Iñaxi Lasa says she has trained for two hours every day since starting at age 94 – now she shares her secrets to longevity
10:12, 27 Nov 2025Updated 10:37, 27 Nov 2025
Iñaxi Lasa not only trains regularly, but has a stellar diet(Image: Jam Press/Iñaxi Lasa)
A 101-year-old bodybuilder who dedicates two hours daily to the gym has revealed her secrets to living a long life. Iñaxi Lasa has battled through World War II, breast cancer, two hip fractures, an operation for glaucoma and macular degeneration, and hospitalisation for Covid-19 at 98 years of age.
“And every day I fight osteoarthritis,” she said. Now, with over 130,000 followers on TikTok and Instagram, she is regarded as an inspiration.
The centenarian from Beasain near Bilbao, Spain, never skips a day of exercise, often joined by her son, Iñaki, 63. She started training when her carer sustained an injury and handed her a gym membership card.
Iñaxi trains for two hours a day(Image: Jam Press/Iñaxi Lasa)
Speaking to What’s The Jam, she said: “I started going to the gym when I was 94, but I was already very active before that. Now in winter, I get up at 8am and go for a walk, if it’s not raining.
“Then I go to the gym with my son. We spend two hours doing strength training; we don’t do cardio at the gym.
“Strength training makes me feel alive, and it’s also very good for my mind. At first, I had two personal trainers, but now that I’ve learned the exercises, I can do them on my own.
“And as my eyesight isn’t great, my son helps me. Exercise is the best thing an elderly person can do for their health.”
She added: “And it’s the best medicine for longevity.” Iñaxi also has a diet of fresh vegetables and poultry sourced from the local area. She puts her reaching the remarkable milestone of 101 years down to olive oil and vegetables.
The pensioner fitness influencer said: “We live in the countryside and have plenty of fruits and vegetables. And we eat white meat, although we used to eat beef.
“But we hardly eat any flour or sugar. Any food to live longer? I’d say olive oil and vegetables. Being active is the best, but diet is also important.”
Since becoming an internet sensation, Iñaxi said social media has helped to “empower” senior citizens like her. With help from her son, she quickly amassed 112,000 TikTok followers “almost by accident”.
Iñaxi said: “We started messing about on social media like a game. We have a good time recording them, but we didn’t think anyone would pay attention to us. Social media serves to empower older people and give visibility to a community that has been hit hard by life.”
Iñaxi, who worked in agriculture, added: “I really like that I’m an example for other people. At least that’s what they tell me when they write to me.”
Iñaxi is urging people to ‘fight and never give up'(Image: Jam Press/Iñaxi Lasa)
She said: “I was born in 1924 in a farmhouse in the Basque Country. I was the third of five sisters; my father died when I was eight years old.
“I got married quite late at 34. My husband’s name was Gregorio, and we had one son, who is single and available. I don’t have any grandchildren. Gregorio and I worked in the fields for many years.”
Iñaxi also had some wisdom to impart to the younger generations. “The important thing is to have a goal, no matter what it is, no matter how small,” she advised.
“You have to have motivation to get out of bed and to do things, and for all that, you need to be somewhat functional. The gym and exercise will help with all of that.
“Life is a constant fight, and you have to keep fighting with determination. You have to fight and never give up, become strong in the face of adversity, and never give up.
“See the solutions before the problems arise, although sometimes it’s not easy.” Numerous health experts also advocate for elderly people to engage in physical activity to maintain their physical and mental wellbeing.
Dr David Ezpeleta, vice president of the Spanish Society of Neurology, stated that physical activity “improves cerebral vascularisation, helps form new neuronal connections.” He added that it “is associated with healthier brain ageing, delaying the onset of symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases.”
Coral Sanfeliu, a researcher at the Spanish National Research Council, noted: “Population studies show that exercise reduces all-cause mortality in adults aged 50 to 70.”