Is exercise self-indulgent?

The Buddha's message was simple but profound. Neither a life of self-indulgence nor one of self-mortification can bring happiness. Only a middle path, avoiding these two extremes, leads to peace of mind, wisdom, and complete liberation from the dissatisfactions of life.

~ Henepola Gunaratana

It’s January. Gyms across the country experience a surge in new memberships as individuals begin their fitness resolutions. 

I've occasionally worked in the fitness industry and have held gym memberships, but neither experience lasted beyond a few months to a year or two. Ultimately, it neither felt meaningful nor satisfying to me.

Maybe it’s the mirrors

Life, as you say, is a journey through vanity to humility, and humility will never be realized in one lifetime.

~ Orest Stocco

I have a vivid, painful recollection in my youth of, while checking myself out in a mirror, a relative telling me that that was vain.

Is it the abundance of mirrors at the gym that makes me uneasy, or is it something more fundamental: a discomfort with practices that might seem self-indulgent?

Recently, I heard someone express a self-limiting perception that deterred them from engaging in formal exercise. They believed it was selfish.

Ah-ha. I realized, I did too.

In certain cultures, taking personal time for exercise is perceived as selfish, especially among adults with familial duties. It is viewed as self-indulgent because it prioritizes personal pleasure, appearance, or individual well-being over collective duties, productivity, or family obligations.

I must admit I have often felt inclined to believe that, rather than splurging on expensive gym memberships, a client, or potential client, could be spending more time playing with their children, spending the money on renovating their basement, so the kids could have a place to play, or spending time in the kitchen creating healthy family meals. As a trainer, it’s tough to sell expensive gym memberships when you feel that way.

Closing thought

Self-care is not selfish. You cannot serve from an empty vessel.

~ Eleanor Brownn

Recognizing that neglecting self-care landed me in the hospital recently, it may be time to let go of the self-limiting belief that exercise is self-indulgent. Especially as we age, self-care facilitates other-care.