I want to tell you a sad story that, thankfully, has a happy ending.
I’m hoping it gives both you and your dog a healthier, stronger year ahead.
I have a friend — let’s call her Susan. (I’m changing her name to protect her privacy, but her story is real.)
Susan is in her late 60s and has been an avid swimmer for years. She’s the kind of person who could swim laps with the grace of a dolphin. I used to joke that she must have been a mermaid in her previous life.
But about 18 months ago, her shoulder seized up.
And suddenly, the thing that kept her strong and energized — swimming — disappeared from her life.
Without exercise, Susan changed.
Every time I saw her, she looked a little smaller… a little weaker… almost as if she was slowly withering.
It broke my heart.
I could see her confidence in full recovery slipping, she became worried and anxious, seeing that the current treatment plans she was offered were not working. And confidence is tied to strength more than most people realize.
A few months ago, when she came for a visit, worrying about her injury, I offered to show her a simple strength routine.
We didn’t start with anything dramatic.
No heavy weights. No lung-shredding cardio. We kept things nice and easy: gentle, controlled movements designed to wake up muscles that had gone dormant.
When we first started, Susan couldn’t even lift a five pound weight without my help.
But after her second session, she sent me a message that made my day: “Peter, I walked up the stairs today and noticed it felt easier.”
That’s how strength works. A little effort can go a long way, especially as we get older. But then, Susan unexpectedly stopped coming and despite us meeting a few times for a visit, she never mentioned her exercise.
I suspect, she was instructed by her physical therapist not to do this. I didn’t dare to ask.
I only know that they have been treating her ineffectively since the injury started 18 months ago.
When we lose strength, everything gets harder: climbing stairs, lifting groceries, getting up from the floor after playing with a dog toy that somehow rolled under the couch.
Even worse, losing strength also comes with falling more often, and falls and fractures are one of the leading causes of shortened lifespan.
About 30% of people never regain the strength prior to their injury.
The stats are frightening, once we’re in our 50s, 60s, and beyond, losing strength becomes the rule not the exception — unless we take action.
The truth is, building strength is the closest thing we’ve got to sipping from the Fountain of Youth.
When we build strength:
- Balance improves
- Joints are stronger and more flexible
- We fall less often (and bounce back faster if we do)
- Our metabolism works better
- Our confidence grows
- We live longer, too.
In fact, studies show that staying active as we age is linked to a 30% — 40% lower risk of death from any cause. ¹
Keeping strength really is the master key to aging well.
Yes, food matters. So does sleep and supplements.
But building and maintaining a strong body is the foundation upon which everything else is built.
Of course, we don’t do this just for ourselves.
I know you love your dog — that’s why we’re connected in the first place.
And our dogs need us to be strong, mobile, and active.
They need us to walk them on those cold mornings when the blanket is calling. They need us to lift them into the car when their own hips get stiff.
They need us to guide them through their golden years with love, patience… and strength.
If we stay strong, we get more years of heartwarming memories together.
And if you’ve ever faced the heartbreak of losing a dog too soon, you know how precious every year — every day — truly is.
There is only a limited number of summers we have together.
As you read this email, you might be thinking, “Peter, I know I should get stronger, but I don’t know where to start.”
You’re not alone if you feel that way.
Maybe you’ve stepped away from the gym and the idea of going back feels intimidating.
Maybe you never liked the gym and would rather stay home but you don’t know how to get started.
Maybe your joints ache, and you’re scared of doing something wrong.
I get it.
I’ve seen so many people freeze at this exact point. Not because of a frozen shoulder, but because building strength feels confusing or overwhelming.
It is hard work!
That’s why I want to share a free resource that can help you start safely at home, without feeling judged or pushed too hard.
My partner, Dean, has been a physiotherapist/physical therapist for over 30 years.
He’s also a yoga teacher and fitness trainer — a combination that makes him gentle, practical, and laser-focused on helping you improve strength and mobility. He just turned 70 so his teaching stems from his own personal experience of staying strong, mobile and pain-free.
On his YouTube channel, Dean shares expert guidance and simple exercises that improve core strength, balance, and functional movement.
He also takes our human line products regularly including FeelGood Omega H+, JointButter H+ and GreenMin H+ to prevent osteoporosis and fractures.
This is the kind of strength that helps you walk farther, get up from your bed or couch more easily, and support your dog as they age too.
If anyone can help you build and maintain strength in a way that feels doable, it’s Dean. (BTW, he just came back from Nepal, spending two weeks hiking at altitude of 15 - 18 000 feet to celebrate his 70’s.)
Here are 20 free videos to help you stay strong, energized, and active this year.
Strength keeps us moving forward — literally.
It gives us the freedom to walk farther, heal faster, and stay active as the years go by.
And it gives our dogs more of the one thing they want most from us: time.
So in 2026, I hope you find a routine that keeps you strong — for yourself, and for the dog who’s counting on you.
