For most of my life, I believed there were two kinds of people in the world: those who were enthusiastic about exercise and those who wanted nothing to do with it. I proudly placed myself in the second category. To me, the word “sport” might as well have been a foreign language—one I had no interest in learning. Physical activity seemed reserved for overly energetic people in Lycra who loved sweating and talking about protein shakes. That wasn’t me. Or so I thought.
Why Exercise Was Never My Thing
Growing up, gym class was a nightmare. I was the kid who tried to blend into the back row during PE and hoped no one noticed my clumsy attempts at sports. Team games filled me with dread, running felt like punishment, and even yoga seemed too intense. I viewed exercise not as something to enjoy but as something to survive.
Over the years, I became more comfortable in a sedentary lifestyle. My hobbies were intellectual or artistic: reading, writing, photography. I was happy indoors and at rest. While I admired fit people from a distance, I never saw myself joining their ranks. The thought of becoming a “gym person” was laughable.
The Turning Point: Curiosity and Coincidence
But something shifted recently. It wasn’t dramatic—a health scare or sudden desire to transform my body. It started with a simple invitation from a friend who had taken up a new hobby: indoor bouldering. “Just come watch,” she said. I went along more out of politeness than interest. Yet what I saw surprised me.
The climbing gym was full of people of all shapes and sizes. They weren’t all ultra-fit adrenaline junkies. Some were beginners like me, trying to figure out where to place their hands or how to hang on for one more second. And they were having fun.
My First Climb: Awkward but Empowering
My friend eventually coaxed me into trying a beginner route. I struggled, slipped, and felt ridiculously uncoordinated. But somewhere between the fear of falling and the thrill of reaching the top, I felt something unexpected: exhilaration. For the first time in years, my body wasn’t an enemy to be tamed—it was a tool, working with me rather than against me.
That evening, I felt sore in muscles I didn’t know existed. But I also felt proud. I had faced a fear and discovered an activity that wasn’t just tolerable—it was actually enjoyable.
Redefining What Exercise Means
What I learned that day—and in the weeks that followed—was that exercise doesn’t have to mean suffering through a bootcamp or forcing yourself to jog at 6 a.m. It can mean climbing brightly colored walls, solving physical puzzles with your body, and celebrating every small victory.
Bouldering introduced me to a community of supportive, nonjudgmental people who focus on progress, not perfection. It made me realize that movement can be playful, creative, and deeply satisfying.
Unexpected Benefits Beyond Fitness
Since I started climbing, I’ve noticed changes that go beyond the physical. Sure, I’m stronger and more flexible. But more importantly, I feel mentally sharper, emotionally more resilient, and—dare I say it—happier.
Climbing requires concentration and presence. There’s no room for overthinking or multitasking when you’re halfway up a wall. It’s become a form of active meditation, a break from the mental noise of everyday life.
I’ve also gained confidence in ways I never anticipated. Facing my fears on the wall has helped me face challenges off it. I approach problems with more patience and creativity. And I’ve stopped saying “I can’t” so easily.
A Message to the Exercise-Averse
If you’ve ever felt like exercise just isn’t your thing, I understand. But I also want to gently challenge that belief. Maybe you haven’t found your movement yet. And maybe, like me, you’ve been conditioned to associate exercise with discomfort, embarrassment, or pressure.
But the world of movement is vast. Dance, hiking, swimming, martial arts, pole fitness, roller skating—there are countless ways to move your body, many of which don’t involve gyms or strict routines. Start small. Follow your curiosity. You might surprise yourself.
Embracing a New Identity
I never thought I’d be the kind of person who looked forward to a workout. But now, I schedule my climbing sessions like I would a coffee date or movie night. It’s become a highlight of my week—something I do not for weight loss or aesthetics, but because it genuinely brings me joy.
I still wouldn’t call myself a “sporty” person in the traditional sense. But I’ve come to see that labels don’t matter. What matters is how you feel in your body and what it allows you to experience.
Exercise, it turns out, isn’t a chore or a punishment. It can be a passion, a practice, even a kind of play. I’m grateful I gave it a chance.