Staying active and healthy can be challenging at any age, especially with the easy access to fast food and the high prices of fresh produce that continue to rise in Israel. For many, maintaining fitness requires intentional effort and creativity.
Living in Jerusalem, however, a city built on hills and steep, winding streets, naturally encourages daily movement. Simply going about everyday tasks often becomes its own workout, making the city uniquely conducive to staying fit.
However, some of Jerusalem’s more senior residents may find the hills and long walks difficult to navigate, particularly during the hot summer months or the rainy winter season.
Curious to learn how they maintain their health despite these challenges, the Magazine sought to explore the habits and routines of seniors across the capital – a city often seen as a microcosm of the rest of the country.
Exploring habits
After posing the question on Facebook’s Secret Jerusalem group, the responses poured in, revealing a wide range of practices, varying from simple daily walks to structured fitness programs and personal training sessions.
Many Jerusalemite seniors said that they enjoy walking or hiking, often using the city’s hilly landscape to their advantage.
One woman described how she and a group of girlfriends walk together almost every morning in their neighborhood. Every day, depending on schedules, there are between two to five women participating. It’s not a leisurely stroll, she emphasized, but a brisk 40-minute walk, fast enough to raise the heart rate. Some of the women track their steps and regularly reach 10,000 steps a day, combining their morning walk with steps accumulated through daily errands.
At 70 years old, she is the youngest member of the group, and she credits these walks with helping her stay energetic and socially connected.
Another resident said she enjoys walking along Mesila Park, the popular walking and cycling path built on the old Turkish railway line, passing the First Station. The long, flat path has become a favorite for seniors who prefer a more relaxing and accessible walk with plenty of benches for rest breaks.
Several respondents pointed out that even everyday errands provide opportunities for exercise. One woman told the Magazine that she gets her exercise from walking up and down hills while pushing her shopping cart to and from the supermarket. Another added that gardening keeps her moving and contributes to her overall fitness.
Dancing is exercise
Other noted that they enjoy dancing, which offers both physical activity and social interaction. Multiple respondents mentioned Israeli folk dancing classes, including a popular session held every Wednesday morning at the Arnona community center. Another woman attends Israeli dance classes twice a week in her neighborhood; she said they are a fun way to stay flexible and fit.
Some seniors opt for more structured fitness routines and attend gym classes such as Pilates. One woman recently began a beginners’ Pilates class at her community center and said that she loves this new addition to her fitness routine. The Beit Hoffman Community Center in Gonenim offers a wide range of classes geared for seniors, which include a weekly session focused on preventing osteoporosis.
Impressively, several Jerusalem seniors work with personal trainers. One member powerlifts twice a week, while another said she trains seriously with her personal trainer – also twice per week. She is stronger and fitter now than she was in her 60s – an inspiring reminder that progress is possible at any age.
For others, the convenience of home workouts is key. Some seniors prefer following online workout videos, such as popular classes led by Michelle Briehler, a certified fitness instructor with over 20 years of experience. These workouts offer a convenient, accessible way to stay active for those who prefer to stay home or perhaps can’t get out easily.
Swimming benefits
Swimming was also mentioned. One respondent said that she has a friend who swims several times a week and swears by its benefits, praising its low-impact nature and full-body engagement.
Jerusalem-based personal trainer Adam Grossman at Grossman Gainz frequently works with senior clients and sees firsthand the importance of maintaining strength in later years. Their training focuses primarily on strength-building exercises, he said. While every client is different, the core goals remain the same: increasing muscle strength, improving balance and mobility, and supporting cardiovascular health. His advice for seniors is straightforward: Stay active, be consistent, and, when possible, gradually increase the weights to continue making progress.
Whether by walking, dancing, swimming, gardening, or formal strength training, Jerusalem’s seniors demonstrate that staying active is not only possible but achievable in many forms. Their experiences show that staying fit in your later years does not require perfection – only commitment, some creativity, and making sure to move every day.