I Tried Parkour — And Now I Understand Why This "Outlaw Sport" Has Gone Mainstream
Remember when parkour was just those viral videos of people jumping off rooftops in sketchy locations? Well, those days are over. According to ClassPass, parkour became one of the fastest-growing fitness trends in the U.S. last year — and the sport has officially moved from the streets to the gym.
Naturally, I had to see what all the hype was about.
From Rooftops to Fitness Studios
Parkour started in the 1990s when a Parisian teenager and his friends began running across rooftops and scaling walls around the city. The movement gained traction in the U.S. during the early 2000s as grainy videos spread online, showcasing death-defying stunts that made your palms sweat just watching.
Eventually, freerunning emerged as a more expressive offshoot, incorporating flips and tricks. Then shows like "American Ninja Warrior" brought obstacle-course training into living rooms across America, sparking interest in movement-based workouts. And let's not forget "The Office" Season 6, which turned "Parkour!" into a cultural catchphrase.
Now, dedicated parkour gyms are popping up everywhere — offering a safer way to channel your inner daredevil.
"Everything I Was Told Not to Do as a Kid"
That's how Christian Elijah Mayo, owner of Fr3running Society in Los Angeles, describes parkour. Mayo trained as a gymnast but grew tired of the rigid rules and point deductions. As a teenager, he quit competitive gymnastics but kept flipping — climbing on top of monkey bars, swinging onto slides, and getting in trouble for it.
Years later, after working in stunts, Mayo opened his first parkour gym five years ago with a mission: create a safe space for the kind of movement kids naturally love but are usually told to stop doing. Last year, he opened a second location.
My First Class: Equal Parts Thrilling and Terrifying
Walking into Fr3running Society feels like stepping onto a massive playground designed for adults. After wiping my shoes on a sticky mat, I entered a sprawling industrial space filled with wooden platforms, metal bars, climbing walls, and black mats everywhere.
The class was structured around different stations, each drilling a specific movement. But one station in particular made my heart race: I had to leap from a block, catch a bar mid-air, swing forward, release, and land on a raised platform that looked impossibly far away.
I was scared. I told Mayo as much.
But he reframed it. I wasn't "afraid," he explained — my central nervous system was just trying to protect me from injury. The solution? Breathe through it and keep exposing myself to challenging scenarios in a controlled environment. That's how you "sharpen the blade in your brain" and expand your comfort zone, he said.
I wasn't sure I bought the distinction, but after a few practice swings (and a lot of hesitation), I finally let go.
I barely made it — but I made it.
The Euphoria Is Real
Look, any workout can make you feel good. But this was different.
I wasn't just going through the motions or counting reps. I was pushing real physical limits and tapping into a kind of playfulness I hadn't felt in years. The class even ended with a game of tag — and let me tell you, being chased has a way of shutting down your inner critic. Plus, there's a camaraderie here you don't get in your average Pilates class.
The Next-Day Reality Check
Days later, I'm writing this with blistered palms, bruised shins, and arms so sore I can barely put my hair in a ponytail. I'm 36, and I'm feeling every year of it right now. Oh, and I think I tweaked my ankle.
Mayo assures me that over the long term, parkour actually functions as injury prevention — strengthening smaller muscles and tendons while improving mobility. I guess I'll find out next week when (or if) I can move again.
Will I Go Back?
Absolutely. But first, I'm taking my toddler to "ninja tots" classes. If parkour teaches you anything, it's that the kid version of yourself had the right idea all along.
@olivernordin1 Replying to @william.soderberg What should I parkour until next? #parkouruntil #parkourpov #parkour #uppsala ♬ Ur Final Message - Slowed and Reverb - Wrld2Luis