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I started lifting weights back when I was 13, it was 2 weeks before 8th grade was over. I used the weights my older bro had in his room down stairs on an old school Weider Bench.
Some of those weights were sand filled and I still remember doing dumbbell benching and sand would fall in my eyes and mouth – ahhhhhhhhh, those were the days 
Through the last 2 decades, I have gone through many phases in my training. All of these phases were based on my goals, my intuition, experience, injuries, motivation, joy and most importantly, how my family inspired me and in a manner I was drawn to.
Some may not understand what I mean by being “drawn to the weights” but it is very similar to the manner a surfer is drawn to the water, no matter what shape or form it has. Surfers such as this are considered Watermen or Soul Surfers.
Bruddahs like Laird Hamilton, Uncle Mike Stehle and Kurt Gregory are ALL Watermen.
They also ALL train with that Underground Style – No Rules, training as they see fit, sometimes with barbells, kettlebells and bodyweight, other times outdoors at playgrounds, in backyards, on the beach and in the water.
It is about whatever is drawn to you and whatever you are drawn to, they both go hand in hand.
I guess we can be considered “Soul Lifters” and “Iron Men” – we love to train, regardless of the tool, where, what, when or the shape or form, we just love to train.
Of course, the more natural the setting and the tool, the more connected we are to this style of training.
Laird Hamilton surfs with any tool available and doesn’t discriminate much and even uses “machines” to extend his surfing to the next level, very much like powerlifters wear suits to lift bigger weights.
His surfing and life are guided by his family, his connection to nature, peace, adventure and his roots, which is water, as my roots are training.
I think if we stopped focusing so much on simply the physical benefits of training and more of what it can do for our soul, we would have a lot more people getting way better results in the physical realm.
If you’re not a Soul Lifter, if you’re not an Iron Man, then you’re missing out on some of the most beautiful things “training” can offer.
Think about that for a bit….
So let me ask you, are YOU a “Soul Lifter”?
Drop a comment below and let me know.
Peace Bruddahs!
–Z–
PS: By the way…. I am Running out of copies of Lost Secrets of Strength FAST. Orders have come from some VERY cool parts of this world, one of which I had never even heard of, The Faroe Islands! I LOVE helping people around the world! Follow your passion – it’s NO joke!
PPS: It was AWESOME to see 2 people sign up for the 1 Day USC Certification with less than 24 hrs to go, one cruising down from Canada with his Dad as part of a “Bonding” road trip! I LOVE seeing people going after dreams in their life, following their passion and Making it Happen!
Other USC Certifications are available HERE ==> Follow your passion, Achieve your dreams, make it happen!
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Category: Announcements, Articles, Calendar, muscle building, Strength Building, Success, Zach's Workouts Tags: iron men, kurt gregory, laird hamilton, mike stehle, soul lifter, soul surfer, underground training, usc certification.
22 Responses to The Soul Lifter, The Iron Man – Where are You?
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kevin says:
well said Zach- I too have followed the call of the Iron
and some 40 years later at 52 I have been rewarded
for the hard work with strength and vitality that can
only be forged through the commitment to challenge
ourselves day in and day out and knowing that the most
important days are often those when we are not at our
best. Meeting the challenge of change head on and using
it to grow in every way. Stay Strong! -
Jesse Ciccone says:
Couldn’t agree more. We need a better word than “training” don’t we? (Although, that’s better than “working out” or “lifting”!) Training sounds like something you have to do or a chore. What you’re talking about – and what you and your readers ARE about – is passion, desire, love. It’s part of who we are as people.
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Tracy Langford says:
Always have considered myself a soul lifter. I was born with a congenital cataract and my mom wouldn’t let me get involved in sports as a child because she was afraid that I would lose sight in my only good eye. I started lifting in my 20s. Now, I’m almost 36 and have been lifting weights for the last 16 years. When everyone else gave up weights for other things, i stuck with it. I love it. It’s like brushing my teeth. Wouldn’t feel normal without it. When I tell my family about a weight goal that I just met, they always say that’s great, but don’t hurt yourself. This coming from people who haven’t touched a weight either ever or in years. Please! I truly have a passion for lifting weights no matter what the implement used. Soul lifting is a way of life!
