I began to seriously question what it was I disliked so much about my own time and what I found more appealing in these other worlds. Then, around age eighteen or nineteen, it finally dawned on me: There was a distinct richness in the physicality of existence in other eras, now severely diminished in our own time.

My favourite form of exercise was hiking, which I simply viewed as an adventure. I had resolved to discover these other worlds by replicating them through exercise, especially outdoors. Each exercise modality, such as swimming, rock-climbing, and rowing, became a gateway of escape for me, carrying a double meaning. Weightlifting, which brought about the most dramatic changes in my own body, captivated me with the lofty notion that my body could become a form of self-expression—a representation of opposition to the disastrous mental and physical health consequences of a technology-dependent world. My one remaining challenge was that all too often, I found myself alone in these pursuits.

My mission is to bring as many people with me as I possibly can, by revealing the incredible fulfillment, adventure, health, community, and companionship that awaits them, if only they have the courage to leave the couch behind for a little while.