How does Phyllis Seuss keep in shape at 97? Grandma is into dance, yoga and fitness

At 90, American Phyllis Seuss made a parachute jump, at 80 she took up yoga, at 75 – aerial acrobatics. Now she is 97, and she passionately dances Argentine tango, jumps rope, easily sits on the twine, holds the bar and does not think that she does something incredible.

“My life was like a dream. And then I woke up.”

Phyllis Suess was a ballerina in her youth, then retrained as a dancer on Broadway, and at 50 became a businesswoman. Life was going her way. Everything changed dramatically when she turned 75. She took up aerial acrobatics! She just told herself she could do it and she did it. Suze did the most complicated things on the trapeze. She had never done anything like that before, although dancing and ballet require excellent physical fitness. But up to a certain age.

The typical image of a woman in 75 years hardly fit with aerial acrobatics. But Phyllis enjoyed swimming against the tide. She decided she was going to change her lifestyle completely.

My life before 75 was more like a dream, and then I woke up. I wanted to be active, to learn new things. I decided that every day is a new life and every day should be bright.

Dancing, fitness and yoga. What else was grandma into?

The incredible woman admitted that she never thought to do yoga, jumping rope, Argentine tango, but all these hobbies found her on their own.

“It took me a lifetime to like myself the way I am now. Yoga, tango and jump rope found me by chance when my life was already heading towards the sunset. But no, it turned out to be the dawn! Now I just do what my body and soul require,” explained the brave woman.

It’s hard to call a person who at 97 (!) years old sits on twine, does a headstand and performs tango with such passion as if she were 18 a grandmother.

Six minutes on the jump rope

Phyllis Suze starts every day with stretching: she does a twine in bed.
Then starts jumping on the rope with increasing pace. This exercise lasts for six minutes – an amazing cardio workout, working out the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.

And then a 45-60 minute yoga class. According to Suze, she was brought to the class by a friend (I wonder how old she is?), and she didn’t like what Phyllis saw. But the teacher convinced her in just five minutes just to try it, and after that she can’t imagine herself without yoga.

I practice yoga to live, and I live to do yoga.

The woman has no restrictions in her diet. Phyllis eats often, but in small portions. And she’s never weighed more than 50 pounds, and for the last couple of decades, 45 pounds.

And then the tango, which she took up at 85! To this dance you need to be perfectly prepared physically, but can anyone doubt the shape of Suze?

Advice book

In early 2020, Phyllis Suze finished the book she started five years ago.
It was originally titled “Twenty Tips to Change Your Life.” The tips ended up being 22, and the book came out with the title “My Journey to Health: Activism.”

And these tips can be followed now, without waiting for your 75th birthday. Here’s some of them.

First and most importantly, you should never tell yourself that you don’t have the energy or time for it, it’s an empty excuse.
Second: it is never too late to change your life.
Third: there should be a certain routine in your life, it disciplines you.
Fourth: do not sit still – move, listen, learn, do something useful, but do not sit.
Fifth: remember that our body has unique abilities, and if you take care of it, it will allow you to live a long and bright life.