Supermodel Twiggy's Philosophy On Aging Is As Much A Warning As It Is Advice

Twiggy firmly believes that stagnation is detrimental to aging. Speaking to Saga Magazine in 2025, the model shared that she had continued prioritizing physical activity in her 70s with a weekly Pilates session. Discussing her commitment to staying active, Twiggy said, "I think the worst thing anyone can do is to stop. We've all read those stories of people who give up work and don't do anything." 

Moreover, she believed that if people weren't working, they should devote their energy to charitable endeavors or travel to save themselves from "stagnating" in life. While the British icon talked about her varied career with the New Zealand Herald, she shared a similar sentiment about staying active, saying, "I don't like analysing my life but I think the fact that I did go on to do lots of different things has helped my longevity." It's worth noting that the idea that leading a purposeful life can promote longevity is backed by research. 

A 2019 study in JAMA Network Open, analyzing 6,985 adults over the age of 50, found that those with the greatest sense of "life purpose" were less likely to die during the study's 4-year period. Overall, that group was also less likely to die of heart, circulatory, or blood conditions over that time. A 2022 study in Psychoneuroendocrinology came to a similar conclusion, determining that older adults who scored highest on sense of purpose were 46% less likely to die over four years in comparison to those who scored the lowest. Now, there could be several reasons why having a life's purpose can help promote longevity.

According to Harvard University, having a life's purpose could compel people to take better care of themselves by eating a nutrient-rich diet, exercising, and prioritizing sleep. Eric S. Kim, PhD, a research scientist in the department of social and behavioral sciences at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, said research had indicated that people who channel their energy towards their life's purpose were less likely to be bothered by external stressors and also more able to quickly bounce back from them. 

A reduction in stress levels could help prevent inflammation, which in turn could reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and other conditions. While Twiggy potentially reaps all these benefits with her focus on her career, she could also be benefiting from her weekly session of Pilates, which is widely considered one of the best exercises for older adults. A 2020 study in the Annals of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy found that Pilates provided a "marked increase" in balance and core strength for older adults. Naturally, those two factors reduced the risks of falls. 

Meanwhile, a 2022 study in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies found that as little as six weeks of Pilates helped improve functional mobility in healthy older adults. Harvard University writes that the low-impact exercise can also help maintain bone density, improve posture, foster immune support functioning, and protect against cognitive decline. With all this in mind, it's unsurprising that Pilates is often deemed one of the best exercises for people with chronic pain, aside from being among the exercises that will put you in a better mood.