There’s a strain of men’s fitness culture that glorifies all-out exertion—ultramarathons that shred your legs, bench presses stacked with staggering weight, and obstacle courses designed to test how much suffering you can endure.
While all that might beat letting your body go to seed while you sit on the couch watching the tube, some see it as an imperfect picture of health. Many Delaware men are opting for a more measured approach, taking seriously the task of educating themselves on the needs of both body and mind. These aren’t gurus—just regular guys who have picked up insights that have served them well as they reach their 50s and beyond.
Often, they’ve learned the hard way. Johnny Gillespie, 53, owner of Empowered Wellness Studio in Wilmington, has worked in fitness for decades. He started out as a certified strength and conditioning specialist in the Metallica-blasting, aggressive weightlifting mold. But even as he counseled athletes and fitness buffs on their workout routines, his own body started to suffer from pain…