From Chasing Aesthetics to Teaching Movement
My name is Arun Kumar, and I’ve spent the last 20 years learning what actually works in fitness—often by discovering what doesn’t.
My journey started in 2005 with bodybuilding routines, ego lifting, and a singular focus on how I looked in the mirror. It evolved into something deeper: understanding how the body moves, why some people get injured while others stay strong for decades, and how to build fitness habits that last.
Today, I run Workoutable, a fitness education platform dedicated to teaching movement-based strength training, sustainable nutrition, and practical health principles—not quick fixes or transformation hype.
If you’re here, you’re probably tired of conflicting advice, extreme programs, and fitness content designed to sell rather than educate. I get it. That’s exactly why Workoutable exists.
How It All Started: The Early Years (2005–2012)
I started training in 2005 when I was young, motivated, and knew almost nothing about proper programming.
Like most beginners, I:
- Followed bodybuilding splits from magazines
- Chased the pump instead of understanding progressive overload
- Trained through pain thinking it was “toughness”
- Believed more volume and more intensity always meant better results
For a while, I made progress. Beginners usually do.
But eventually, the cracks appeared:
- Persistent shoulder pain from too much pressing
- Lower back issues from deadlifting with poor form
- Plateaus I couldn’t break through despite training harder
- Burnout from treating every session like a test of willpower
The lesson hit hard: training without understanding movement is just organized chaos.
That realization forced me to step back and start learning—really learning—how the body adapts to stress, why some approaches work long-term while others break people down, and what separates sustainable strength from temporary gains.
The Shift: From Training to Teaching (2013–2016)
In 2013, I started writing about fitness on Blogspot.
Not because I thought I had all the answers—I definitely didn’t. But writing forced me to organize my thoughts, question assumptions, and articulate what I was learning through years of trial, error, and observation.
Initially, it was just documentation for myself. Over time, people started reading, asking questions, and sharing their own struggles with fitness confusion.
By 2016, those scattered blog posts evolved into Workoutable—a dedicated platform for teaching practical, movement-focused strength training.
The mission was clear from day one: help people train smarter, not just harder.
Building the Foundation: Formal Education
Experience taught me what works in practice.
Education taught me why it works in theory.
To move beyond anecdotal knowledge, I pursued formal certifications:
Diploma in Personal Training (2019)
Professional qualification covering exercise science, biomechanics, program design, and injury prevention
Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certification (2021)
Evidence-based coaching methodology for nutrition behavior change and sustainable habit formation
These credentials weren’t just resume builders. They connected the dots between what I observed coaching real people and the underlying scientific principles explaining those results.
Education helped me explain concepts clearly, design better programs, and coach more effectively.
Next step: NSCA-CSCS (2026)
I’m pursuing the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist certification to deepen my understanding of performance training, periodization, and advanced program design.
Fitness is a lifelong learning process. The moment you think you know everything is the moment you stop improving.
Real-World Coaching: Where Theory Meets Reality
Certifications matter. But nothing replaces real coaching experience.
Over the years, I’ve worked with:
- Complete beginners intimidated by gym culture
- Former athletes rebuilding strength after injuries
- Busy professionals with 3-4 hours per week maximum
- People over 40 navigating joint issues and slower recovery
- Individuals frustrated by years of inconsistent results
In 2025, I opened my own fitness center, where I coach clients in person daily.
This hands-on experience keeps my teaching grounded in reality:
- I see which cues work and which confuse people
- I understand the difference between textbook perfect and good enough in practice
- I learn what actually prevents injuries versus what just sounds impressive
- I discover which habit changes stick and which ones people abandon
Coaching real people with real constraints is the best education available.
Why Movement-Based Training Changed Everything
My approach evolved dramatically over 20 years.
Early focus: Bodybuilding and aesthetics
Build muscle, lose fat, look impressive
Current focus: Movement-based strength and longevity
Move well, build capability, stay strong for decades
What changed my perspective:
- Injuries taught me movement quality matters more than weight on the bar
Lifting heavy with poor mechanics is a ticking time bomb - Watching people plateau taught me isolation work has limits
Muscles don’t work alone in real life—train patterns, not parts - Working with older adults taught me longevity beats intensity
The person still training strong at 60 wins over the person who burned out at 35 - Opening a gym taught me sustainability determines success
Perfect programs people can’t follow are worthless. Good programs they maintain are priceless.
My philosophy now centers on fundamental movement patterns:
- Squat – Lower body strength and daily function
- Hinge – Posterior chain development and spine safety
- Push – Upper body pressing for practical strength
- Pull – Back strength, posture, shoulder health
- Carry – Core stability and real-world capability
- Rotate – Power generation and spinal resilience
This approach builds strength that transfers beyond the gym—into sports, daily activities, and aging well.
How Workoutable Content Gets Created
Every article on Workoutable is shaped by four filters:
1. Personal Experience
20 years of training across multiple methodologies—bodybuilding, powerlifting, functional fitness, mobility work
2. Coaching Observations
What actually works for real people with real constraints, not just genetic outliers
3. Evidence-Based Principles
Scientific research on exercise adaptation, nutrition, recovery, and behavior change
4. Practical Application
Can someone actually implement this advice with limited time, equipment, and energy?
I don’t publish content just to rank on Google.
I publish content to help readers train safer, smarter, and more sustainably.
When monetization exists through affiliate partnerships, it never overrides educational integrity. I only recommend products I’d actually use myself.
My Commitment to You
When you read Workoutable content or work with me, you can expect:
✓ Honest, practical advice – No exaggerated claims or miracle promises
✓ Respect for your intelligence – I won’t oversimplify or talk down to you
✓ Clear explanations – Complex topics broken down without losing nuance
✓ Real-world applicability – Training strategies that fit actual human lives
✓ Sustainable approaches – Long-term habits over short-term hacks
✓ Transparent limitations – When science is unclear, I say so
I don’t believe in shortcuts.
I believe in consistent, intelligent effort applied over time.
What Drives Me Forward
After 20 years, I’m still learning.
The more I study and coach, the more I realize how much nuance exists in effective training—and how much oversimplification dominates the fitness industry.
What keeps me motivated:
- Helping someone finally understand why previous programs failed them
- Watching clients move pain-free after years of discomfort
- Teaching beginners proper technique before bad habits form
- Seeing people build confidence through strength development
- Creating sustainable habits that last years, not weeks
My ultimate goal:
Help as many people as possible build strong, capable bodies that support rich, active lives—not just impressive physiques that require unsustainable sacrifice.
Final Thought
If there’s one principle guiding everything I teach, it’s this:
Strong movement builds strong lives.
Whether you’re just starting your fitness journey or you’ve been training for decades, Workoutable exists to help you train with confidence, clarity, and purpose.
Let’s build something that lasts.
Ready to start training smarter?
📚 Explore Workoutable’s educational content
💪 Check out movement-based workout programs
🎯 Learn about sustainable fat loss strategies
✉️ Have questions? Get in touch
Transparency & Disclaimer
All content on Workoutable is for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult qualified healthcare and fitness professionals before beginning any new training program, especially if you have pre-existing health conditions or injuries.