stoicism

Bess Ogden

Master Trainer

What are your thoughts on the philosophy of stoicism? As a young woman, I was deeply influenced by reading Marcus Aurelius’ *Meditations*. Recently, I’ve been enjoying a series of inspiring books by Ryan Holiday that breathe new life into these ancient teachings. In essence, Stoics believe that we should focus on what we can control, accept what we cannot, and maintain inner peace regardless of external circumstances. They emphasize resilience, discipline, and the pursuit of virtue, offering a blueprint for living a life of purpose and integrity.

Last week, before teaching my WARRIOR Rhythm class, I had a conversation with one of my longtime students about stoicism. We discussed the remarkable example of Lou Gehrig, the legendary Yankees player from the early 1900s. Known as the "Iron Horse," Gehrig never missed a game, never shirked a practice, and lived a life of moderation and discipline. Even as his body succumbed to what is now known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, he recognized when it was time to step away, always placing his team above his own desires. As my student and I walked into the studio to begin class, he summed it up perfectly: “Stoicism is why you and I are here, showing up every week for class, keeping our bodies tuned so we can play.”

Every WARRIOR Rhythm lesson has a theme. During this particular class, we were focused on Lesson 11, themed around “being humble.” Ellen De Werd captures this essence beautifully: “The theme for today is Humility, leaning into accepting and acknowledging our own weaknesses. And ironically, finding strength in that.”

Isn’t it funny how life can throw us curveballs? That night after class, I began to feel quite ill. By the next morning, I had a raging fever and felt absolutely terrible. The fever broke a couple of days later, but I was still not in any shape to teach my WARRIOR Strength class that night. For the first time ever, I had to call in sick. So much for the stoic persona I was so proud of. This experience has given me a new appreciation for the balance between personal pride, stoicism, and ultimately, the humility to accept our occasional human frailty.

What a rollercoaster life is! The universe has a way of humbling us when we get too entrenched in our egos. It reminds us to stay in the moment and be ready to let go of our treasured beliefs about how things *should* be. Stoicism offers a powerful framework for structuring our lives, but we must remember that sometimes, we are better served by extending grace—both to others and to ourselves.