At 100 years old, Hollywood legend Dick Van Dyke is still finding ways to keep his body moving. The actor, best known for Mary Poppins and The Dick Van Dyke Show, recently gave fans a glimpse of his fitness routine, demonstrating that regular exercise remains an important part of his life even after reaching the century mark.
Van Dyke, who celebrated his 100th birthday on December 13, 2025, shared a video on Instagram in August 2026 showing himself using an inversion table, an exercise device that tilts the body backward or upside down. The actor’s message accompanying the clip was brief but revealing: “Keep moving.”
The video offered another look at the habits that have helped Van Dyke maintain an active lifestyle well into his later years. His approach combines regular gym sessions, stretching, abdominal exercises, yoga, and a playful attitude toward physical activity.
Dick Van Dyke’s three-day-a-week workout routine
Van Dyke has maintained a consistent exercise schedule for decades. In an interview on actor Ted Danson’s podcast Where Everybody Knows Your Name in 2025, he explained that he still goes to the gym three times a week.
The veteran entertainer has credited this habit with helping him remain flexible and avoid some of the stiffness that can accompany aging.
His routine includes stretching, sit-ups and yoga, alongside workouts using gym equipment. Rather than treating exercise as an occasional effort, Van Dyke has incorporated it into his weekly schedule.
In a November 2025 excerpt from his book, 100 Rules for Living to 100: An Optimist’s Guide to a Happy Life, he also described how he motivates himself to exercise on days when he feels less enthusiastic.
The rewards include a smoothie or a coffee drink after a workout, a sense of accomplishment and the satisfaction of feeling more limber. He has acknowledged that missing too many gym sessions can leave him feeling stiffer.
His experience illustrates a practical principle: consistency may be more sustainable than relying on motivation alone.
Why dancing is part of his fitness philosophy
For Van Dyke, movement has never been limited to conventional workouts. Dance has long been a defining feature of his career, from his energetic performances in Mary Poppins to his physical comedy on television.
Danson, who recalled seeing Van Dyke at a gym in Malibu, California, described how the older actor would move between weight machines by dancing rather than simply walking.
The anecdote captures Van Dyke’s distinctive approach to fitness: physical activity can be both useful and enjoyable.
Dance can provide cardiovascular exercise while challenging coordination, balance and mobility. For older adults, activities that combine movement with enjoyment may also make it easier to maintain an exercise habit over time.
Van Dyke’s experience does not mean everyone should copy his routine. Exercise needs vary according to a person’s health, mobility and physical abilities. However, his long-standing enthusiasm for movement offers an example of how physical activity can remain part of everyday life.
What does his inversion table workout do?
Van Dyke’s August 2026 video showed him lying on an inversion table before moving his hands behind his head, adding a balance challenge to the position.
Inversion tables use gravity to place the body at an angle, sometimes fully upside down. Some people use them in an attempt to relieve back discomfort or stretch the spine, although the evidence for lasting benefits is limited.
The equipment is not suitable for everyone. Inversion can affect blood pressure and pressure inside the eyes, making it potentially risky for people with certain medical conditions. Older adults should consult a qualified health professional before trying it.
Importantly, Van Dyke’s video documents an exercise he performs; it does not establish that inversion is responsible for his longevity or overall fitness.
His broader routine, rather than any single piece of equipment, provides the more useful lesson: he has continued to prioritize regular physical activity.
Dick Van Dyke’s approach to healthy aging
Van Dyke has also spoken about the importance of maintaining a positive outlook. In interviews around his 100th birthday, he described feeling energetic on some days and less so on others, while emphasizing that he does not habitually wake up in a bad mood.
His philosophy, reflected in the title of his 2025 book, combines optimism with habits that keep him engaged in life.
There is no single exercise routine that guarantees a person will live to 100. Genetics, healthcare, living conditions and other lifestyle factors all influence longevity. Nevertheless, public health guidance consistently supports regular physical activity as a way to help older adults maintain strength, mobility and independence.
For many people, that can mean walking, gentle strength exercises, stretching, balance training or dancing, adapted to individual needs and abilities.
Van Dyke’s century-long life is extraordinary, but his message is straightforward: keep moving, find activities you enjoy and make them a regular part of your life.