Does Exercise Really Need to Be Complicated?
Answer: No
We’ve all heard it: “You need 150 minutes of exercise per week.” But where did that number come from? And does it actually apply to everyone?
Those guidelines are based on sedentary populations—people who spend most of their day sitting and need structured exercise to offset inactivity. But if you’re already living actively, does checking off an arbitrary time quota really make sense?
Here’s what I keep returning to: movement should be simple, sensible, and practical. Not forced. Not a chore. Not something that runs your life instead of fitting into it.
This isn’t just how I live—it’s how I run my business and work with clients. I encourage people to move in ways that make sense for their actual lives. I don’t believe in rigid rules or obsessing over numbers. Instead, I help my clients build strength, balance, and mobility to support their independence and longevity.
Bringing It Back to What Makes Sense
Instead of worrying about hitting a specific number of workout minutes, ask yourself: does my movement fit naturally into my life? Can I sustain it? Does it feel like something that adds to my well-being, or is it just another task I’m forcing myself to do? Here’s an example. If you’ve been away from a routine for a while and decide to get back to say, walking, be sensible in your return. Saying you’re going to walk every day sounds like a promising goal. Realistically, you may be shooting too high only to realize that it’s too much to walk every day. And then what happens is you bail because of your apparent failure. No. Dial back. Check in. Can you commit to 3 days a week? Anything more than that is a great win. That’s being sensible.
When we strip away the pressure, we realize that movement is something we’re designed for. Walking, bending, stretching, lifting—these things are part of being human. When you keep movement practical and integrated, you’re working with your body, not against it. And when that happens, there’s no need to postpone or procrastinate feeling better. When we feel better, we do better.
So, what are you doing to be better for yourself? And are you paying attention to all aspects of well-being—not just movement, but also rest, recovery, and reflection?
Part of taking care of yourself is knowing when to slow down. Honoring times of stillness, contemplation, and even naps. Recognizing that doing less isn’t the same as doing nothing—it’s an essential part of longevity.
Move well. Move often. Move in ways that make sense. And don’t forget: rest is just as important as movement. The body thrives on both.
Love this perspective and appreciate your straightforward advice!
Once again, you make utmost sense about exercise, and I wonder how many folks besides me have been tyrannized by the 150 minutes and 10,000 steps models, then finally and joyfully liberated by voices of reason such as yours. About a year ago, I reviewed the 800+ YouTube exercise videos I had saved since 2020 when the pandemic began. It was good to have had them and tried them, but over time I realized that many of them were not suitable for 78-year-old me. So I deleted about 500 of the videos immediately, then set about reviewing the remaining 300 and began a list of only those moves that felt good in and for my aging body. At the end of the review process, I had a list of about 70 different moves (with occasional stick figure drawings to remind me how to do a few of them) that feel optimal AND uncomplicated. Many of them were garnered from your videos, and I thank you for them. Every day I do a 3-minute active warmup, followed by 12 each of sit to stand and wall push-ups, 5 minutes of strength training using stretch loops and/or isometrics, then 6 each of 10 moves from the list of 70. Each workout takes about 15 minutes, and, more importantly, each one is fun and leaves me feeling energized and more mobile physically and mentally. I walk about 2500 steps a day just doing the regular things of life, swim casually when the weather is warm, and stay on the lookout for other uncomplicated moves to add to my list. I am not thin or young, but I am glad and grateful to be hefty and healthy and free from all the rules except the ones that say "every body is different" and "just move." I appreciate your work and the time you spend creating quality content. Please don't stop. It is important for your voice to be heard.