In Smithtown, New York, 93-year-old Cecilia Gomez keeps her family moving — literally. A regular at the gym and a participant in tennis matches, triathlons and marathons, Gomez exercises five days a week and has made activity a family rule. Her daughter Pat Schneider says Cecilia “does not believe you should sit down,” a philosophy that has been passed through generations.
Gomez tells visitors she dislikes watching people sit motionless and credits movement with vitality: “It gives you energy, happiness, movement to your body.” Her restlessness often nudges relatives off the couch and back into activity, turning exercise into an ordinary part of family life.
That household habit reflects a broader national shift. A recent study found roughly 80 percent of Americans — about 250 million people — are participating in more sports, exercise and recreational activities than before, roughly 25 million more than in 2019. The largest gains came from young people ages 15 to 24 and women over 65, though experts caution a significant minority remains inactive: more than 20 percent of Americans, or about 61 million people, still do little or no physical activity.
Katie Sell, a health professor at Hofstra University, says more people are embracing everyday “lifestyle activities that keep them living longer,” but she warns that a sizeable inactive population persists. Community programs aimed at older adults, such as SilverSneakers, celebrate seniors who stay engaged; Gomez was recently honored with SilverSneakers’ National Inspiration Award in recognition of her long-term participation and enthusiasm.
For the Gomez family, movement is simply part of how they live. Whether she’s joining a run or urging relatives off the couch to play a match, Cecilia’s example shows how one determined matriarch can shape family routines and reflect a wider, nationwide trend toward greater physical activity.