Over the past few years, agebuzz has regularly linked to terrific free fitness videos available on the YouTube Channel yes2next. The videos feature April Hattori, the creator of yes2next, and her mom, Aiko Sokolowski, who together demonstrate valuable fitness and strength training exercises for anyone looking to improve their strength and well-being, regardless of age or ability. April Hattori is a certified personal trainer who created the yes2next YouTube channel in 2020 to help her clients stay active during the pandemic. Her videos, which feature workouts with her mother Aiko, are geared for older adults, beginner exercisers, and individuals with limited mobility. With more than 250,000 subscribers and 30 million views, the channel is focused on inspiring viewers to say “yes to their next steps to fitness and joy.” Aiko is 83-years-young and believes that movement benefits her body and brain, making it easier to do her daily activities. She is honored she can inspire friends at all ages to keep moving.

Recently, agebuzz Managing Editor Connie Zuckerman (CZ) was fortunate to interview April (AH) about her background, exercise philosophy, fitness videos, and advice for older adults who want to improve their fitness and ability to stay active in their later years.

CZ: What led you to transition from your previous work to becoming a personal trainer, focusing on exercise for older adults? 

AH: In 2019, I left a 25-year career in communications in New York to live with my mom in Nevada after my stepfather passed away. I viewed the move as a perfect time to assess my goals and follow my passions. Always interested in fitness and helping people, I decided to become a personal trainer working with older adults and signed on at a local gym. I have always felt a kinship with older adults, partly stemming from the closeness with my mom and grandma who was like a second mother.

CZ: Why did you start making exercise videos for posting on YouTube? How did you decide to involve your mom in the videos? Did she exercise with you before participating in the videos? 

AH: When my gym shut down during the pandemic in 2020, I started creating exercise videos for my clients to help them stay active, figuring a YouTube channel would be a perfect way to make them easily accessible. 

Prior to creating yes2next, I regularly held online training sessions with my mom when we were miles apart. When we moved in together, we continued workouts in our home and it was natural to ask her to join me in making the exercise videos. I’m thrilled she said yes – it has been a joy to see her get stronger and inspire people of all ages to get moving!

CZ: Your exercise videos on YouTube, which demonstrate simple and effective exercises for viewers, including older participants, are very popular and regularly viewed by tens of thousands of people. What makes these videos so popular? What’s your goal with the videos? 

AH: The meaning of yes2next is “say yes to your next steps to fitness and joy.” Our goal is to help people of all ages be as strong as possible. My mom and my gym clients inspired me to create workout videos that met them at their level, enabling them to increase strength and stamina gradually and safely. By doing the exercises with my mom, I wanted to demonstrate that exercises can be done at any level and any age. 

It has been heartwarming to hear from followers around the world who say they have gone from not exercising to enjoying movement with us and getting healthier. Many have told us that our workouts are fun and they enjoy our mother/daughter interaction. While I designed the workouts with older adults in mind, it has been gratifying to hear our videos are also helping people of all ages and those with limited mobility, stemming from ailments including long COVID, COPD, arthritis, and osteoporosis.

CZ: How do you like working with your mom on the videos? Does your mom enjoy the process of making the videos and then appearing on YouTube? 

AH: It is a gift to live with my mom and create videos with her that are helping people around the world live healthier lives. My mom loves doing the videos for two reasons – she is honored to inspire friends at all ages to exercise and feels stronger as a result of exercising consistently.

CZ: What do you think is the most important thing that an older adult should know about exercise? Do you think it’s valuable to seek out a personal trainer to help with exercises?

AH: Exercise can combat one of the major threats to good health – muscle loss. According to the National Institutes of Health, muscle mass decreases approximately 3–8% per decade after the age of 30 and this rate of decline is even higher after the age of 60. This involuntary loss of muscle mass, strength, and function is a fundamental cause of and contributor to disability in older people. While all exercise, including cardiovascular, balance, and stretching work, is beneficial for older adults, strength training is critical to build muscle to keep older adults mobile and independent.

Having a personal trainer is great, especially when starting out with exercise. A trainer can create a personalized exercise plan for an individual and can give real-time pointers to correct form, which can help prevent injury and ensure effectiveness of an exercise.  

CZ: What essential exercises should every older adult ideally be able to do? How do these exercises help with strength, balance, and mobility?  

AH: In our workouts, we incorporate functional exercises that are designed to strengthen muscles needed for daily activities. Here are five:  

Push-ups from the wall, counter, or floor strengthen the upper body muscles needed for pushing up from various surfaces. Activities include: pushing or breaking a fall.

Rows strengthen the arms and back muscles to stabilize the spine. Activities include: pulling and lifting objects.

Hinges strengthen the lower body and core. Activities include: lifting a small child or pet, shoveling, or raking.

Squats or Chair Stand-Ups (Sit to Stands) strengthen the lower body and core. Activities include: getting up from a chair or toilet and getting into and out of a car. 

Lunges help improve balance and stability. Activities include walking and going up and down stairs.

Balance exercises such as standing on one leg help prevent falls. 

CZ: How frequently do you recommend an older adult engage in exercise? What else counts as good physical activity besides formally doing exercises? 

AH: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends doing 150 minutes of moderate-intensity cardio work such as brisk walking and at least two full-body strength sessions a week. Not there yet? No worries. The goal is to move as much as you can and listen to your body and rest when needed. Consistency is key to seeing results with exercise. Any amount of physical activity including gardening and house cleaning, is beneficial and counts as exercise.

CZ: You and your mom seem to benefit by working out together. Do you think it’s valuable for someone to have an exercise buddy to work out with? 

AH: Mom and I love working out together. What you see on screen is an extension of our real life – we enjoy doing things together including walking, shopping, and cooking, and laugh a lot. She is the best exercise buddy! Exercising with a partner or friend makes workouts fun and can help you stay on track.

CZ: Are there any essential products or equipment that an older adult should have on hand when they want to exercise? 

AH: You can build strength and stamina without gym equipment – just using your body weight and a sturdy surface for support such as a countertop, wall, or a sturdy chair. But tools can provide additional resistance and challenge. This can come in the form of weights ranging from water bottles and cans to dumbbells and resistance bands.

CZ: What’s your advice to someone who has not done much if any exercise but wants to try to feel better and stronger? 

AH: Being motivated to feel better and stronger is an important first step! Before starting an exercise program, consult with your healthcare professional. When you have the green light to exercise, start at your level. If you’re new to exercise, start with improving your mobility and flexibility with gentle stretching and short walks. As you feel stronger and improve your stamina, move up to cardio exercise including longer walks, and start increasing the amount of time you exercise. After a few weeks, add one or two gentle full-body strength training sessions a week to build muscle. The goal is to achieve 150 minutes of moderate cardio work such as brisk walking and two full body strength sessions a week.

CZ: How can readers access your videos? Is there any cost involved? 

AH: All of our more than 200 videos, covering cardio, strength, balance, and stretching sessions, are free on our YouTube channel. We invite you to check out our website as well, which has free workout plans using our videos. 

CZ: Any last thoughts or advice you’d like to share with agebuzz readers?

AH: It is never too late to get stronger to live life to its fullest. Just start by moving as much as you can every day and give yourself grace, resting when needed. Building strength is a marathon, not a sprint. Results occur by being consistent.