Pinkie Roshan, 73, does sumo squats and kettlebell rows: ‘Today’s sweat is tomorrow’s strength🏋️♀️’

Pinkie Roshan, a sprightly 73-year-old woman, has proven that strength training is not confined to any age limit. On Instagram, she shared four pictures of her workout, each accompanied by a cheerful caption that reads "Today's sweat is tomorrow's strength". Her regimen includes a sumo squat with a stick, kettlebell rows, a standing cable chest fly and a cable wood chop.

According to Dr Surya Udai Singh, a Senior Consultant at Narayana RN Tagore Hospital in Kolkata, these exercises primarily target the thighs, glutes, and hips. These muscles are crucial for daily activities such as getting up from a chair, climbing stairs, and walking. Similarly, the bent-over alternate kettlebell row works the upper back, lats, rear shoulders, and arms. Strong back muscles help maintain good posture and upper-body function, which becomes increasingly important as we age.

The standing cable chest fly, on the other hand, targets the chest and shoulders, which are vital for pushing movements. Tasks like opening a door, moving an object, or using arms for support benefit from this exercise. Lastly, the cable wood chop adds a controlled rotation to the workout, benefiting the core, obliques, hips, torso, and upper body. This movement supports everyday actions such as turning, reaching, changing direction, and moving objects.

Dr Singh emphasizes that high-performance strength training using weight-augmented exercises is beneficial for individuals in their 70s, provided they are medically cleared and use the equipment correctly. Moreover, older adults don't need to stick to light weights. Modern sports science suggests that heavy, dynamic, and technologically tailored resistance is more beneficial than light weights for this age group.

For a 73-year-old like Pinkie Roshan, the goal isn't just building muscle but maintaining mobility, balance, coordination, and independence. Her workout, which trains different movements, ultimately aims to help her move confidently and remain independent.