Body's feeling matters more, not muscular physique

Su Shiyu, a graduate student and fitness enthusiast, talks with Zhang Yi.

The end of last year marked a pivotal moment for me, as a routine workout at the gym ended in an ambulance ride to the emergency room, triggering a form of PTSD linked to heavy squats.

While my squat max sat at 80 kilograms, it was a 40-kg set that led to my injury. Maybe because I was already tired after a day's study, I zoned out suddenly in training. As I rose halfway, my core gave way, and the weight pressed against my waist, sending a feeling of electricity through me.

Initially, I didn't grasp the severity of the situation. I halted the movement, rested in the private training room and applied ice. It wasn't until two hours later that any slight movement in my waist caused a sharp, radiating pain, making it impossible to stand steady, prompting a call to emergency services.

The pain was debilitating and I could barely move, requiring pain-relief injections before returning home. It took five days of lying on the bed before I could walk again. I could do nothing but scroll through my phone and sleep, abandoning my plans for New Year's trips, thesis proposals and job applications.

Subsequent examinations showed a protrusion in the lumbar, spinal canal narrowing and scoliosis. Consequently, I made the tough decision to forgo heavy lifting to prevent worsening these symptoms.

My exercise ethos has since changed. I choose gentle sports like yoga or hiking to enjoy nature.

Previously, I thrived on five intense gym sessions weekly, followed by basketball or frisbee. The gym's ambience, music and added oxygen invigorated me, alongside the endorphin rush and visible muscle gains.

A shift of mind actually occurred earlier last summer. Feeling dizzy upon waking up, I sought advice from a traditional Chinese medicine doctor who diagnosed me with blood and qi deficiency, recommending a reduction in intense workouts.

While I miss the sweat of pushing my boundaries at the gym, my current health and lifestyle demand a more balanced approach. It feels like a repayment for past overexertion.

Now, with my muscle mass dwindling, I'm embracing this change and acknowledging that for a non-professional bodybuilder, developed muscles are not a necessity. What's more important to me is the functionality and flexibility of my body.