As the new year dawned, I noticed an older woman at my gym. She appeared to be in her late 60s—slightly overweight, with a distended abdomen, shuffling as she moved. Yet, she had made a bold choice: she secured the services of a personal trainer, a young university student, to guide her. That in itself was commendable.
I quietly admired her bravery. Most older women wouldn’t even consider weightlifting, which is a tragedy of epic proportions. The older we get the more muscle mass we lose. If we don’t work on maintaining it, this gradual deterioration speeds up significantly.
We live in an era of unwellness, where many carry excess weight and are too lethargic to think about lifting anything unless absolutely necessary. Generating the energy to lift for the sake of lifting feels inconceivable to most.
Kudos to this woman!
They began in the same area where I often begin my workout. As I observed her first few sessions, I noticed something peculiar. She wasn’t just shuffling—her shoes were far too big. A significant gap between her heel and the back of her sneaker suggested they were at least two sizes too large.
Literally and figuratively, she was walking in shoes that didn’t fit. She had stepped into something new, something unfamiliar. She had to shuffle to keep up, to keep her feet in those oversized shoes—just as she had to find her way into this new identity of strength.
But here’s the truth: work at something long enough, and what once felt foreign will begin to fit. Over time, as she becomes stronger, more flexible, and more balanced, the thought that resistance training isn’t “for her” will lose its grip. Why? Because a new energy will take its place—the energy of confidence.
The Mind-Body Alliance
Emotional fitness, much like physical fitness, requires four key elements: flexibility, strength, balance, and endurance. What’s fascinating is that training the body directly influences the mind. Athletes often use visualization techniques to enhance performance, but even if you don’t consider yourself an athlete, you can apply the same principles to your own life.
And endurance develops patience, the capacity to stick to it even when it would be easier to stay in your easy chair, in your comfortable home, and do something less strenuous. It truly assists you in developing your mind over matter.
For optimal health, the mind and body must agree.
When they do, endurance isn’t just about pushing through—it’s about consistently creating space for sustained growth.
The Fear of Our Own Bodies
As we age, a new fear creeps in—one that many don’t talk about.
The older we get, the more we come to fear our bodies—what they might do to betray us.
What if there’s a ticking time bomb in my chest that will go off if I raise my heart rate too high?
What if I pull something so badly that I can’t recover from it?
What if I push too hard and make myself sick?
We see the defibrillator machine on the gym wall and wonder: Is that waiting for me?
I’ve heard the stories. People pushing too hard, taking “the big one” in the middle of a workout. The message is: Do too much, and you’ll pay for it.
This is the mindset of one who fears her body. And that fear can paralyze. It makes us hesitate, second-guess, and shrink from effort until, eventually, we do nothing at all. And tragically, that leads to an early point of no return – being unable to do anything to help ourselves.
But here’s what fear doesn’t tell us: movement is life. Strength is built not in avoidance, but in engagement. And yes, we must be mindful—but not immobilized. The body is not our enemy. We aren’t competing with it for the life we prefer. The real betrayal isn’t in what might happen; it’s in what we deny ourselves when we surrender to fear.
Breaking Through the First Barrier
It won’t feel natural at first. It will feel awkward. You will feel like you don’t know what you’re doing, like your body is not your own.
You’ll be afraid you’ll hurt yourself, that you’ll do some kind of irreparable damage. This is the first barrier—the self-talk that whispers:
I’m not athletic.
I’m too old.
I don’t have time.
It’s too hard.
I’ll do it when I’m thinner.
I’ll look stupid.
When I have more energy, then I’ll do it.
The only way beyond this barrier is through it. It takes staying power—a commitment to yourself.
Growing Into Strength
The woman at my gym doesn’t yet realize it, but she is on the path of transformation. She may still be shuffling in oversized shoes, feeling like she’s stepping into something that doesn’t yet fit.
But one day, she will.
She will outgrow those shoes—the hesitation, the doubt, the discomfort. She will find herself stronger, more capable, more confident. And when that happens, she won’t need to shuffle anymore.
She will walk tall, in shoes that finally fit her.
The True Mind-Body Connection
Working on emotional fitness through physical fitness is a powerful way to integrate both. Persistence strengthens not only the body’s muscles but also the mind’s ability to keep you in the game of life. Focusing on proper form establishes a profound mind-body connection—the relationship through which the mind cultivates well-being.
By creating a working alliance between the mind and body, you shape a new way of seeing both. It truly is a marriage made in heaven—a heaven on earth—one you create, one step at a time.
Please keep in mind that this is one way, not the only way. If it resonates, then put on your hiking boots or your sports shoes and start moving.
Where there’s a willingness, you’ll find your way!
ps. Check with your physician before beginning a new workout program.
Originally Published on https://akasha111blog.wordpress.com/
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