“The way” — what does that mean? To me, the way is aligning oneself with universal truth, and in this particular case, through fitness.
You might ask, “So you know the universal truth?” Not exactly. But I can see the path — and I know the direction I’m moving in.
The way can be found through any domain: gardening, parenting, cleaning toilets. Not just through martial arts, fitness, or meditation.
Why would you want to learn the way? Learning the way allows you to truly see, to strip away illusions and dogma, and ultimately to dissolve the perceived self. Paradoxically, the more you deny the self, the more true to your nature you become. Getting out of your own way allows you to live in alignment with your true self.
Before I explain my perception of the way of fitness, let’s clarify what “fitness” really means. To me, it means being able to act in any situation — and building the capacity to do so.
My Fitness Background
My journey began when I was sixteen, when all I wanted was more muscle. I was insecure back then and did mostly useless gym work.
At 21 I joined the army for three years and did heaps of training, but my knowledge was still very limited.
After leaving the army, I studied sports science for three years (I skipped a year). This was when insights started to creep in. I learned a lot about physiology and what exercise does to the body, but there was no real depth.
The turning point came near the end of my studies when I discovered StrongFit through my traineeship at CrossFit Leiden. That opened my eyes to training principles that completely reshaped my perspective.
When I moved to Australia and began designing my own training system, I had the chance to reconfigure what I thought fitness was. Regular martial arts training also helped deepen that understanding.
Now, after close to 20,000 hours of training, reading, and studying — as well as several certificates and a degree in the field — I feel confident in sharing worthwhile insights.
I don’t consider myself a master of any sort, but I can see the way now.
The Body
The start of your “spiritual” fitness journey begins with the body. Learn the basics: pulling, pushing, hinging, jumping. Learn how to engage your muscles. Become aware of your breath. Learn about food.
At this stage, counting calories is fine, as well as counting reps — just do your time and build experience.
Learn about planes of movement and how to program. As you become familiar with the basics, it’s also wise to explore accessory training to overcome injury and prevent overuse.
The Mind
Once you’ve built a relationship with the body and learned of its ways, the mind is next.
If you know what eccentric contraction is, where the pectoralis major sits, the purpose of carbohydrates, and perhaps the difference between inhaling and exhaling — you might be ready for the next stage.
Mastering the mind starts with understanding the human. How being a parent, poor sleep, or your relationship with your own parents can affect training.
You need to know about nervous system states like fight or flight, and how they shape your performance.
I’d also suggest expanding your movement repertoire — triple extension (snatches, cleans, etc.), climbing, crawling, animal flow, other natural patterns. This isn’t required, but it adds depth.
Most importantly, you need to understand intention — being able to clearly state what you’re trying to achieve.
At this stage, it helps to start coaching. Teaching kids is especially powerful; they’re natural movers and will teach you as much as you teach them.
The final step in mastering the mind is to examine your responses to external events — e.g., lifting a heavy weight through the filter of your own prejudices, beliefs, and perceptions.
Beyond the Mind
Now comes the magic. Forget reps, calories, and the way things are “supposed to” work.
Lose your sense of self and tune in when you train. Training can now become meditation and guide your spiritual journey.
You’ll develop an intuitive sense of how you’re meant to train. Through the deep relationship you’ve built with body and mind, wisdom will start to come freely.
You’ll be able to connect with life and with others on a deeper level.
How Do You Get There?
First, you have to put in the work. Not necessarily 10,000 hours, but enough to cover real distance. Make mistakes, have experiences, lose your drive, break, come back, and dig deeper each time.
I suggest finding a good coach to help you make the right mistakes. Over time, you’ll likely need different instructors as your understanding grows.
Your reasons for starting doesn’t matter much — losing fat, gaining muscle, mental health. What matters is deepening your reason until no reason is needed at all. Training becomes you, and you become your training.
What Awaits on the Other Side?
Life. The ability to truly feel yourself, open your eyes, and connect with others.
As I said before, I don’t consider myself an expert — I’m not even sure what that word means. But I can say this: I’m seeking the truth, and nothing else.
Now, please be aware: at best, the ultimate truth is a half-truth. Keep your eyes and ears open, and watch out for the ego trying to take over your pursuit. A way to bring it home is to remind yourself of the inverse relationship between the speed and location of a particle — even science teaches us humility in the face of truth.
If you want to join me on this journey, you can check out my Instagram: @willem_van_zanten — no strings attached.
See you on the other side…
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