Elderly man writes a letter to the Times revealing the benefits of taking the stairs

As people age, staying physically active becomes more challenging, often leading to increased inactivity. This inactivity can negatively impact long-term health and significantly reduce life expectancy. The ideal approach to maintain health with age is engaging in any form of physical activity to sustain fitness. @TimesONeill shared a post on X that revealed an interesting letter that a senior citizen sent to the editor of the Times, where he discussed the benefits of climbing the stairs. The post has got 77.6K views and 3.4K likes on the social media site. 

He cited an article detailing the health benefits of stair climbing, noting he remains a "fit 67-year-old" by consistently choosing stairs over elevators. He also told people around him about the numerous benefits of taking the stairs in contrast to getting into an elevator. The man wrote, "A sneaking part of me wonders, though, whether a careful analysis might reveal that the extra lifetime hours gained would turn out to have been spent climbing stairs."

People who saw the post shared their thoughts about it in the comments section. @EdMRound hilariously said, "One of the arguments I often hear is that going vegan would help me live longer. I don't see this as an upside if I would have to spend the extra time on Earth eating vegan food." Another individual, @ElenaAdaal, commented, "I know it works that way with long-distance running. The extra lifetime you win is spent running." While the extra time gained is debatable, there is no denying that taking the stairs is the healthier alternative. 

In fact, age should not be a deterrent to staying physically fit. Jean Bailey, a 102-year-old woman, is a role model for not letting age be a factor as she teaches a fitness class four times a week, as reported by The Washington Post. Bailey lives in the Elk Ridge Village Senior Living's independent living quarters in Omaha. The woman has been a fitness class teacher for roughly three years now. She shared how most of her clients had arthritis that restricted their movement to some extent but that they could do stretches and derive benefits from them. 

Despite using a walker herself, Bailey is a very strict coach and is often called "mean" during her class. During the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown, 99-year-old Bailey led exercise sessions for Elk Ridge residents. Unfazed by her younger peers, she motivated them to exercise in the hallway, stressing the importance of staying active. Bailey's initiative kept everyone engaged and the classes continued without interruption. The woman conducts 30-minute exercise classes four days a week, all of which start at 9:45 in the morning. 

Before each class, she begins with a prayer, ensuring participants have time for dressing and breakfast. Stressing full-body movement, she remarks, "You move every part of your body, absolutely, from your hands to your toes." In addition to helping the women stay fit, the classes have also allowed them to socialize and form meaningful friendships. Bailey reflected on this and said, "We've gotten pretty close up there on our floor. One of us would do something for anybody. We really keep track of each other." The story has also been covered by WDRB News on YouTube.