I’ve really become passionate about physical fitness. 5 years ago I was so unfit, overweight, no kinaesthetic skills, unflexible and unco-ordinated, and really unhappy. Fast forward 5 years. For the past 4 of these five years, I’ve been an active gym class member, doing yoga, a whole bunch of dance styles, and now back into racing and running. Just crushed a full marathon. I learned how to swim just 4 years ago. Can you believe that? At 31 I finally learned how to swim. You know it’s no wonder I was so depressed in my 20s. I had zero understanding or mastery of my body.
Now I’m fit, happy, full of energy…I love it. I’m doing my Yoga teacher training in the fall. I will have it completed by December. Excitied.
Really though I’m looking to keep developing myself as the most well rounded human athlete I can be. Cause I just love active living. My biggest passions are race activities, and dance (which as high level social / performance activity requires so much ordination and control.)
I’m trying to set my goals for the upcoming year. Yoga is the beginning, and so is running one more marathon. Right now I’m completing my running training to try and beat my 4:26 time.
To be honest though I really want to bring my skills to the next level. I want to be able to move really well, and hell, I feel like gymnastics or something close to that is what I want to obtain. I want to be able to handstand, and even cartwheel (I’ve never done one), and do parkourish things. Jump far and really own the spaces around me.
I really feel I can obtain this now. So much potential has been unlocked in me in the past few years I no longer thing it’s unobtainable. I used to be last place in all my fitness classes. Now I’m usually in the upper half. I love it. I honestly think one day I will want to have fitness instruction in my life at some point. Maybe in my 40’s.
What do you think of these goals? I’m almost 35. Not unobtainable right? I have such direction right now. Does anyone have advice for me for where I’m at as to how to proceed? I mean Yoga training is the next big thing, but I have a month-ish to explore stuff and get my goals and thoughts in place before that begins and I have no time to think about anything but yoga. Anyone ever been on a path like mine?
Well, since you mentioned it, Parkour would be a good activity. I had a friend at the gym who at 60, took it up to keep up with his 18 year old son. That guy was in amazing shape.
Check out some of the local Crossfit gyms - they are about as close as you will get to a whole-body gymnastics workout. They vary quite a bit, so you might have to hunt around to find one that has what you are interested in.
Beyond my normal weightlifting and cardio, I’ve added some gymnastic-type exercises, mostly to help with things like the Spartan race, where climbing ropes and getting over walls is important.
FWIW, I’ll be 57 next month, and I am in pretty much the best condition of my life.
How about body weight exercises, like pull-ups and tricep dips? I find it very rewarding every time I can do another pull-up. This also helps build functional strength.
Yes all this is so awesome. I was actually hoping to do a Spartan race this summer. My
time became filled with just full marathon training so I don’t think I’m ready for the Spartan. It’s in two weeks. Thinking of deferring to next summer. But doing two marathons in a summer is pretty damn rewarding.
I’m addicted to group training and having trainers. Nothing pushes me harder than being in a group. And I love the people I meet. I’m in a running group this summer and it has been the best thing ever. I want more experiences like this. So crossfit interests me. I’ve been a couple of times. I keep worrying about all
The negative press it gets with injurys, but I like the group aspect and the exercises it does. Feel free to convince me otherwise. I’m listening.
Something I’ve considered is doing a kettlebell cert after the yoga training. I initially did yoga cause I wanted a minimalistic workout. Kettlebell is an extension of that. But I also want really controlled fluid movement skills like a gymnast would have. Body weight stuff is totally my jam, but what other classes would fit into that? I’ve even tried pilates. But really I’m more into something with a few more dudes around. Or just a more even balance. Yoga is okay for this. Pilates I felt so outside the box
So, why not that? Add in some planche progression and/or some other basic home gymnastics inspired body weight exercises. Handstand push ups. Progression to muscle-ups on rings and hanging els. So on.
It’s the group aspect. So far I haven’t been able to find some sort of group adult class in my area. I really really value having trainers present to ensure I doing things correctly with good form and technique, etc.
Yeah then gymnastics inspired is tough. Crossfits do some of it but there is zero quality control of instruction: some great and some encourage dangerous shit.
FWIW I’ve known several who have gotten significant injuries doing Spartans - mainly blowing out their knees.
On the other hand it is much better to maintain a very good level of physical fitness for the rest of your life than to peak now and then give it all up because it is too hard on you. So for the previous suggestions which of these can you see yourself doing 40 years from now?
