Shebah, 67 – Resilience, Passion, & Purpose

Meet Shebah Carfagna. One of the 2025 Senior Planet Sponsored Athletes, she’ll be sharing updates on her health and wellness journey through the rest of this year. Shebah, age 67, was balancing a professional career, her family’s needs, and personal fitness goals. Now a full-time fitness enthusiast with multiple businesses and certifications, she finds excitement in helping others get healthy.

As a single mother at the time raising a son with autism, I faced immense challenges balancing my demanding corporate career in nonprofit fundraising with the needs of my family. The stress was overwhelming, but I found my sanctuary in movement and exercise. What began as a personal outlet to manage stress evolved into a lifelong mission to empower others through fitness.

Finding Passion and Purpose

My passion for movement became a business career, allowing me to help others while navigating my own challenges as a single parent.

My journey started in 1997 through pre-dawn workouts with a group of fellow professional women. Those early mornings not only gave me structure and purpose but also introduced me to the transformative power of community in fitness. By 2005, I decided to leave the corporate world and dedicate myself fully to fitness, earning 15 certifications in various modalities, including personal training, group fitness, Pilates, spin, and boxing. My passion for movement became a business career, allowing me to help others while navigating my own challenges as a single parent.

In 2016, along my partner and fellow 2025 Sponsored Athlete Nate Wilkins, we co-founded Ageless Workout Method, a Miami-based wellness company focused on functional aging and holistic health. Together, we redefined the fitness and wellness experience by offering innovative programs outside the traditional gym setting, collaborating with luxury hotels, spas, and diverse communities. My approach emphasizes meeting clients where they are—whether they’re beginners or seasoned athletes—and tailoring programs to their unique needs.

Recovery and Resilience

In 2018, I required a total hip replacement and joint toe replacement. Because of my diligent focus on pre-habilitation for a year prior to the procedure, I was able to return to work in just eight days, teaching aqua. Two weeks later, I traveled to the Special Olympics USA Games in Seattle to witness my son compete for the State of Florida in softball.

Just as the COVID pandemic arrived, another fitness company I co-founded, Panache, pivoted with the times and began Zoom fitness broadcasts to serve the needs of our client base. Today, Panache regularly broadcasts classes on our own platform and for other fitness providers like AgeBold.

Outreach to Others

I have been a guest presenter on podcasts discussing aging, longevity, menopause, and women’s strength. Most recently, I appeared for BlackRock at the 2025 Rethinking Retirement Summit in Washington, DC earlier in March. At the end of March, I will be a presenter for the second time at the Livelong Experience in Palm Beach, Florida with other pro-aging experts.

What sets me apart now is my commitment to longevity, pro-aging, and changing the way ageism is viewed nationally. I believe in the mantra that “aging is a gift” and work tirelessly to help women over 50 stay strong, vibrant, and confident. Through the fitness programs I develop, I integrate evidence-based and data-driven wellness strategies with medical fitness, addressing challenges like chronic conditions and disease. My focus on eco-therapy and mindfulness underscores my holistic philosophy: true wellness encompasses mind, body, and spirit.

I inspire clients to embrace an “ageless mindset” … to adapt to life’s obstacles rather than letting them derail their goals.

My impact extends beyond physical health; I inspire clients to embrace an “ageless mindset.” I encourage people to adapt to life’s obstacles rather than letting them derail their goals. Whether it’s finding time for movement after a busy day or adjusting routines to changing circumstances, I teach that consistency and flexibility are key.

Something I would like to leave with the Senior Planet Community is that it’s never too late to prioritize yourself. Start where you are—whether it’s a walk around the block or trying something new—and keep moving forward. Never let the condition manage you; you have to manage the condition. Embrace every step as an opportunity for growth, because your best self is waiting on the other side of commitment and courage.

Save the Summer Date

I look forward to sharing more with the Senior Planet community at my virtual presentation later this summer. Save the date: July 16, at 1:30pm EDT. Stay tuned for more information as the date gets closer!

In need of a little motivation to get moving? Join our daily health and wellness programs, stay tuned to the latest news and articles from SeniorPlanet.org by signing up for The Orbit weekly newsletter, and follow us on social media (Facebook | YouTube | Instagram) to get to know these awe-inspiring athletes. You might just find a new love for fitness along the way!

Images courtesy of Shebah Carfagna