How much weight can you lift? How many push-ups can you do? How fast can you run that mile? In the traditional fitness world, “strong” hinges on the physical, everything measured in pounds, inches, the click of a stopwatch. When the concept veers into mental territory, it’s about control. How long can you deny the pain? How far can you push your body—even when it’s begging you to stop? When will you give up? Willpower, resolve, mind over matter: These are the goals, and anything less is failing.
To be honest, that definition of strong never sat right with us—so we came up with our own. At B3, strong has nothing to do with numbers, measurements, times. Instead, strong is having the courage to listen to your body. It’s recognizing that you’re ready to go turbo and reaching for the 3-pound weights for the first time ever—BUT it’s also opting to use no weights when that’s what your body is telling you to do. Strong is taking Plank at the barre post-baby, rocking Incline Chair when your knees tell you Carousel Horse isn’t what your body needs today, going with Sumo when Horse Pose feels wrong—and feeling confident every step of the way. Strong is knowing when you’re ready to up your routine to four classes a week—and it’s knowing that some days, a kick-back laugh session with your best friend is going to be far healthier than a full-steam-ahead workout.
Strong is understanding that a healthy mind is as important as a healthy body—and that the best thing you can do for your wellbeing is to foster a mind-body connection. There’s not a scale or stopwatch in the world that can measure that, only you. When you understand that you are your own best teacher, you are strong.
Journal exercise: Write about a moment when you felt especially strong. What led up to that moment? How can you create more moments like this in your life?
Ready to find your strong? Sign up for our #B3Anywhere Summer Challenge here. Once you’ve signed up, you’ll receive our easy-to-follow weekly workout and meal plan and you’ll be entered to win our weekly prizes.
To learn more about our workout, check out this article on the science behind B3 and this one on our signature adaptive teaching method.
