Tell us a little bit about yourself. What do you do outside the gym?
Hi, I’m Yoo Soo. I freelance doing music and audio stuff. Mostly, I’m a music composer who writes music for TV, videos, and film. I write and produce songs for myself and other artists. I edit and produce podcasts. I do session work. Every week is different, and it’s a mix of whatever opportunities come my way. I used to front a band in my twenties trying to ‘make it.’ It was fun, but it was an unhealthy lifestyle. Freelancing is still a grind, but I’ve chosen a more sustainable life of domesticity and working on music projects at home.
My wife and I live two blocks away with our 1-year-old son and my 21-year-old cousin (we took guardianship of her when she was a teenager. She’s in college now. I try to drag her to class. You may have seen her). We also have four small dogs. They act like a pack and bark a lot. If you see me walking them around the neighborhood, then I apologize in advance for how disruptive they are.
What initially got you into training, and what keeps you coming back?
I got into distance running and started to neglect strength training. Once a week, I would lift weights alone at home while watching Netflix. It felt like a chore, I felt a little pathetic, and I wanted something to motivate me to try harder and keep me accountable. I had some neighbors who went to Hardware and really loved the experience. It seemed like the path of least resistance to join the closest gym and have someone tell me what to do.
My life is pretty chaotic. Classes at Hardware bring me peace and structure. It’s one hour I get to spend trying to improve myself, hang out with a community, and, to the best of my ability, not look at my phone. I walk away from class feeling less anxious and annoyed, which is great for myself and anyone who has to interact with me.
What are your fitness goals? How close are you to reaching them?
My realistic fitness goal is to be physically active and independently mobile until the day I die. I also play basketball every week with a bunch of other middle-aged dads, so my goal is to stay strong and agile enough to play well and avoid injury. I think injury is inevitable, but I’m doing my best to mitigate that risk.
My unrealistic fitness goal is to dunk. How close am I? Well, I just need like 20 more inches on my vertical, and I’m turning 40 at the end of the year. So take that for what you will.
What’s an accomplishment or goal you’ve reached at Hardware that makes you the most proud?
I was pretty proud of finishing the Murph last year (it’s a specific ‘hero’ workout if you’re unfamiliar. I didn’t know what it was until I joined Hardware). Completed without a weighted vest, but I’ll take it.
When I signed up for the Murph, I was afraid I wasn’t going to finish. I trained on my own outside of classes to make sure I was prepared. I was nervous, but the whole day turned out to be super fun. Something about completing feats of endurance with a group of people is inspiring to experience and witness.
Favorite WOD/movement?
I love jumping around and running. I’ve herniated my lower lumbar and tore my meniscus because of those movements, but…man. Box jumps, box jump overs, burpees, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1 mile. I love them all.
Least favorite WOD/movement?
When I first attempted overhead squats at Hardware, it was one of the most physically humbling experiences I’ve ever had. I could barely do a rep with a PVC pipe. I was trembling the whole time as I struggled to reach the bottom of a squat. I’m still awful at it. I’ve learned my mobility sucks, and I need to work on that more.
Any advice for someone interested in trying out Hardware?
Maybe you know what to expect from a workout, but you don’t know what to expect from people. But the people are the best part. They’re so helpful, kind, and cool. I’ve learned so much and gained some friends. The coaches and members, no one is judging you. Everyone is rooting for you to show up and try to be a little bit stronger and healthier.
Sign up for a one-week trial. I did that a couple years ago, and now classes are one of the things I look most forward to every week. At this point in my life, maintaining any consistent behavior is challenging and elusive. At least with my health, I find that it’s more attainable by going to Hardware. Before each class, I read the workout blog, look up the movements I don’t know, and come in with an open mind. And I think I’m in the best shape of my life because of it.