Jyotika, 47, does her first pull-ups: Why this fitness milestone matters

At 47, actress Jyotika has accomplished her first pull-ups, an impressive feat considering her age. The fitness milestone holds significance for her because it challenges the notion that age limits physical capabilities. Jyotika's trainer, Mahesh Ghanekar, emphasizes that pull-ups are about strength, not aesthetics, and note that weight loss can be a side effect.

The Bollywood star is a morning person, waking up, having an apple, and heading to the gym for a weightlifting session that lasts until 10:30 am. Her gym bag contains gloves, deo spray, and a water bottle. Garima Goyal, a consultant dietitian and fitness expert, describes pull-ups as a significant achievement. They target the latissimus dorsi, upper back, biceps, forearms, and core while requiring grip strength and shoulder stability.

Jyotika's trainer notes that mastering pull-ups requires a combination of relative strength, grip strength, back and arm strength, core control, and technique. Progressing from a dead hang to a clean pull-up is a meaningful fitness milestone, even if it takes time. Goyal advises that starting strength training at 44 is not too late to build impressive functional strength, as it supports bone health, metabolic health, balance, mobility, and independence.