Precerpt from Grandma's Ninja Training Diary: Surviving the Cost of Training

When I first set out on this quest, I barely gave a second thought to the costs. I expected to shell out a bit for gym fees and some coaching, but I assumed much of the training could come free—woven into everyday life. Curbs became hurdles. Grocery runs turned into cardio. Living boldly became a form of strength conditioning.

That theory held up, at least in part. I ran from parking lots into stores with precision, leapt off curbs like a spry teenager, and even vaulted across a car hood to land at the door of my physiotherapist (he saw that through the window once and claimed I was his only patient with stuntwoman tendencies). The misaligned elbow—earned heroically while lifting a sectional sofa one-handed—was less elegant.

But the foundations of real ninja strength required more than enthusiasm. For targeted muscles and techniques, for understanding what my body was doing in motion and rest, for recovery and planning—there were no shortcuts. None of that came cheap.

Cost breakdown:

💪 Gym membership: $360/year
🧠 Training sessions: $140/month = $1,680/year
🧘 Bonus yoga classes: free (thank goodness)
Subtotal: $2,040

Even the “local” gym was ten miles away. On rainy days and Sundays, it felt like a trek to Mordor. So I invested in a home gym: weights, straps, Bosu ball, yoga mat, pull-up bar, kettle ball—and yes, a salmon ladder (a splurge worthy of its own diary entry).

Some of it, thankfully, I MacGyvered. Benches from household finds, steps for climbing, hand grips. No stair machine needed. Just stairs. I still had to buy a jump rope, but that didn’t shake the budget.

Home Gym Investment: About $1,000
(Elliptical machine not included—Carl nabbed it for $250 from Sears ten years ago, then fixed it himself like a magician with a socket wrench.)

Then came the ninja gym scouting trip: lodging, gas, a modest fee. Another $200.

So I tallied over $3,500—before adding gas, wear and tear, and future commitments like rock climbing classes an hour away, which would start next Tuesday.

Training gear in use:

Sports bra
Shoes (though barefoot jumps had their charm)
General gym accoutrements

But here’s what I learned, with hindsight and a few sore muscles: the most sustainable training came when I circled back to community resources, household hacks, and even chores. Once I understood how my body moved, stabilized, and built strength, I began using the garden, laundry baskets, grocery hauling, even cat herding as intentional workouts. Pulling weeds? Core and grip. Lifting Bear off the windowsill with grace? Functional strength. Navigating puddles with agility? Balance and reaction time.

Training, it turns out, didn’t have to bleed the budget dry. It just needed awareness—and a little Grandma ingenuity.

For more posts about/from Grandma's Ninja Training Diary, click HERE.

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