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Rob says:
You’re right dude. It’s a passion for the iron that most people don’t relate to, unfortunately. I just returned home with my family from a vacation in the mountains. One of the first things I said when we got to the camp was that I needed to find a place to do chin-ups. They thought it was a little slly, but they know me and accept it as part of what I do. But here’s what they don’t get, it’s not just what I DO, It’s a part of who I AM.
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Alexander says:
Jesse, i totally agree with you… we do need a better word other than “training” (at least in terms for us true ‘soul lifters’ or ‘iron men’… clientel are actually in training so it makes sense for them, lol) lets brainstorm on new words to replace “training” – i like “Lets Blast” & “Get Primal”
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Noah says:
Man, I love this blog!!! Soul lifter…I love it. To me, it is all about self-mastery. I started down this path in third grade(i’m 35 now) doing only body weight exercises until my dad started letting me lift at age 14(on my birthday). Lots of injuries(fused back,acl tear).. but I never quit. The iron and the bar would not let me. I love the feeling of chalk on my hands. I love a good rip. The best times I have ever had have been shirt soaked through, bruised shins and puking in the garbage can. Most could never understand this. Most could never understand why I liked puking or working out for three hours. My wife thinks I’m obsessive when I head down to the garage at midnight to get some quick deadlifting in. Even the meatheads would not ask to work in. They knew better. It’s never a social hour to me. I’ve worked out in every kind of facility. But never had better gains than in my own garage. I ask my friends… is your gym open at midnight on new year’s eve? Mine is. That’s me. I never thought of it before but I guess I am a soul lifter and an ironman. This is how I try to master myself. I’ve been receiving these emails for awhile. This one got in my bones. Zach, you hit a home run with this one!!! I live in central nj and if you let me, I’d love to come up and meet you and shake the callused hand of a fellow ironman. I’m so fucking pumped right now. Thank you, Noah
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Coach Z,
Great post! Laird is a beast in the ocean and has such cool perspectives on life. I think that what we do in training should be called lifting. “Up” lifting to be more concise.
Gym time is my time to get centered and focus on the blessing that life has laid out before me. Technical lifts like the powerlifts seem to get me zoned out and in a Zen frame of mind- and nothing can beat the adrenal rush afterwards! Love it! (Kettlebells are also a guilty pleasure.)
Age Quod Agis
Christopher
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Joe says:
Zach
You are so right. Training for me has never been only about the physical benefits. When I train it’s alomost an escape to something outside the physical part.
It takes me away from everything else for awhile. I leave everything behind and go into my own world for a short time. When I’m done it’s a great inner feeling of accomplishment and a renewed attitude towards the rest of my life.
And I’ve been training for almost 40 years.
Joe
P.S. I had a workout you would appreciate the other day Zach. I’m visiting my daughter and in the garage there is a wooden crate filled with I don’t know.
I started using it to work out with. Just lift shit right. C&L, lunges etc. and what a grip workout holding it by the finger tips. Thought you might appreciate that.
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Great topic Zach… once the “iron” gets in your blood (figuratively) the act of training is fulfilling in and of itself, rather than simply being a means to an end. No matter how busy and crazy life gets, hitting the weights will ground you and center you. We need to inspire this type of hunger for strength in more men in our society today. Too many people have lost the fire. Too many have become soft.
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Training creates life.
All my closest friends are from the same gym. We will never have met if we did not share the same passion.
So yes, it’s more than training… it’s about life. -
Soul lifter and iron men. That is part of the reason why i started up fitness online. I live and breathe this S***. Sorry for the language, but how can you not when you look in the mirror first thing as you awake. Lets get this ideas into the bodies of many men!
Good stuff Zach
Shaun
SFB -
Gentlemen – awesome comments and thoughts, the wisdom we got rolling here is powerful and amazing!
I LOVE it.
I hope everyone watched the video or Laird, and notice how he blends life with the most peaceful things, even though much of them are aggressive and pushing the limits of life, we can do the same through training, and we SHOULD do the same.
