, in our routines, in our everyday lives.

And listen… if 90-year-olds can deadlift, we can absolutely do some squats with the right support.

If you’ve been feeling stuck, afraid, or unsure where to start — you’re not alone. And I’d love to help you figure out how to move in a way that works with your body, not against it.

Because stronger isn’t a size. It’s a feeling. And you deserve to feel it.