Jane Fonda Adjusts Routine at 88: Slower Cardio, Strength, and Balance Workouts Backed by Science

At 88, Jane Fonda still exercises every day, but the pace has changed. “I essentially do everything I used to do, just slower,” she told People in early 2025, Grazia reported.

In the 1980s, Fonda’s workout videos had millions of people jumping, kicking and sweating in their living rooms. Four decades later, her routine has shifted from high intensity to something gentler and more sustainable — and it looks a lot like what health experts recommend for staying strong as we age.

From Living-Room Aerobics to Hills and Weights

Fonda used to run. Today, walking is her cardio of choice. “My preferred cardio is walking,” she told W Magazine. Depending on the weather, she also uses the treadmill and bike indoors. She told People she especially loves “being outdoors in the woods, especially up and down hills.” Walking is low impact, easy on the joints and supports heart health. “You get your heart healthy through cardio,” she said.

Strength work has its own split schedule. “One day, I do upper body; one day, I do lower body,” she told W Magazine. That matters even more with age, since muscle mass naturally declines over time. Strong legs make everyday movements easier, from climbing stairs to getting up from a chair.

Walking up and down hills on uneven ground does more than raise the heart rate. It also challenges balance and coordination, which help prevent falls. Simple exercises like standing on one foot or walking heel to toe can be added at home. Stretching has a place in her routine too: she led a stretching class for the Supernatural virtual reality fitness app on Meta Quest, bringing her trademark energy to gentler movement. Regular stretching helps keep joints mobile and makes daily movement more comfortable.

Why “Slower” Is the Operative Word at 88

The most important change is the tempo. “The operative word is slower,” Fonda told W Magazine. “I do a lot of the same exercises I used to. I just do them slower.” Moving with control reduces the risk of injury and keeps muscles working throughout each movement.

Jane Fonda Adjusts Routine at 88: Slower Cardio, Strength, and Balance Workouts Backed by Science

Her approach mirrors World Health Organization guidelines for older adults. The WHO recommends at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate aerobic activity a week, such as brisk walking, plus muscle-strengthening activities at least two days a week. For people over 65, it also recommends varied activities that emphasize balance and strength at least three days a week, to improve function and prevent falls. In other words, walking, strength, balance and flexibility, done regularly and at a pace you can maintain, cover nearly everything the research supports.

Jane Fonda, 88, has not stopped moving. She has simply slowed down.

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