This story comes from a conversation with 25-year-old Aliya Brooks about her beloved grandmother, Mildred “Millie” Cruzat. Aliya grew up in Chicago and now lives in Atlanta, where she works in medical device sales and also teaches stretch and mobility classes. What follows is her heartfelt story, shared in her own words, and gently edited for clarity.
My grandma Millie played a big part in my life. I think many people can relate to having a grandparent who just “gets” you better than anyone else. For me, that person was Millie.
When I was only 2 years old, my mom had to stay in the hospital for a couple of months with a broken ankle. During that time, I lived with Millie. We both lived in Chicago, and after my mom healed, I still spent most weekends at Millie’s house all the way up until I left for college. Many times, my mom, dad, and sister came too, and those weekends are some of my happiest memories.
Age was just a number for Millie
When Millie was only 18, she packed her bags and moved to New York City to chase her dream of becoming a dancer. Just a few years later, by age 22 in 1950, she was part of the Broadway show Shuffle Along. Around that same time, she also started teaching dance.
Millie’s passion for dance never left her. She stopped performing on stage around age 60, but she kept teaching. She taught children’s ballet in Chicago until she was 70, and even led ballet and stretching classes all the way until she was 93. That was something she was very proud of.
Her students came from all walks of life and were anywhere from 5 to 85 years old. She also gave her time to kids in Chicago’s housing projects, teaching them dance in schools. Through her love of dance, she touched countless lives.
To Millie, age really was just a number. Even the way I called her showed that. She never wanted me to call her “grandma.” She just wanted to be “Millie,” because she believed so much of life was about mindset. It might sound like a small detail, but it was powerful. I love that about her — it showed me how even the words we use can shape the way we think and feel.
Millie focused on daily movement
Millie taught me so many good habits about staying healthy. She started every day with a long walk along the Chicago Lakefront — sometimes seven miles, and sometimes even running it! She kept that up, along with doing the splits, until she was 92, when her doctors finally told her to slow down. Because of her active lifestyle, she hardly ever had health problems.
She believed in simple, everyday movement. Instead of driving, she would walk to the grocery store. She always took the stairs to her apartment. And she loved playing tennis, a sport that my granddad, uncle, and mom enjoyed too.
When I stayed over at her house, she made mornings special. She’d wake me up so we could stretch together in her living room. Before we started, we’d share a little fruit. Those small routines left me with big lessons about health, movement, and joy.
Her diet was simple, but she enjoyed treats
Millie taught me so much about eating well. Most of the time, I saw her enjoying fruits and vegetables — she especially loved kale, broccoli, and blueberries. We often made smoothies together and drank lots of water.
Her meals were simple and healthy, but she never believed in strict rules. Her motto was, “Everything in moderation.” She had a soft spot for Portillo’s chocolate cake, and she always ordered her Dunkin’ coffee with five creams and five sugars — nearly every day!
Millie also showed me that getting older doesn’t have to be something scary. She told me she grew up shy and quiet, but the Millie I knew was full of confidence. She grew into that by taking care of herself with dance, stretching, and even the way she carried her body. She always said to push your shoulders back, roll them down, and walk with your head held high. It was her way of teaching me that confidence often starts with the little things — and it’s a lesson I try to share with others today.
I started my own mobility business to honor my grandmother’s legacy
Millie’s life and lessons inspired me in ways I can hardly put into words. In 2020, I decided to start my own business, Ageless Mobility, because I felt like the world needed to see what she was doing. When the pandemic hit, I moved back home and stayed with her in Chicago. Looking back, that time was such a blessing. I knew she was getting older, and I wanted to soak in every moment I could.
I started recording little videos of her — not with a plan to build a business, but simply because I thought people should see how amazing she was. It wasn’t about creating a brand. It was about sharing Millie’s example and her joy for movement.
Millie passed away in 2021 at the age of 94 after living with heart failure. One of her last wishes was that I would teach classes at my college, Spelman. After she was gone, I realized that carrying her lessons forward would be the best way to honor her dream.
Today, my company offers a monthly subscription with stretch videos, weekly in-person classes at Atlanta hotels, and even fresh-pressed juices. Next year, I’m planning a retreat, and I hope to bring Millie’s vision to other cities too.
Her lessons didn’t just shape me — they’ve touched so many others. I feel so proud and excited to carry on her legacy, one stretch and one smile at a time.
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