How movement, skin health, and sisterhood strengthen our longevity

Why staying active and the power of social connection matter

- DR. KAYCEE REYES

At exactly 4:30 a.m. on March 30, long before the rest of Metro Manila even hit snooze on their alarms, a powerful force took over the city’s quiet streets: hundreds of women—of all shapes, ages, and backgrounds—gathered for the All Women’s Run.

But this wasn’t just any fun run. With the theme “Run for Girls, Stand for Freedom,” the event, hosted by Women’s Fitness Asia and powered by Luminisce and Ulthera Prime, was a vibrant celebration of women’s strength, purpose, and potential. It was a movement with meaning. A fusion of fitness, advocacy, and self-love.

As a doctor trained in Preventive Medicine and Dermatology, I’ve spent my life studying how to help people not just look better, but live longer, and live well. That’s why this event struck a chord. Because running is more than exercise, it’s medicine. And when paired with the power of community and conscious self-care, it becomes a life-extending practice.

Movement is medicine: The science of running and longevity

Studies across the globe consistently show that regular aerobic exercise, like running, can add years to your life. A landmark study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that runners had a 30 percent lower risk of death from all causes and could gain up to three extra years of life compared to non-runners. Even five to 10 minutes a day of low-intensity jogging made a measurable difference.