Venice Beach, the Mecca of Bodybuilding.

Let me start this blog post by firstly saying that I apologize for the late post. I know this was supposed to be up on Friday, but I simply had to wait until Sunday night to post. This is because today I visited Venice Beach, California, which to those who do not know is considered one of the “Meccas” of bodybuilding.

Quite frankly, it was an amazing experience. There were numerous bodybuilders working out at Muscle Beach, and they were exceptionally down to Earth and humble. There seems to be a negative stigma regarding bodybuilders being extremely intimidating and hard to approach, but many of the bodybuilders are very nice, and will drop what they are doing to take pictures with fans, or give advice to aspiring bodybuilders. Interestingly enough, the bodybuilders of Muscle Beach have a large fan base; people gather around the outdoor gym to watch these professional athletes perfect their craft. Undoubtedly, these athletes draw awe inspired looks from little boys, bashful, flirtatious gazes from women of all ages, and pure respect from the older men.

           
There is also a different type of bodybuilder that works out at Venice, which are the calisthenics focused bodybuilders. These athletes utilize the pull up bars,Olympic swings, dip bars, etc. to get their workout in. While some people scoffat the idea of using what seems like children’s playground equipment, it’sactually an insanely hard way to work out. In fact, after long boarding from Venice to Santa Monica and back, I joined a group of people working out with calisthenics, and let me be the first to tell you that it is no joke. A circuit of pull-ups, push-ups, dips, and squats to failure is nothing to laugh at. It was extremely strenuous.

In general there is a richness of bodybuilding culture that is definitely felt at Venice Beach. From the moment you step into the area, you see remnants of the golden age of bodybuilding strewn across shop posters and murals. The culture is vibrant, and as a person who’s trying to aesthetically improve, I feel the immense respect that bodybuilders have for each other. Venice Beach is a place where the best of the best work out, and it’s a place where people go to draw inspiration. Honestly, I have been feeling a bit down about my body image, feeling like my gains are not good enough. But like a shot of caffeine to the mother of 5 trying to put dinner on the table on time, visiting Venice recharged and rejuvenated my love for working out and weightlifting.

If you have time, visit Venice Beach. Whether or not you have been involved in bodybuilding in anyway, you will learn to have an appreciation for the sport. To be honest, there’s an aura about Venice, and if you visit, you’ll understand. Happy lifting!