Training for Life

This morning I started out my day going to a spin class (check out my old post on Ride) – a great spin studio here in Austin. Towards the end of class they typically play a slower song, crank up the resistance, and the class ‘climbs a hill’. During this morning’s hill climb our instructor, Caprice (she rocks!) talked about letting go and using this tough climb as a symbolism for continuing to persevere through tough times. She talked about being open to embracing these challenges not just on the bike but in life.

Over the past few years when people see me working out, I’ll get asked what I’m training for. As someone who is not historically athletic at all, it makes me giggle. The truth is that for me exercise is a total symbolism for life. Anytime I’ve thought about it as a way to “lose weight” or get “toned”, I stop having fun and completely lose motivation. When I’m creative with my workouts, push myself as hard as I can, and move in ways that make me happy, there’s a freedom in it and a recognition that if I can push through 2 more reps of something even though I feel like I can’t anymore that I’m building a mental toughness to push through whatever might come in the future. So now I say I’m training for life. I find myself dancing, smiling and laughing when I’m exercising all while gasping for air and drenched in sweat. I love it.

When I first started training more ‘athletically’ it was really intimidating for me. Some moves like jump ups and burpees jumping up into a pull up were kind of scary. But I pushed myself to do them, gave it 100%, and fell in love with the adrenaline rush of plyos along with a variety of using my body in ways I never thought I’d be able to do. It translated into a confidence in other areas of my life. To me, physical training at the gym is equal to mental training. Jumping up onto a platform can be scary just like jumping into the risk of starting your own business or falling in love or telling someone you’re sorry. We won’t ever be ‘ready’ for any of it but with the leap and practice we get better and stronger and those things that originally felt so scary become the very things that bring joy and liberation.