Letter From The Editor: Gym Class

I started going to the gym this year. I have been wanting to be able to go on even bigger adventures. I was ready to try bigger hikes, longer kayak trips, and even more challenging yoga classes. I decided this was the year to focus on that goal. Exercise has been something that historically, I just can’t seem to stick to. I always jump in way too fast, never know what I’m doing, and inevitably start getting migraines. This time around, I tried to approach it differently - and it’s given me lessons all over my life. Slowing down, choosing small milestones, understanding that rest is a requirement and holding onto “the why” have been key to 3 months of steady progress (so far!).?

Slow and steady wins the race.?

Whether it’s a project for work, like getting better at a certain type of surgery or continuing to show up at the gym, how we frame the process in our minds is the first step. We have to be ok with slowing down and maybe going back to basics. For example, I restarted exercising with something I know: yoga. I just tried to get on the mat every single day, even for a short time. Some days were so short I wondered if I was doing anything at all. At the end of the 3 months, I was chomping at the bit to level up. For the first time - I was excited to exercise. Slowing myself down was the only way to get fired up about doing more.?

When it Comes to Milestones, Size Matters.

The next step was the gym.?

I have always been intimidated by lifting weights. It always seemed like a really good way to get hurt and lifting only the bar felt pathetic. Thankfully, I had friends around me to show me how to get started this time. They shared their routine, showed me good form, and cheered me on in lifting the smallest weights I’ve ever seen.?

I thought I would lift more weight every time I went, but that absolutely didn’t happen. Some days I felt stronger, and some were huge steps backwards. I had to let go of the idea of always moving to “the next step,” because progress isn’t always visible.?

Rest Isn’t Optional

Once my momentum started to pick up, I noticed I was afraid to stop. Missing one day felt like a potential slip off the proverbial wagon. One night, after a long day of work, I went to the gym. Despite knowing that I feel the best working out in the morning, I forced myself to go. It was awful. I couldn’t lift anything, I felt drained and the process was not fun like it normally would be. I left 20 minutes later and felt worse than when I started. I was tired and frustrated.?

The reality is, our bodies need time to recover. As a gym noob I still didn’t understand that and it was a lesson I had to learn. When it comes to building muscle, rest is not optional. For me, rest wasn’t just about tired muscles. It was about alleviating pressure to make the process remain fun and positive. Forcing myself into a daily gym routine was not going to lead to lasting habits. Resting not only saved me from injury, but it also felt great to take a day off knowing that it was all a part of the plan. Could this apply to other areas of life? I would argue that it absolutely can.

Reinforce the Why Regularly

My goal in starting this process was to be able to do things I wanted without the constraints of my physical abilities. It all came together this month when I did a 6-mile hike with a 1700-foot elevation gain. Rated “Hard” on AllTrails, I used to be afraid of challenges like these. This time, I went for it. It was tough and there were parts where I still ran out of breath but I felt stronger. It felt just a little bit easier. It felt possible. The commitment I made is paying off in small ways each day. Some days have been extremely challenging and some have felt too easy. It’s all been part of the journey. It’s so meaningful to reinforce the why that started you on a journey by checking in. For me, that’s a quarterly difficult hike. For you, it could be applying the skills you’ve been working on in the practice. You’ll start to notice small changes, and I promise, it will just keep pushing you along.

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The ways I have learned about exercise have fundamentally changed my perspective on personal growth. The same principles apply to making progress anywhere. Slowing down, even going back to basics, sets the foundation for your mind to be accepting of the challenges ahead. Small milestones to mark success help you to avoid injury, losing momentum or giving up. Understanding that rest is required to grow healthily gives you a chance to enjoy the journey and rest with a conscience free of “I’m not doing enough”. Knowing that progress is not linear and each day will look different allows you to give yourself some grace along the way. I’m excited to keep going (my newest phase has introduced me to Pickleball) and I hope this helps you look at what progress can be in a new way too.?

Your Uncharted Newsletter Editor,

Tyler

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