The Mental Benefit of Momentary Muscular Failure

We can do hard things. Fortune favours the bold. Work hard, play hard. Ok, we get it. There’s value in hard work, so what does that actually look like in the studio?

We know that most forms of exercise improve mood. Movement releases endorphins, helps manage stress, and gives you that small dopamine hit from doing something good for yourself. You can get that from walking your dog, dancing with friends, or a yoga class. But training to Momentary Muscular Failure (MMF) hits a little different and here’s how: 

Grit & Mental Toughness

Psychologist Angela Duckworth defines grit as sustained effort in the face of challenge, which is exactly what MMF trains. When an exercise gets hard, your body tells you to stop. Pushing safely through that with the encouragement and supervision from your coach, even for a few more seconds teaches your brain that you can handle discomfort.

Confidence & Accomplishment

Confidence comes from repetitive proof that you can do something. Every time you finish a hard set, especially the ones you didn’t think you could, you reinforce that belief. Your brain also rewards effort and completion. That post-workout feeling is more neurological than it is physical, which means it doesn't matter what you're doing, your body and mind will be more confident when it comes to trying new things or taking on challenges.

Presence & Mindfulness 

When you’re training to true failure, there’s no distractions. You’re not thinking about your to-do list or what’s for dinner because all you can think about is the intensity of the workout. For some, that’s one of the only times all day they feel truly present. We call this a meditation with weights.

We’re practicing something a lot of people avoid by leaning into discomfort instead of edging away from it. Think of grit, confidence, and presence as your mental muscles. The more you work them, the stronger they get!