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Finland’s 100-Year-Old Gym Group Shows How Exercise Keeps You Strong for Life

At the Kivipuro Service Centre in Seinäjoki, an extraordinary gym group is redefining what it means to grow older.

Their average age: just over one hundred.

Three times a week, four men meet at the gym for circuit training — stretches, balance exercises, and strength training under the guidance of physiotherapist Janne Mäki-Jouppila. They call themselves the Centenarians’ Training Circle. One member says:

It’s important to keep up our health and stay as we are.

First featured by MTV News Finland and the Ilkka-Pohjalainen newspaper, their story has since touched hearts across the country — a reminder that wellbeing is built one step, one stretch, and one smile at a time.

In an interview with MTV News Finland, physiotherapist Janne Mäki-Jouppila shared insights about the Centenarians’ Gym Group and the importance of maintaining movement at any age.

Celebrating Longevity and Resilience

This remarkable group shows that physical activity in very advanced age can be far more dynamic than commonly assumed. Their engagement goes beyond participation — they stay active, engaged, and full of life. A powerful reminder that movement matters at every stage of life.

By combining a supportive community, expert guidance, and tailored exercise, they present a positive and humanizing perspective on ageing. For professionals in elder care, rehabilitation, or health promotion, the Centenarians’ Training Circle serves as an inspiring example of how to design safe, enjoyable, and age-appropriate activity programs.

Regular physical activity is known to reduce the risk of dementia, heart disease, and certain cancers while supporting mobility and mental wellbeing. Finland’s broader ageing strategy now centers on helping people maintain their functional capacity for as long as possible — and this unique gym group shows what that looks like in practice.

Three times a week, four men meet at the gym for circuit training — stretches, balance exercises, and strength training.

Age Is No Barrier: Finland’s Oldest Gym Group Inspiring Their Community

The group includes Viljo Takalo (100), Martti Laitila (100), Aarno Alho (102), and Tapio Lassila (103) — long-standing members of the Kivipuro community who continue to inspire with their dedication to movement and wellbeing. Their workouts, guided by physiotherapists Janne Mäki-Jouppila and Virpi Niemi, strike a balance between humor and discipline.

“Looks a bit too easy! Maybe you could add a little more weight to the workout?” Niemi says with a smile — a remark that’s as much encouragement as it is humor.

What began as a regular exercise hobby years ago officially became the centenarians’ gym group, when Takalo celebrated his hundredth birthday.

“The centenarians’ gym group has been running for five years now. Everyone reached one hundred last year, and that’s when we decided that the minimum age to join would be one hundred“, Mäki-Jouppila says with a grin.

Despite their advanced age, the participants train with remarkable focus and enthusiasm. Their sessions combine HUR strength-training equipment with air resistance, chair-based exercises, and occasional outdoor activities.
The emphasis isn’t on lifting heavy weights — it’s on maintaining strength, balance, and independence. As physiotherapist Virpi Niemi explains

“Movement keeps the mind sharp and the body steady.”

In their MTV News Finland interview, the members — all over 100 years old — reflected on their active lives.

“I even had my own javelin — I used to throw it, though I can’t remember anymore how far it went,” one said with a smile.

“With an e-bike, I’ve ridden a total of 1,200 kilometers”, another added proudly.

“Age really isn’t an obstacle to exercising. It’s what makes a good life and everyday living possible” said a third.

Experts say the Kivipuro group provides valuable lessons for elder care throughout Finland.

Kivipuro: Sixty Years of Caring for the Elderly

For more than 60 years, Kivipuro has been at the heart of elderly wellbeing. The centre provides 24-hour assisted living, rehabilitation, and home-care services for around 140 residents, supported by 130 professional staff. Its philosophy, “Elämää elämään” — literally “Life to Living” — reflects Kivipuro’s focus on making every day meaningful.

Since 1995, Kivipuro has partnered with Finnish health technology company HUR, which specializes in safe, user-friendly gym equipment for older adults. Their latest SmartTouch series allows seniors to train multiple muscle groups on one machine, minimizing strain and risk.

“Maintaining muscle strength and mobility is essential for independence. Regular, varied exercise slows down — or even reverses — age-related decline”, explains Mäki-Jouppila.

A Model for Healthy Aging

Experts say the Kivipuro group provides valuable lessons for elder care throughout Finland. Structured, guided exercise — paired with friendship and laughter — helps seniors maintain both mobility and mental well-being.

The group’s members are living proof of its benefits: physically active, socially engaged, and full of good humor, they exemplify the positive impact of community-focused wellbeing in later life.

Research in Finland shows that low physical activity increases the risk of sarcopenia—age-related loss of muscle mass and strength that can lead to frailty and reduced mobility—in older adults (Hämäläinen, Tirkkonen, Savikangas, Alén, Sipilä & Hautala, 2024), highlighting the importance of staying physically active for healthy ageing. Nutrition, social participation, and accessible environments further support older adults’ physical and cognitive health, forming key components of Finland’s healthy ageing model (STM, 2020; WHO, 2020).

Physiotherapy That Empowers

With more than 25 years of experience in geriatric rehabilitation, Mäki-Jouppila has helped shape Kivipuro’s vision of aging with strength, autonomy, and dignity.

Our goal isn’t just care — it’s capability. Exercise gives life to living. Age is no barrier; it’s a reason to keep moving, shares Mäki-Jouppila.

His philosophy — that exercise is empowerment, not merely rehabilitation — is reflected in the center’s emphasis on individualized strength training and varied, purposeful movement designed for residents across the aging journey.

Kivipuro goes beyond conventional care by supporting mobility, confidence, and everyday independence. With the support of HUR and a dedicated team, the center leads the way in creating sustainable practices for wellbeing and longevity — showing that strength, connection, and a high quality of life can be fostered at any age.

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