If you’re looking for proof that strength, mindset, and community still matter in your 60s—and maybe matter more—Claudia is it.
Claudia is the owner and operator of Gym America, long time AFS member (almost 15 years!), a former collegiate gymnast, and a coach who has spent 47 years building a culture around one simple belief: we don’t age out of strength. We opt out of it.
In our recent podcast conversation, Claudia shared what it actually takes to stay strong—not just physically, but mentally and socially—as life gets fuller, noisier, and more demanding. Her story starts modestly: a $7,000 loan, mattresses used as gym mats, and a willingness to figure things out as she went. What she built over decades wasn’t just a gym, but a system for helping people keep promises to themselves. Watch below:
Language Shapes Performance At Any Age
One theme came up again and again: words matter.
Claudia talks about “mental choreography”—the idea that what you say to yourself before you move often determines whether you move at all. It’s not about hype or positive thinking. It’s about precision. Replacing “I can’t do this” with “I can’t do this yet” creates space. Space for effort. Space for learning. Space for progress.
That single word…yet…shows up everywhere. First workout. First hike in years. First time feeling strong again after decades of putting yourself last. The body follows the language more often than we realize.
From Athlete to Coach to Leader
Another powerful thread was identity.
Claudia walked through the evolution many people experience but rarely name: athlete → coach → leader. Each phase requires letting go of an old version of yourself without losing the standards that made you successful in the first place.
What replaces intensity-for-intensity’s-sake is intention. Systems. Habits. Community. And a deep understanding that discipline doesn’t always look loud—it often looks consistent.
Practical Systems for Busy Lives
For women especially—those juggling careers, caregiving, households, and self-doubt—Claudia is refreshingly practical:
- Book the time instead of hoping it appears
- Reduce decisions so willpower isn’t the bottleneck
- Outsource planning to a coach you trust
- Use small moments at home to move when full workouts aren’t realistic
None of this is flashy. That’s the point. It works when life is overwhelming, not just when motivation is high.
The Science Still Holds
We also talked evidence as beliefs and biology matter.
Muscle adapts at any age. Strength training improves energy, productivity, mood, and resilience. The return on investment compounds. The myth that strength is only for the young is just that: a myth.
Health as a Retirement Account
What stood out most was Claudia’s clarity about the future.
She doesn’t talk about slowing down in her 70s. She talks about more—more adventures, more learning, more community. Kayaking. Traveling. Climbing. Keeping up with family. Health, to her, is a retirement account. Small daily deposits—strength, movement, gratitude—buy future freedom.
If You’re Feeling Stuck
If time feels scarce, fear feels loud, or comparison has crept in, this conversation offers a way through:
Start small.
Use better words.
Find support that removes friction instead of adding pressure.
You don’t have to do everything today. You just have to do something for your future self.
If this resonated, follow or subscribe to the podcast, share it with someone who needs a nudge, and leave a quick review with your “yet” goal.
What’s the one action you’ll take today for the version of you that’s still climbing, exploring, and saying yes years from now?
