If you ever find yourself questioning whether age is truly just a number, you haven’t met Elaine Fitzgerald Muise. At 63 years young, the Dartmouth, Nova Scotia-based fitness professional brings an infectious, ageless energy to everything she does. With more than 40 years in the fitness industry, including over three decades of teaching and eight years as a dedicated personal trainer, Elaine is on a mission to prove that movement is the ultimate medicine.

“For me, staying active isn’t about trying to look younger; it’s about continuing to feel capable, energized, and strong enough to fully enjoy life,” Elaine shares.

As she prepares to launch her brand-new television show, StrengthAfter50, on Eastlink this fall, we sat down with the award-winning trainer to discuss her lifelong journey, a hilarious 1980s fashion confession, and the non-negotiable exercises every older adult needs to stay independent.

From Irish Dancing to Bodybuilding: A Lifelong Passion

Elaine’s deep-rooted connection to movement started long before she became a professional trainer. Growing up, she was constantly active, competing as an Irish dancer for 15 years, cheerleading, and playing both basketball and soccer. Her fitness career officially kicked off at just 18 years old when she stepped up to teach classes at the YMCA in Sydney, Nova Scotia.

“I had attended a few classes there and absolutely loved the energy, the music, and the feeling of movement,” she recalls.

When life eventually brought her to Halifax, Elaine took her passion a step further and dove into competitive bodybuilding. She competed twice in her 20s, winning the lightweight division in Nova Scotia and placing second in a major novice competition. This high-intensity environment sparked a permanent love for strength training and lifting weights.

Over the decades, Elaine expanded her expertise across the region, teaching at Nubody’s (now GoodLife Fitness) and acquiring certifications in four Les Mills programs as well as Jillian Michaels BodyShred. Her exceptional work earned her national recognition from canfitpro, which named her a Top 3 and later a Top 5 Canadian Fitness Professional. Yet, despite the magazine features and titles, Elaine emphasizes that her true reward has always been human connection.

“The most meaningful part of this career was never the titles or certifications; it was the stories people shared with me,” Elaine reflects. “Often when I asked clients for testimonials, they wouldn’t just talk about fitness results; they would tell me I made their day better, helped change their life, or gave them confidence again. That has always been incredibly powerful and inspiring for me”.

The “Sophisticated Machine” Philosophy

Elaine frequently uses her social media platform to preach the gospel of resistance training for health, mobility, and longevity. To get her point across, she likes to challenge people with a clever analogy:

• The Car Contrast: The human body is like a highly sophisticated vehicle. Ironically, people often take far better care of their actual cars than their own bodies, faithfully changing the oil and scheduling routine maintenance while completely ignoring their health until an unexpected breakdown occurs.
• Exercise as Maintenance: Consistent movement acts as your internal oil change. Cardiovascular work strengthens the heart, general movement boosts circulation, energy, and mood, and strength training directly shields your muscles and bones.
• The Radiance Factor: Staying active also pays cosmetic dividends. Emerging research indicates that exercise supports aging skin by enhancing circulation, lowering stress, and fostering a healthier, more vibrant complexion.

Back to the ’80s: The White Unitard Incident

Though she operates a highly professional practice today, Elaine loves to look back and laugh at the early days of the fitness boom. When asked about her most memorable career moment, she instantly points to the peak of the 1980s aerobics craze.

At the time, elite aerobic competitions were mostly held in Ontario, but one year, a regional competition finally made its way to Halifax, at the Mic Mac Mall.

“I showed up wearing a white unitard with a pink thong over it and thought I looked incredibly cool and competitive at the time!” Elaine laughs.

When seasoned competitors from Ontario arrived knowing exactly how to cater to the judges, the local talent suddenly realized how amateur they looked by comparison. “Looking back now, the funniest part was definitely the outfit. At the time, though, I thought I was fitness fashion at its finest!”

Demolishing the “Too Old” Misconception

Whether working with clients one-on-one in her home, travelling to clients’ spaces, or coaching at Lift Lab, Elaine frequently battles a pervasive myth: the belief that after a certain age, the clock has run out on physical fitness.

“The biggest misconception is that they are ‘too old’ and that the time has passed for them to start. That simply is not true,” Elaine says firmly.

As we age, our bodies naturally lose muscle mass through a process called sarcopenia. Fortunately, regular strength training can slow down and even reverse this regression. Every single repetition serves as a direct investment in future mobility and quality of life. Building and keeping muscle provides major physiological protection:

• Supports Bone Health: Reduces the immediate risk of osteoporosis and structural fractures.
• Boosts Metabolism: Enhances weight management and helps regulate blood sugar more effectively.
• Protects Joints: Makes common, everyday tasks like carrying heavy groceries or climbing stairs much easier.
• Improves Balance and Stability: Directly lowers the statistical risk of dangerous falls.
• Builds Disease Resilience: Research shows that maintaining muscle mass helps combat chronic conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers.

