Super Age Games: How Canyon Ranch Experts Are Preparing and Recovering — Plus Using Data to Age Better

The newest longevity movement asks the question: How well can you live? 

That’s the philosophy we live by every day at Canyon Ranch, which led us to partner with the Super Age Games, a one-day event that measures the physical qualities most closely tied to healthy aging. Participants will move through eight trials that test grip strength, aerobic capacity, agility, balance, functional strength, endurance under load, working memory under physical stress, and relational capacity in real time. They’ll establish official benchmarks and leave with a personalized training plan designed to keep improving long after the event ends. 

Joining the action will be a few experts representing Team Canyon Ranch — Dr. Stacy Sims, Liz Baker Plosser, and Dr. Jennifer Wagner — who are embracing the same mindset they'll encourage everyone else to adopt: curiosity over comparison.  

Ahead of the event, we spoke with them about how they’re preparing for the Games, why the most important competition is with yesterday's version of yourself, and more.  

Why Performance Data Matters More Than Ever 

Longevity isn't measured by birthdays, but by how well your body functions.  

Dr. Wagner, Chief Health and Performance Officer at Canyon Ranch, explains how the Super Age Games were designed to explore the areas most closely correlated with longevity “Cardiovascular fitness, strength, balance, and mobility. When we think about living healthy, independent lives, these fitness variables are critical." 

While the wellness world often focuses on blood tests and wearables, functional performance tells another equally important story. Can you generate power? Recover efficiently? Maintain your balance? Move confidently? 

Grip strength, aerobic capacity, lower-body power, mobility, and balance have all been linked in research to healthspan — the number of years we remain active, resilient, and independent. 

The Super Age Games simply give you a way to measure them. 

The Best Score Is Your Own 

Fitness testing can sound intimidating. That's exactly why our experts encourage people to change how they think about it. 

“It’s a starting point,” says Dr. Wagner. “We often see people who feel the need to ‘train’ for the assessment. I try to encourage a different mindset. One of curiosity and growth. We have no idea what our potential is if we don’t know where we’re starting from.” 

That philosophy is shared by Liz Baker Plosser, journalist, athlete, and longtime health and fitness enthusiast. 

“There will absolutely be superhumans competing, and that's part of what makes an event like this so fun,” she says. “My advice is to let those athletes inspire you rather than compare yourself to them. Comparison has a way of stealing the joy from an experience.” 

Instead? 

“Focus on what you're capable of and what you can learn about yourself. And remember: you're probably inspiring someone, too, whether you realize it or not. Show up with great energy, stay curious, and enjoy the experience. You'll get a lot more out of the day if you treat it as an opportunity rather than a test.” 

What Our Experts Are Doing to Prepare 

The Canyon Ranch team isn't relying on shortcuts heading into the Games. They're doubling down on fundamentals. 

For Liz, longevity training looks surprisingly simple. 

“I strength train four or five times a week. I prioritize protein at every meal. I protect my sleep as much as possible. I work on managing stress, and I make time for the people I love.” 

Those habits reflect the pillars she believes support lifelong health: 

• Strength  

• Cardiovascular fitness  

• Nutrition  

• Sleep  

• Stress management  

• Social connection  

“Longevity isn't built through a single workout, supplement, or wellness hack,” says Liz. “It's the result of hundreds of small choices that add up over time.” 

Preparing specifically for the Games means becoming a well-rounded athlete — not simply excelling at one discipline. 

"The goal isn't perfection,” Liz reminds potential participants. “It's showing up as the strongest, most capable version of yourself." 

Recovery Is Part of the Training 

Training gets the spotlight. Recovery creates the adaptation. 

It's a principle Dr. Stacy Sims, exercise physiologist and leading expert in women's performance and healthy aging, has spent decades championing. 

Building muscle, improving cardiovascular fitness, and increasing resilience don't happen during the workout itself. They happen afterward — when sleep, nutrition, protein intake, stress management, and intentional recovery allow the body to rebuild stronger. 

Recovery becomes even more important as we age, when maintaining muscle mass, supporting hormonal health, and preserving mobility all play increasingly important roles in long-term vitality. It's one reason our integrative, whole-person approach extends far beyond exercise. Performance is only one piece of the longevity equation. The habits that happen between workouts often matter just as much. 

Why Personalized Data Changes Everything 

Generic wellness advice can only take you so far. Personalized data tells you what your body needs. That's where our LONGEVITY8™ program takes the conversation even deeper. 

While the Super Age Games focus on physical performance testing, LONGEVITY8 combines those functional insights with comprehensive medical and lifestyle data to create a truly personalized plan for healthy aging. 

Guests receive advanced health testing — including over 15 diagnostic tests and more than 200 biomarkers — across 18 one-on-one consultations led by longevity experts. 

Rather than simply collecting information, the program translates it into action. 

“Guests not only receive a clear picture of where they are currently on their health journey,” says Dr. Wagner, “but they also develop an individual roadmap for sustaining and improving their health based on their values, beliefs, goals, and preferences.”

The Real Goal? Keep Improving. 

One of Dr. Wagner's favorite parts of data is what happens after the numbers come in. 

“Many people are positively surprised that what they’re doing is already moving the needle,” she says. “Once we have data, we can prioritize where there’s the greatest opportunity for improvement; we can set challenging, yet achievable goals, and celebrate success.” 

That's exactly what the Super Age Games are designed to encourage. Not perfection. Not comparison. Progress. 

As Liz puts it, “The testing and results are just part of the experience. I'm excited to watch incredible athletes, soak up the energy, meet people who are equally passionate about aging well, and learn from them. That's a huge part of the value.” 

Because the strongest version of yourself isn't determined by today's score. It's built by what you choose to do with it tomorrow.