Precerpt from Grandma's Ninja Training Diary: Body Awareness, the Most Underrated Superpower
Precerpt (excerpt prior to publication) from Grandma's Ninja Training Diary --
There’s something incredibly humbling about needing to pause 2/3 of the way up a hill you’ve walked daily for years—especially when that hill is notoriously brutal, a football field long at a steady 30-degree incline. I’ve always taken pride in breezing past younger walkers as they gasp behind me. So, when I suddenly had to stop mid-hill for breath, I noticed. And I paid attention.
When I mentioned it to my doctor, I half-expected a shrug and some comment about age or the difficulty of the climb. Instead, he took me seriously. “Any change without a clear reason is worth investigating,” he said. He was right. It turned out that my iron had plummeted from a healthy 40 to 29, well below the normal 35 average for my age—overnight. We’re still figuring out why, but I’m now on iron supplements and grateful we caught it early.
Why? Because I listened to my body.
That’s the heart of body awareness, and it’s one of the biggest takeaways from Ninja training. You can’t push yourself in obstacle practice without paying close attention to how your joints, muscles, breath, and balance are working together. The better your awareness, the safer and smarter your training becomes—and the more likely you are to notice when something’s off, long before it turns serious.
Yoga offers a different but equally powerful route to body awareness. It asks you to slow down and feel—to notice the slight shift in balance when you move your foot, the pull in your hamstrings, the way your breath supports your strength. In yoga, there’s no rushing. Just tuning in.
Body awareness isn’t only about health scares, either. Every Thursday, I wrestle three large garbage and recycling bins—two of them not even mine—up and down that same hill. These bins weigh 60–90 pounds, depending on the week, but I can usually guess the weight to within 5 pounds. Why? Because I know what 60 pounds feels like on the rowing machine. I know what 90 does to my shoulders. When it feels heavier than usual, I adjust.
Sometimes it’s subtle. On days when I can’t manage my usual reps or weight in a workout, I don’t beat myself up. I recognize it as my body’s message: today is for recovery. So, I rotate—core, lower body, upper body, balance/flexibility—giving tired muscles the space they need. It’s not a medical emergency. It’s just smart training. And it's something I’ve learned with age, not in spite of it.
Body awareness is a form of self-respect. It’s how I stay strong enough to do what others half my age can’t. It’s how I keep moving, keep training, and keep living on my own terms.
So, if you’re training—Ninja-style or otherwise—make space for awareness. It's not just a wellness buzzword. It's a lifesaver.
Book description:
Grandma’s Ninja Training Diary is the inspiring true story of a 75-year-old grandmother who dares to dream big—by training for American Ninja Warrior. Teaming up with coach and trainer Brittany Renz, she embarks on a three-year journey to build strength, resilience, flexibility, balance, and endurance—starting from scratch.
Told in a dynamic mix of diary entries, coaching insights, and behind-the-scenes reflections, this book chronicles the ups and downs of late-in-life athletic training. From gym workouts to rock climbing, yoga to injury recovery, sleep to mindset—every aspect of the transformation is explored with honesty and humor.
Grandma shares what she’s learning; Coach Brittany explains why she’s right—or wrong. Together, they offer a realistic, encouraging look at what it takes to pursue an extraordinary goal at any age.
Part training manual, part motivational memoir, Grandma’s Ninja Training Diary is packed with practical tips for readers over 50 who want to improve their fitness, health, and confidence. You’ll also get insider insights into the world of American Ninja Warrior, strategies for balancing real life with ambitious goals, and hard-won wisdom about success, failure, and the joy of simply showing up.
Read more precerpts from Grandma's Ninja Training Diary and related posts HERE.
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