Why Strength: The Importance Of Barbell Training
Strength is a core component of Ironside’s mission. We pride ourselves on being a performance-focused gym with an extensive Powerlifting team (along with Olympic Weightlifting and Strongman modalities).
But why is strength valued so highly?
In the “fitness” industry, there are countless paths one can embark on. “Functional” training, bodybuilding, running, pilates, kettlebells, etc. Yet, barbell training is what we prioritize.
You've likely heard about the physical benefits of strength training: improved mobility, bone health, reduced risk of injury/disease, better health markers, etc. Lifting is not only a fun hobby, it's also a healthy habit. But what sets strength significantly apart from other modalities is its psychological component. Building strength changes lives. I’ve seen it happen before, time and time again, in myself and countless other people.
The weights you lift in the gym translate far beyond the barbell and plates, infiltrating your daily life. And that’s an experience that everyone can benefit from.
Strength is empowering and confidence-building.
The barbell is one of the greatest tools of self-empowerment.
Confidence is something we all seek in our daily lives, especially in aspects that are meaningful to us. And yet, how does one achieve this pursuit? Confidence is built through action. It's difficult to believe in yourself if you don't have a reason to. You need evidence of it. The barbell is an opportunity to uncover that. In the gym, you are pushing past barriers & limiting beliefs in a controlled environment. You’re doing things you never thought possible. You’re proving your capabilities to yourself.
Working towards a goal, reaching it, embracing the journey, and lifting a weight you’ve failed or doubted before- makes you feel powerful. Strength shows you just what you are capable of. It represents the idea of pursuing something relentlessly until you achieve what you've envisioned. Strength is an impactful feeling that stays with you wherever you go. When you have doubts about yourself and your abilities- then exceed them? That increases your self-belief, confirming that you are capable of greatness.
These qualities gained in the gym apply outside of it, too-
You begin questioning the intention behind your actions- where do those preconceived notions come from? Where is your time and energy well worth spending? How far can you take this or that- if you want it badly enough?
You gain more self-respect, assuredness, and clarity- which changes how you operate in your surrounding environments.
You feel more secure in who you are.
Strength doesn’t care what you look like.
A unique quality to barbell training, compared to most aspects of the “fitness industry,” your physique is not the focus.
Pursuing aesthetics is not “wrong” or “bad,” inherently. However, setting goals that have nothing to do with a certain look or body fat percentage- can significantly improve your relationship with your body- and with yourself. Many people are initially unaware that this type of training exists. It’s a common belief that you go to the gym to “make up for” food you’ve consumed, to fit into a smaller pant size, drop a few pounds, or get bigger arms.
Strength goes further than that.
Strength is not a look.
Strength is not a body.
Strength is a feeling and a mentality.
Rather than focusing on how little you can be, on shrinking yourself and changing who you naturally are, never living up to this arbitrary ideal-
You celebrate your body for what it can achieve.
You celebrate yourself for the growth it takes to get there.
You commit to becoming a better version of yourself-
No matter what you look like, externally.
The process is more enjoyable. Solely pursuing aesthetic goals can exacerbate disordered eating patterns, body image concerns, and cycles of restriction & guilt. Strength can help remedy those perpetual struggles. Shifting your mindset from “I want to be the smallest version of myself” to “I want to be the strongest version of myself” changes how you view your body, training, and life.
Pursuing your leanest self will never truly be fulfilling. Almost all of us have been there. It's not satisfying or gratifying. You never feel “enough.”
But when you can pick up 200, 300, or 400 lbs off the ground?
You feel embraced and validated.
You begin to accept and respect your body.
You begin to focus less and less on your insecurities, what you’re self-conscious about- and more on improving who you are.
Lifting shouldn't be about taking up less space and fixating solely on how you look. It should be about doing things you never thought possible. Stop focusing on reducing the number on the scale and start focusing on increasing the number on the bar.
Less "running it off" and more "picking it up."
Training for strength can improve your mental well-being.
Because of the psychology involved in barbell training, it has a profound effect on your overall mentality. Our brain-to-body connection is essential and inseparable. Trauma responses, mental barriers, and past experiences are all loads that come with you into the gym- which can be a very illuminating process.
Training isn’t a replacement for therapy (we need those brain gains in multiple ways!). But it can be therapeutic. It can serve as a space solely defined by you, applying it how you deem supportive to your life.The process of gaining strength allows you to focus on your goals, be present in the moment, and improve as an individual. Lifting brings structure, discipline, and presence- to a life that can be stressful and unpredictable at times.
