The Session That Changed Everything

Have you ever experienced something so far outside your comfort zone that it unexpectedly became an experience that changed your life for the better?

For me, it happened three years ago at the @rtwyoga Men’s Retreat, where @michaelfongyoga and @maxpaingriffin led us through a mindful martial arts and intense endurance training session.

I was going through a really, really tough time in my life then. I remember standing there just before the session started, thinking, “What am I doing here?! This is SO not me.”

And then the session began.

It pushed me to my limits and challenged boundaries I didn’t even know I had. By the end, there was literally a pool of sweat on the floor. 😅 It was intense—physically and mentally—but somehow, it was also incredibly liberating. Looking back, I realize it was exactly what I needed at that point in my life. I needed to get out of my head, push through something difficult, and remind myself that I was capable of more than I thought.

Shortly after returning to Montréal, I signed up at a local boxing studio, @boxxingstudio. Three years later, I’m still practicing fitness boxing and high-intensity training—and it has become such an important part of my life.

What stayed with me most from that retreat, though, was the way @michaelfongyoga and @maxpaingriffin approached the session. They were incredibly mindful of the fact that everyone came with different levels of experience and ability in martial arts. They made the training both accessible and challenging, creating space for everyone to push themselves without feeling left behind.

I was in awe of how masterful yet completely at ease they were with their craft.

I went into that session thinking, “This is SO not me.”

I had no idea that, three years later, I’d still be doing it—and that stepping so far outside my comfort zone would lead me to something that changed my life for the better. 🥊❤️

When I returned to Sacramento this past summer, I finally had the chance to thank @maxpaingriffin in person and tell him how much that one session three years ago had positively impacted my life. Today, I live with more confidence. I know my boundaries—and I’m not afraid to honor them. I’m more willing to step outside my comfort zone, go after what I want, and trust myself along the way.

Thank you, Max, for creating an experience that gave me more than just a tough workout. You helped me discover a stronger version of myself.