Reclaiming Play in Adult Training

We all started with play.

As kids, movement was joy: running, climbing, chasing, competing. No spreadsheets. No macros. Just fun.

Then we grow up. Training becomes “serious.”
Grind culture takes over: suffer for gains, no pain no gain, optimize everything.

The result? Burnout. Inconsistency. Resentment toward the gym.

Instead, how about we go back to playing?

Not as an excuse to half-ass your workouts.
Not as random chaos disguised as “fun.”

Play in adult training is intentional. Purposeful. Powerful.

When you inject real play into your program, you show up more eagerly, push harder without forcing it, recover better, and stick with fitness for life.

Because joy is the ultimate performance enhancer.

Why Play Gets Lost — And Why Bringing It Back Matters

Adult training often strips out fun to chase “optimal.”

• Social media glorifies suffering.

• Programs promise max gains through max grind.

• We equate seriousness with results.

But science says the opposite:

• Play boosts dopamine → higher motivation and consistency.

• Fun reduces perceived effort → you work harder without noticing.

• Novelty improves skill acquisition and neural drive.

• Joy lowers stress hormones → better recovery and hormone balance.

Clients who add play don’t just enjoy training more — they progress faster.

What Playful Training Actually Looks Like (It’s Not Random)

Play isn’t an invitation to grab four random exercises and mess around.

It’s deliberate variety and joy layered on top of a solid, progressive foundation.

Here are the four main ways I teach clients to reclaim play:

1. Learning a New Skill

Pick something you’ve never mastered and chip away at it.

• Turkish get-ups

• Handstand push-ups

• Kettlebell snatches

• Pistol squats

• Even basic gymnastics rings work

Dedicate one session or finisher per week to skill practice.
Progress feels like a game — and the carryover to strength is massive.

2. Testing a Strong Skill

Take something you’re already good at and challenge it creatively.

• Max strict pull-ups in 10 minutes

• A CrossFit workout

• Mile run

• Deadlift ladder (add weight each set until you can’t)

Turn your strengths into playgrounds.
It builds confidence and keeps ego healthy.

3. A Completely Different Workout Style

Once in a while, throw out the usual script.

• Strongman circuit (sled pushes, yoke walks, tire flips if available)

• Bodyweight playground session (park pull-ups, dips, sprints)

• EMOM or AMRAP with unfamiliar combos

• Old-school CrossFit-style metcon

The contrast refreshes your nervous system and breaks plateaus.

4. Team or Partner Workouts

Train with someone.

• Partner medleys (you go/I go)

• Competitive finishers

• Group challenges

• Even just spotting and encouraging each other

Shared effort turns hard work into connection and laughter.

Play Also Means Taking Fitness Outside the Gym

The second big piece: move the fun into real environments.

Fitness isn’t confined to plates and bars.

Play looks like:

• Joining a recreational sports league (soccer, basketball, volleyball)

• Weekend hiking or trail running

• Rock climbing or bouldering

• Pickup games with friends

• Obstacle courses or adventure races

• Even backyard games with your kids

These activities use your strength in context.
They remind you why you train: to live bigger, not just look better in the mirror.

How to Add Play Without Losing Progress

Play complements — doesn’t replace — your main work.

Simple rules:

• Keep 70–80% of training focused on progressive strength goals.

• Use 20–30% for play (1 session/week, finishers, weekend activities).

• Track the main lifts so progress stays objective.

• Choose play that still aligns with your purpose (e.g., sport if you value competition, skills if you love mastery).

Your Next Step

This week, pick one form of play:

• Learn a new skill in your next session.

• Plan a completely different workout.

• Sign up for a sport or outdoor activity.

• Grab a friend for a partner challenge.

Do it once. Notice how you feel.

Training isn’t supposed to be punishment.

It’s supposed to make your life bigger, richer, more joyful.

Reclaim play — and watch everything else fall into place.

What’s one playful thing you’re adding this week?
Share in the comments.

If you’re ready for a program that builds serious progress with serious joy baked in, let’s talk. Book a free call here: www.purposefulfit.com .

Onward,
Matheus Silva

P.S. The strongest, longest-lasting clients I have are the ones who smile in the gym. Coincidence? I don’t think so.