5 Ways My Gym Workout Deepens My Spiritual Journey

Here are five spiritual insights I’ve discovered between sets and reps that have deepened not just my physical strength but my Jewish faith as well.

1. Consistency: The Daily Practice

I committed to three weekly training sessions, no matter what. Some days I bounded into the gym filled with energy; other days I dragged myself there on willpower fumes. Yet those difficult days often yielded the most significant growth—not just in muscle but in character. The practice of showing up consistently transformed not only my body but my understanding of discipline.

This mirrors the wisdom in the Talmud, where rabbis ask what is the most important verse in the Torah. Rabbi Shimon’s surprising answer is the seemingly mundane verse describing the twice-daily Temple offering: “The first lamb you shall sacrifice in the morning and the second lamb you shall sacrifice in the evening” (Numbers 28:4). The power of Judaism resides not just in its grand moments but in the consistent daily practices that shape our character over time.

2. Embracing Discomfort for Growth

“Add five more pounds,” my brother texted when I told him I’d reached my limit. At first I was skeptical, but I followed his direction. To my surprise, I completed the heavier set successfully. This pattern has repeated itself throughout my fitness journey—what I perceive as my physical limit often isn’t. The willingness to step into discomfort has consistently revealed capabilities I didn’t know I possessed.

The author in the gym

The Mishna teaches, “According to the effort is the reward” (Ethics of the Fathers, 5:23). Just as we can push beyond our perceived physical boundaries at the gym, Judaism teaches that our spiritual and ethical capacities are equally expandable through challenge. Where we believe our spiritual limits end—our capacity for generosity, self-discipline, or forgiveness—there often remains untapped potential. In both physical and spiritual realms, the doorway to growth exists just beyond your comfort zone.

3. Community and Accountability

Last month, I attempted a bench-press weight I had never reached before. As I gripped the bar, doubt flooded my mind. I quickly texted my brother a gym-selfie with the bar set-up who simply replied, “I’ve seen you do harder things.” Those seven words carried me through the lift—not because they changed the weight, but because they changed my relationship to it. I asked a nearby gym-goer to spot me, and with this stranger’s watchful eye and my brother’s remote encouragement, I completed the lift. The most successful gym-goers rarely work out alone, understanding the power of shared belief and accountability.

This principle echoes the Jewish concept of chevruta—study partnerships where two people learn Torah together, challenging and supporting each other’s understanding. Both gym workout partnerships and chevruta study relationships recognize a profound truth: we achieve more in a successful partnership than we ever could alone. The supportive presence of another who believes in our potential—whether physically present or connected digitally—often makes the difference between growth and stagnation.

4. Rest as Sacred Time

Between sets of heavy lifting, one waits—not out of laziness, but necessity. This rest isn’t empty time but the crucial period when muscles begin their recovery. When I was younger, I impatiently tried to maximize my gym time by minimizing rest periods, only to watch my performance plummet. My brother, who has worked out at the gym longer than I, explained: “The growth doesn’t happen during the lift—it happens during the recovery.” I learned that honoring cycles of effort and rest isn’t optional but essential.

This principle connects deeply to Shabbat and the Jewish understanding that rest isn’t an absence of productivity but a presence of essential renewal. Just as the Sabbath isn’t merely a day off but a day on of a different kind of engagement, the rest between sets isn’t merely stopping but preparing for what comes next. Both in fitness and faith, I’ve discovered that sacred rest is what enables sustainable growth.

5. Measuring Progress Beyond Appearance

The fitness industry bombards us with “transformation” photos showcasing dramatic visible changes, yet experienced athletes know meaningful progress often happens invisibly first. The most important adaptations occur beneath the surface—in neurological efficiency, cardiovascular capacity, and recovery ability—long before they become externally apparent. I discovered this truth when my training seemingly plateaued visually while my performance metrics continued climbing steadily upward.

Jewish tradition focuses on the deeper internal reality, cautioning against judging “the container by what’s outside, but rather by what’s inside” (Ta’anit 7a). While contemporary culture fixates on immediate, visible results, Judaism values the gradual development of character traits through consistent practice.

The lessons of the weight room have become a lens through which I better understand my faith. By honoring the body as a sacred vessel for the soul—seeing our physical and spiritual journeys as intertwined—we find deeper meaning in both, one rep at a time.

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