When I was interning at a fitness center in London in 2006, I noticed the word “train” was often used when referring to working out or exercising. I always liked this because it’s so practical and straightforward. Think about it: When you train for something, like a race, for example, it’s to avoid injury, feel physically and mentally prepared and ultimately make the event a little less challenging.
What if, instead of a specific athletic event, you trained for, well, life? If you look at strength training through this lens, it becomes less about achieving a certain look and more about feeling better and stronger.
Lightening the Load
Daily life asks a lot of you. Between caring for loved ones, managing work, maintaining friendships and handling daily responsibilities, many of you are juggling more than ever. Making time for strength training, whether at the gym or in the comfort of your home, can help make these daily demands feel more manageable.
“Being able to do things longer, whether it’s playing with your kids or grandkids, getting up and down from the floor or cleaning the house—that’s where strength training can really help,” explains Ryan Maass, expert personal trainer at the Wisconsin Athletic Club and fitness contributor for TOPS. “When your body can stabilize and hold positions longer, you’re able to do daily activities for longer, which is obviously what you want.”
Getting Started
Any time you try something new, no matter what it is, it can feel scary and a little overwhelming. I’ll never forget my first time stepping into a CrossFit gym. The sound of weights smashing on the floor was enough to make me want to pretend I forgot something in my car and peel out of the parking lot.
The weight room can feel intimidating at first, but you don’t have to face it alone. Buddying up with a friend or family member can help ease gym jitters and has the added benefit of accountability. No workout buddy available? “There are fitness professionals who can help you do things correctly and make you feel safe,” Maass explains. His approach emphasizes starting with the basics and building from there. “I love to use the phrase, ‘Let’s crawl before we start walking and running,’” he shares.
Mastering one or two fundamental movements first, like the squat or pushup, and focusing on proper form helps build both confidence and a solid foundation of strength.
I’m grateful I didn’t let those initial gym jitters send me running that first night. While I no longer do CrossFit, the supportive community and patient coaches who helped me perfect my form gave me the confidence I needed to make strength training a regular part of my life.
Building Balance
While mastering movements like the squat is important, Maass emphasizes that strength training isn’t just about lifting weights. Balance exercises are a key component of his approach, especially with clients over the age of 50. These movements might look deceptively simple, but they become challenging when you don’t practice them regularly. Working on balance through targeted exercises doesn’t just prevent falls, it helps with everyday activities from carrying groceries to playing with grandchildren.
Benefits Beyond the Physical
Another reason to prioritize resistance training? The potential mental and emotional health benefits. Growing research, including a 2018 study released in JAMA Psychiatry, suggests resistance training may help ease symptoms of depression. This aligns with what Maass sees in his clients. “The overarching benefit is definitely an improvement in mental health,” he notes, “especially gaining confidence in yourself; knowing that you can do something that’s hard or challenging.”
Life can feel so heavy at times. Prioritizing your health through regular strength movements helps to lighten the load. It helps you show up for the ones you care about and, most importantly, show up for yourself. Just like training for a race, training for life is about feeling prepared, capable and confident. You got this!
This article was written by Maggie Thorison, freelance content writer for TOPS, and was originally featured in the March/April 2025 issue of TOPS News magazine.
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