“I’ve seen incredible transformations in people who started exercising seriously in their 60s and 70s,” Elaine notes. Within a matter of months, clients often move with greater ease, reclaim their confidence, and occasionally reduce specific medications under their doctors’ supervision. “The best time to start was years ago. The second-best time is today”.

8 Non-Negotiable Exercises for Adults Over 50

For Silver Magazine readers looking to build a foundation of functional strength, balance, and independence, Elaine recommends incorporating these essential elements into a weekly routine:

CREDIT ALL OF THE BELOW PHOTOS : Paul Adams

Exercise_____________	Movement Pattern & Progressions	Why It Matters
1. Squats / Sit-to-Stands	Sit deliberately on a sturdy chair with feet flat, press firmly through your heels to stand tall, and lower back down with control, aiming for 3 sets of 10 reps. Progress from body weight to a “hover sit” or holding light dumbbells at your sides.	Builds essential leg and glute strength required to rise easily from chairs, climb stairs, and maintain total independence.
2. Pushups	Stand facing a wall with your hands at shoulder height, bend your elbows to bring your chest forward, and press back. Progress from the wall to an elevated couch or counter, and eventually to floor knee push-ups.	Strengthens the chest, shoulders, arms, and core to handle everyday lifting and carrying tasks.
3. Hip Hinge Movements	Perform simple bodyweight “good mornings” or intentional hip hinge patterns.	Strengthens the posterior chain, including the glutes, hamstrings, and lower back, which protects the spine and optimizes posture.
4. Pulling Exercises	Use resistance bands to perform overhead pulls or pull outward directly from the center of the chest.	Targets the upper back and shoulders, reversing the rounded posture that commonly develops with age.
5. Core Work (Bird Dogs)	From an all-fours position on the floor, simultaneously extend the opposite arm and leg outward, alternating sides.	Improves core stability, coordination, and spatial balance while directly protecting the lower back.
6. “Pick Up the Groceries.”	Stand with feet hip-width apart, holding a weight by your hip. Bend your knees slightly, stand tall, and rotate your torso to place the weight across your opposite shoulder. Progress from body weight to a soup can or light dumbbell.	Mimics real-life multi-planar movement to build total-body strength, coordination, and functional balance.
7. Jumps & Light Impact	Incorporate properly scaled, low-impact hops or small jumps into your routine.	Bones require impact and resistance to maintain density, power, and baseline athleticism.
8. Mobility Work	Practice intentional ankle rotations before bed, windshield-wiper knee movements for hip opening, and side bends for spinal flexibility.	Reduces stubborn joint stiffness, improves overall movement quality, and prevents unnecessary injuries.

Safety First: Guidelines for Beginners

Before launching into any new exercise regimen, Elaine emphasizes five foundational safety principles to protect your body:

1. Get Medical Clearance: Check in with your primary doctor if you are completely new to exercise or managing an existing health condition.
2. Prioritize the Warm-Up: Dedicate 3 to 5 minutes to marching in place or gentle stretching before introducing resistance.
3. Control the Pace: Move deliberately, avoiding rushing through reps or relying on sudden, jerky movements.
4. Breathe Steadily: Always exhale on the hardest part of the effort and inhale as you release, ensuring you do not hold your breath.
5. Listen to Your Body: Stop immediately if you experience pain, sudden dizziness, or unusual shortness of breath.

Finding Your Purpose in Fitness

“When people retire from their careers, they need a reason to get up in the morning. For me, fitness gives me purpose,” Elaine smiles. “People often say their purpose is their grandchildren or travel, and those things are wonderful, but you need strength, mobility, balance, and energy to fully enjoy them”.

Consistency will always matter far more than flawless execution. You do not need to transform into an elite athlete overnight; small, deliberate actions performed regularly can fundamentally rewrite how you age. To make fitness entirely stress-free and accessible, Elaine offers mobile personal training, specialized sessions at Lift Lab, and virtual training via Zoom for both individuals and small groups.

Connect with Elaine:

• Location: Dartmouth, NS
• Email: elainemuise@ns.sympatico.ca
• Social Media: @itfitzElaine (Instagram & Facebook)

Be sure to catch Elaine’s brand-new television series, StrengthAfter50, premiering on Eastlink this fall!