Recently, I have been going to a boxing strength and conditioning class at Hnefaleikafélagið Æsir (try saying that three times fast) with some of my co-workers. The gym looks like something Rocky might train in, and when you walk in the smell of sweat and hard work smacks you in the face. Well, mostly sweat 🙂 At first glance, boxing and my pursuit to learn Icelandic seem totally unrelated. However, I have noticed that this very intense class not only has a lot of similarities to my language journey, it has also reenergized my focus.
They Are Challenging, But Not Impossible
Similar to learning Icelandic, boxing class is quite difficult and it takes a decent amount of consistency until you see noticeable progress. I was excited about taking my first boxing class, but I quickly learned that I was in over my head. I stumbled through the exercises huffing and puffing, and I couldn’t wait for the hour to be up. After surviving this class, I immediately thought, “Why am I doing this to myself?!” However, when the DOMS subsided, I found myself wanting to do more. This class tests my limits, which made me curious about how much my body is capable of doing.
Although my Icelandic language learning journey has not been as physically challenging as boxing, my mental limits have been tested in a very similar way. My first encounter with the language was exhausting. All of the words looked confusing and I stumbled through the pronunciations, even with a lot of assistance from Gunnar. Similar to my reaction to boxing, I thought, “Why am I doing this to myself?!” It was easy to feel like learning the language would be impossible. However, with persistence and many hours of studying, the words didn’t sound or look so foreign after a while. I started to believe that I can learn Icelandic! The challenge became exciting and it continues to drive me to learn more.
I Am Building Muscle
Boxing and learning a language build up your physical and mental muscles. I am using the word “muscle” loosely here because the brain is not a muscle. However, you can train your brain to be capable of doing more, just like you can train your body.
In the beginning of my language-learning journey, I would study Icelandic words for many hours during the week. Sometimes, I would experience what I call “brain pain,” a subtle headache due to all of the new information that I was absorbing. Learning 10 words a day on Memrise used to feel like a lot, but over time I was able to learn up to 30 words in one sitting! Trying to learn so many words at one time would not have been possible in the beginning of my journey, but consistent practice built up my brain “muscle” capacity.
Since starting boxing two months ago, I am seeing a similar change in my muscles. I can do more push ups, squats, lunges, plank holds, and jump rope longer because I have consistently increased my muscle capacity. My mental focus has also increased, which has definitely helped with my pursuit to learn Icelandic because my study sessions are more efficient.
The Boxing Class is Taught in Icelandic
Ok, I know what you are thinking, “Of course boxing will help you to learn Icelandic if it is taught in the language!” While I also assumed that, the reality is that I might learn one or two words in each class. My main focus is on catching my breath in between exercises and making it through the hour. 🙂
I think the combination of language learning and exercise is a powerful way to keep the mind and body fit. If you are in a position to take an exercise class in the language you are learning, I highly recommend it. You will be building up your vocabulary, even if slowly, and doing something healthy for your body.
It is Always Worth the Effort
The exhaustion that I feel after an intense boxing class, or when I learn Icelandic for hours at a time, periodically makes me question why I continue to do either one of these activities. But after getting some rest, I always feel like it was worth the effort that I put in. Being able to form sentences correctly in Icelandic or striking a punching bag with more power than before, makes me proud that I have pushed myself in a healthy and productive way.
Your language learning and/or fitness journey is going to be different than mine but I believe that pushing your limits and getting outside of your comfort zone will greatly increase your chances of seeing progress. As Robin Sharma once said “Consistency is the DNA of mastery.” I encourage you to be persistent, consistent and resilient as you learn any language or hobby, for the journey is long but the rewards along the way are great.
Would you like to learn Icelandic or have you already started on your language journey? Check out my Language Learning Resources page for a list of mostly free and useful Icelandic language resources. Good luck and happy learning!
Þakka þér fyrir að lesa og sjáumst fljótlega! (Thank you for reading and see you soon!)