The Unexpected Benefits of Joining a Gym
Joining a gym seems like a simple decision at first. Maybe you want to get stronger, improve your health, or learn a new skill like a kettlebell swing or triangle choke. But the reality is that stepping into a gym, especially one in the Gym Force network, sets off a chain reaction of benefits that go far beyond what you might expect.
It’s not just about building physical or mental strength—it’s about gaining tools, experiences, and perspectives that might change your life in ways you won’t fully understand for years. In Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World, writer David Epstein explores this idea on a broader scale, arguing that dabbling in different fields and cultivating a variety of experiences leads to greater success in our complex, unpredictable world. The same applies to what happens when you join a great gym.
In Range, Epstein introduces us to how seemingly unrelated experiences can lead to extraordinary outcomes. Whether it’s learning to play an instrument and later discovering it improved your problem-solving skills, or even the unexpected benefit of working multiple jobs before finding your true calling. One of the most striking examples Epstein shares is the story of Santiago Ramón y Cajal, a Spanish scientist who became known as the father of modern neuroscience.
As a child, Cajal was obsessed with drawing—he sketched everything from his surroundings to the intricate details of nature. His artistic talent seemed entirely unrelated to science, but years later, it became the foundation for his groundbreaking work in neuroanatomy. Cajal’s ability to visualize and illustrate the intricate structures of neurons gave him insights that others couldn’t see, leading to revolutionary discoveries about how the brain functions.
Similarly, when you join a gym, you’re not just working out. You’re building skills that might seem disconnected at first but later come together to create something greater. Learning physically demanding skills like CrossFit, Jiu-Jitsu, and yoga improves health—but the significance of building problem-solving abilities, resilience, grit, and confidence can’t be underestimated.
Epstein also draws a distinction between "kind" environments, where patterns repeat and outcomes are predictable, and "wicked" environments, where unpredictability is the norm. Life, much like the inside of a gym, is decidedly wicked. In Jiu-Jitsu, every roll is a unique puzzle, where the rules constantly shift depending on your opponent’s skill and strategy. These aren’t just martial arts classes—they’re training sessions for building the resilience and adaptability needed to thrive in the real world.
When life gets messy—whether it’s a sudden career shift, a personal crisis, or an unexpected opportunity—the ability to stay composed and adapt on the fly becomes an invaluable strength. One of Epstein’s most compelling arguments is the importance of sampling—exploring different domains before settling on one path. Joining a gym isn’t just about finding your “only thing.” It’s about trying something new, learning broadly, and discovering connections between seemingly unrelated activities.
Maybe years of yoga give you the strength and confidence to try weightlifting, or the endurance you build in CrossFit carries over into other activities, like pickleball or playing with the grandkids. Over time, these skills start to overlap in unexpected ways.
What’s truly fascinating is how the benefits of joining a gym often reveal themselves over the long term. Epstein highlights that the true value of varied experiences isn’t always obvious right away. You might join a gym just to "get in shape," but along the way, you find so much more—your best friend, your future business partner, or perhaps a deeper sense of confidence and purpose that spills into every part of your life.
At Gym Force, we’ve seen this happen time and time again. Our gyms aren’t just places to sweat; they’re spaces where people discover resilience, connection, and new possibilities. The independent owners in the Gym Force network understand this deeply. They know that the skills they teach have ripple effects that extend far beyond the gym. They’ve built environments where people not only get stronger but also grow in ways they never expected—not only in the short term, but forever.