It’s a form of self-care and self-improvement that allows us to pour more into life outside the gym. Iron keeps us grounded through both- the highs and lows- the waves and the pitfalls.
When other aspects of life are chaotic, we find comfort in the barbell.
When life is unsteady and erratic, the iron provides stability.
When we feel weak and powerless, training empowers us.
The barbell is a vessel for self-care: you can always rely on it, feeling safe, familiar, and in control. The predictability & structure is soothing at times. Training provides something to look forward to; spending time with friends, having fun, all in the pursuit of self-improvement. Seeing yourself develop over time is a rewarding feeling that ALL individuals can benefit from.
Strength is a modality that anyone and everyone can build.
Strength is an athletic variable you can significantly manipulate. You don’t need to be a genetic anomaly or have an extensive sports background to be a strong human. There are no limitations to who can participate.
All that it takes to get strong is
hard work,
dedication,
solid programming,
a support system,
proper nutrition & recovery, and patience.
Those habits aren’t always easy, but they are within your control.
People of many backgrounds and life experiences can all unite on the goal of getting stronger. Strength is not restricted to drugged-up heavyweight men, gym bros, white individuals, gym influencers, or professional athletes. While (cultural, financial, etc) barriers exist, they shouldn't have to be identity or experience-level related, and we seek to dismantle those.
No matter who you are or where you come from- you can become your strongest self. The barbell has a way of connecting individuals with many differences- together in a common goal.
All people should lift weights.
Anyone can benefit from it.
And everyone deserves that experience.
Strength builds your work ethic and tenacity.
The barbell pushes your limits like no other. Iron never lies, and results occur due to honest work. You cannot force your body to do something it's not ready for. And that’s a very impactful aspect of the process.
Throughout the strength journey, there are countless ups and downs:
Days when the weights seem heavy for no reason,
When you feel as if you aren't making progress,
When you fail numbers that you've easily moved in the past.
These are the times in which your resilience is tested. Only through breaking those barriers, exploring those limits- does your character strengthen.As humans, we initially want to fight the unknown, the discomfort, the struggle. But the best things in life come from getting comfortable with being uncomfortable, from jumping into the deep end.
Expect setbacks and expect failure. It will come. What you can control is how you respond to it. Will you keep going? Or will you let it hinder you eternally?
You require weeks, months, and years of hard work to progress in this sport. Training requires discipline, restraint, humility, experimentation, and a willingness to learn. It means striving for self-improvement, trusting the process, and quieting the ego when it awakens. The barbell forces you into uncharted territory- to embrace discomfort and invite challenges. These aspects are difficult beyond words at times. Sentiments of discouragement and frustration are experienced along the way.
But it's all in the pursuit of improvement. Hard work eventually pays off, even if it's not in the timeframe one could've hoped. Yet, that's what makes it special: the process, the journey, that's what the number represents.
The element of doubt you undergo makes those victories even sweeter. Powerlifting is about discipline, sustainability, consistent efforts, and becoming your best self.
Strength builds community and lifelong relationships.
Community and culture are among the fundamental values at Ironside.It's not just about knowledge or results-although those are core elements.
Building relationships is equally as significant.
That sense of camaraderie changes the game. After all, this journey is more fun with friends, right?
Work hard, push your limits, and stay engaged. But this pursuit is also about having a good time. This sport is entirely a hobby- one that we receive no incentive (other than intrinsically) to participate in, so it must add to your life, hopefully in more ways than one.
As athletes, all are working toward the same goal, on the journey of embracing growth. Finding like-minded people only pushes one further. We learn from and support one another. It’s contagious energy. Because the transformation process of getting stronger is so unique, the friendships are increasingly more special. Strength unites you with people you never otherwise would’ve met.
And those relationships become life-changing ones, inside and outside of the gym.
The ups and downs, the laughter, and the tears, a full range of emotions that everyone can resonate with.
You don’t have to imagine how a fellow teammate is feeling, you’ve experienced it yourself.
When non-lifters don’t understand what the process entails, you have a sense of camaraderie with those who do.
The only thing thicker than blood are the bonds we choose. At Ironside, we seek to bridge the gap between “gym” and “family.”
At Ironside, strength-focus and the essence of the barbell are core principles. Our goal is to extend that to the world, helping more people experience the power of strength. It's about embracing a life grounded in iron- it’s how we forge our best selves.
Strength is for everyone. And we’re on a mission to spread that message to anyone who will listen.