My thoughts are that if I do things with good form and technique, listen to my body, etc (I’m pretty good about this), I should be ok for doing all these activities later in life. I also can’t subscribe to the approach of not trying something because of what MIGHT happen. There’s too much awesome to try There are so many older athletes now running marathons, etc. I’ve never had any injury. I think my body is pretty well matched for being an active person. I pay real good attention to being careful with my form. If I lose my for, it’s time to rest or stop. I really like the idea of crossfit, but it’s that negligence of quality control as stated above that concerns me.
I am absolutely interested in this. You know it keeps getting brought up. I need help finding the style for me. I love classic martial arts. Control and co-ordination. I like the sheer athleticism and superheroism of parkour and gymnastics. I wonder if there’s something that would crossover?
Another idea is tennis. There are tons of beginner group lessons out there no matter your city. A good athlete can learn proper technique fairly fast with practice. Then there are group leagues where teams play against each other with the option of advancing to state, regional, and national competition. It’s a lot of fun, it’s competitive, and it’s a great way to meet new people.
I have a friend who teaches aerial silks and I had the same thought. They would love to have an active and passionate guy in their troupe, and it’s a really fun and interesting way to work out different muscles.
Reading your OP made me think of my friend who is a BeachBody coach. I’m not sure if that is her profession or if she does it as a sideline but her Facebook feed is 100% energy, encouragement and exercise.
I don’t think she started until her very late 20s. She transformed her body, though. She’s 34 now.
Maybe you would like to BE a BeachBody coach or some type of personal trainer? I’d be happy to send you her contact info if you’re interested. She will talk to you about motivation and athleticism all day.
The silks thing just feels a bit feminine to me…maybe I’m wrong. You know I love dance in terms of West Coast Swing and hip hop cause I get to try and be funky cool like James Brown and MJ, while grooving with other people. It’s a total party, and it’s legitly challenging with control and coordination. Core strength matters! So I just have to clarify cause sometimes when I put the word “dance” out there it gets perceived in different ways.
Beachbody…doesn’t turn me on. Glad it’s working for your friend. I like things that are a little less…evangelical…I just say that cause a friend of mine is going zero to beachbody and she’s now recruiting on her social media feed like she’s a born again beach body coach (pictures with her smoothies…I don’t feel she’s being very wholistic about her approach to fitness…but she’s also pretty young and learning). I prefer things that have had some tradition, staying power, and some more widespread acknowledgment of authenticity.
I would like to get into personal training, but first I gotta prove myself
Tennis also sounds cool…and so does basketball…damn now I have lots of ideas.
One does not need to stay married to the same fitness activity or even activities for 40 years. Get bored with one? Move onto another. Or keep a wide variety going now. For some the hitting higher levels of achievement in the one activity is the rush that keeps them involved and then focus (and sports specificity) matters. But for others mixing it up one year to another or even within each week keeps it interesting for the long haul.
I’m unfit and in fact I’ve had reumatoid arthritis my whole life (not exaggerating) so there’s a lot that I shouldn’t do. (Started life on a bad foot around age 4 when doctors told my parents that I shouldn’t do any running or jumping.) I’ve always been more active than some, but still not great. Now that I’m in my mid-50’s it’s becoming impossible to keep my weight down. The challenge for me is that exercise simply makes my joints hurt, there’s never any pleasure in it. I can’t distract myself by watching tv or reading while on a treadmill because… it’s easier to just sit down and watch tv. Right? So I have to do something FUN.
Fun!
Recently tried rock climbing at a nearby indoor climbing place. The first couple visits I really, really sucked at it. I’m afraid of falling, my legs are too weak to hold my body weight, my arms aren’t much better. But on the third visit I started to see improvement. And my husband has been going with me, so now we’ve both signed up for memberships and are each other’s climbing partners. I’ve discovered that it’s a whole-body strength training exercise, including core. It’s me against gravity (my lifelong foe), but my hubby who I trust more than anyone else in the world is my belayer. I’m challenging myself mind and body. And after each session… I have muscle soreness from lactic acid buildup, i.e. NORMAL muscle soreness, but no sore joints. It’s a marvel.
I’ll third circus and aerial fitness. You do need to check to make sure that the place you’re at cares about safety - but (from my limited experience), places are aware that they’re doing something that is dangerous in many dimensions.
And it’s fun!
