Her workaround was “rejoicing exercises”: a freewheeling combination of gospel music, singing, stretching, shouting, and praising. She occasionally added a few floor exercises and squats—especially, as she put it, “diddly-squats.” In doing so, she stumbled upon an important truth: Movement doesn’t have to feel like punishment to count. Parton tossed out the rules about what exercise was supposed to look like and designed something that reflected what she needed.
Here’s what we all can learn from Parton’s views on exercise and movement. Parton’s routine combined the forces that shaped so much of her life: faith, music, and creative self-expression. She began singing in her maternal grandfather Jake Owens’ church at age 6, and later described feeling divinely inspired as a songwriter, says Leigh H.
Edwards, a professor of English at Florida State University and author of Dolly Parton, Gender, and Country Music. Judy Eaton, a professor of psychology at Wilfrid Laurier University in Ontario, teaches positive psychology—the study of how people flourish, rather than only how they struggle. She calls Parton “the poster child for positive psychology.” Many of Eaton’s students arrive knowing Parton only from Hannah Montana.
Eaton introduces them to her as an example of gratitude, optimism, and authenticity; after Parton passed away, former students emailed to say they were grateful her class had helped them understand who she was as a person. Many people have absorbed the idea that there’s one correct way to exercise. But they don’t necessarily tell people how to fit movement into hectic, unpredictable lives.
Fitness marketing has strengthened the idea that a workout only counts when it meets a particular standard, Segar says, creating an all-or-nothing trap: Do the “right” workout, or do nothing. Parton built her routine around what she would actually do. Instead of deciding exercise wasn’t for her, she decided the gym-and-sweat version wasn’t for her.
George Hennawi, physician executive director of geriatrics and senior services at MedStar Health, sees particular value in that approach as people age. When he asks his patients what it means to age successfully, their answers usually involve continuing to do what they already love—whether that’s traveling, gardening, singing, or spending time with their grandchildren. How do I define living successfully, living happily, aging well?” Her answer, as he sees it: “I don’t love exercise—let me bring exercise to the stuff that I love to do.” That also means reconsidering why you’re moving.
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