Instead of constantly choosing cheap gyms that fail, the decision to join a gym should be about self improvement, not just exercise. A truly great gym instills the four cardinal virtues Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, and Temperance to make you a better human being. By fostering resilience, self control, and community, the right training environment offers a valuable, life changing benefit that goes far beyond just getting physically in shape.
I’ve always thought joining a gym shouldn’t be such a hard decision, but it is. There are too many out there that promise the world and deliver nothing. That’s one of the reasons Gym Force exists. Too many people spend years bouncing between cheap gyms, thinking the next one will finally get them in shape. It rarely does. Maybe instead of joining a cheap gym to get in shape, people should instead look to join a gym that, at the very least, will make them a better human.
The same four virtues that have guided people for thousands of years are present inside every great gym. Prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance. The Greeks called them the cardinal virtues, and they’re as true today as they were then. These are the habits that make people better, and the right kind of gym teaches them all.
Prudence (Wisdom)
Definition: The ability to discern the appropriate course of action in a given situation.
Role: It's considered the foundational virtue, guiding the proper application of other virtues.
Deep down inside, most of us know that spending 10 - 50 bucks a month on a big box globo-type gym is not wise. Far too many people make this same, albeit well-intended, mistake many times before coming to this realization. Some never do. There are countless stories of people who have had their lives changed by joining a great CrossFit gym after years of failed attempts at the monthly “health clubs” designed to suck you in on price, only to keep paying and not going after a few short weeks.
This story does not go both ways. You won’t find very many former CrossFitters shouting from the rooftops about how they finally found their path to lifelong health at Planet Fitness.
Justice
Definition: Fair and equitable treatment of others.
Role: Upholding the rights of others and giving each person what they are due.
In Jiu-Jitsu, you get tapped or you don’t. When attempting a pull-up, either your chin goes over the bar or it does not. In the CrossFit workout “Cindy,” you must complete as many rounds as possible of 5 pull-ups, 10 push-ups, and 15 squats in 20 minutes. Your score is your score no matter your race, age, or social status.
If you’ve ever done “Cindy” or been through a tough roll, fair and equitable can also be very brutal, haha.
Fortitude (Courage)
Definition: The ability to face challenges, fears, and difficulties with strength and resilience.
Role: To stand firm in the face of adversity and overcome obstacles.
Simply walking into any BJJ school or CrossFit gym takes courage. For some people, the idea of doing yoga in a class full of strangers is mortifying. Walking into some gym and signing a contract isn’t any more heroic than buying new workout clothes that you only wear a few times.
It takes real courage to show up at a new place and fail in front of people you don't know. Do it anyway.
Temperance (Moderation)
Definition: Self-control and moderation in one's desires and actions.
Role: Curbing appetites and ensuring desires are appropriately managed.
Great gyms have a way of imparting this on their members in more ways than one. Sure, you have gyms and trainers that offer nutrition coaching, diet planning, and food tracking, but there are also many stories about people finding that their new gym offered something else. Community support. This kind of connection turns out has helped many people struggling to address other personal difficulties such as excessive alcohol consumption or substance abuse.
Maybe that ended up turning them into a BJJ fanatic or a CrossFit junkie, but hey, there are worse things to overdo than training hard. I’m reminded of this quote:
“If it’s worth doing, it’s worth overdoing.”
– Ayn Rand
In closing, joining a gym doesn’t have to be such a profound decision. Except that it is. And if you’re so out of shape that you’re about to spend 200 bucks a month to get beat up by a stranger or outlifted by a senior citizen, and you can’t run around the block without puking, you might as well have a nice consolation prize to fall back on knowing that at the very least, you'll also become a better person.