Canada's physical-activity guidelines for older adults, explained

Canada's national movement guidance for adults aged 65 and older is published by the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) as part of the 24-Hour Movement Guidelines. They are refreshingly practical and worth knowing, because they set a clear, evidence-based bar.

What the guidelines recommend

• —At least 150 minutes per week of moderate-to-vigorous aerobic activity, in bouts of 10 minutes or more.
• —Muscle-strengthening activities using major muscle groups at least twice per week.
• —Physical activities that challenge balance, to help prevent falls.
• —Several hours of light activity, including standing, spread through the day — and limiting prolonged sitting.

The gap between guidance and reality

The muscle-strengthening recommendation is the one most older adults miss. Aerobic activity like walking is familiar and accessible; structured strength work is not. Many people are unsure what to do, worry about injury, lack equipment or gym access, or have simply never been shown how. The result is a large population that knows it "should exercise" but has no safe, guided path into the specific kind of training that counteracts muscle loss.

Closing that gap — turning national guidance into a practice real people can follow — is the reason Jasclair Wellness Institute exists. Our cohort programs are designed to meet the muscle-strengthening and balance recommendations with coaching, structure, and peer support, at no cost to participants.