This means high intensity training.
Heavy weights
Training in unknown territory and uncommon areas with different methods
Train on the sand, in the woods, outdoors, indoors, extreme temperatures: high heat & humidity and frigid weather of snow and rain.
It is only when you push the envelope and exceed previous boundaries that you learn to live life in a better manner, b/c you have escaped during your training, yet still become one with it.
Training is life bruddahs.
Let’s spread the word.
Let everyone know that we’re THE Soul Liftin’ Tribe…
and no other Mother F***ers are gonna take that away from us!
Peace!
–Z–
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Chris says:
Zach,
you are so on target with this. Not many people get it. It’s not about big muscles. It’s an innate connection with our soul. For me, it’s a spiritual connection with God as well. We express ourselves with movement and we connect with our families and people around us when we are connected to the motion and strength that’s inside us. Sounds deep but it is. Again, training is not superficial, for looks. No it’s a connection with the soul.
…one of your best posts. Thanks Z.Chris
http://www.themaximusmovement.com
http://www.jointreplacementworkouts.com -
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I started laughing as soon as you mention the sand weights!! I had the same set up in my basement I was in the 6th grade ane it was a super wobbly Sears bench with plastic sand weights and these gnarly weights my dad made at work!! they were just basically 1″ thick piece of steal that were 50 and 25 pounds. They drilled a whole in them to put the bar through. Then they had all these little dimples all over them from hitting the plates with drill press till they got the weight right!! My dad gave me this full body work out and I had to do 10×10 before I could go up in weight on a movement!! I taped it up on the furnace pipes and I spent all the time down there I could after school down there churning away at those weights. NO plan just move the weight sometimes 7 days a week LOL!!! The best part was I never even though about the outward benefits!! one day me and some friends were out playing in the rain drilling each other with mud balls and my buddys like “Minney you got muscles everywhere you been lifting weights” I got super emabarassed and responded hesitently “No……I mean maybe a little bit.” LOL great times!!!!
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What an awesome post and video. If everyone actually could see their passion and then go after; the world would be a better place. Unfortunately, most people only think about their passions and never go after them.
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doug says:
z, being a soul surfer. never thought about the soul lifter.
most of us love the routine of the gym. if it be jim’s 5-3-1, louies stuff or cosgroves. we get stuck in the same shit because folks have a hard time steping outside the box. we don’t like to be the odd one. i work in the corpate health club shit. they think my girls doing sandbag training is fucking strange or just doing a floor press. but i think zach. most of us who read you. are there or being drawn to the the light. don’t matter if its 2′ or 20′. bodysurfing or a gun. just get out there and hit it.
doug
from the fog 415 -
Mitch says:
The training is who and what I am. The training is like a metaphor for life.The times when you feel like blowing out the workout, but don’t, often give the best results/workouts and make you glad you stuck with it. The effort you put in will reward you with a quality of life that many of your friends dont appreciate. You don’t look at things thinking I wish I could, you DO.That includes spending time and participating in activities with your kids.
It teaches you how lucky you are to have the physical abilities you have and to enjoy them and the responsibilty you have to look after that structve that is your body.
It teaches you to look at those with geniune physical disabilities and see that their efforts are sometimes superhuman in comparison to ours and that we don’t often have the right to complain!
Live well, train hard, do right, always. -
Good Post & video. It was very inspiring, when you are passionate about something you should go for it. When you are happy in what you do, you’ll spread the happiness everywhere.
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wow, I have never thought about it this way. I have always looked at surfing, snowboarding, skateboarding in this way. It led to working as an snowboard instructor for five years in my late teens and 20′s. It inspires me now at 35 to get in the water, it keeps me going to the skatepark. Being in a spartan gym for me is all about adventure. Lifting crazy stuff, getting dirty and injured, having fun, thats what training like this has always been for me, just plain old adventure with like minded people.
Zach,
Great post. Thanks for the video of Laird. That was really nice to see. I really like how it drives home the message that following your passion can make you a better man. Laird’s dedication to his wife and family is a strong as his dedication to surfing. I know the same holds for you and iron. Thanks.