The Mental Game of the Adult Learner: Inside Tanvi Parikh’s ‘Badminton Diares’
Starting a new sport as an adult is rarely just about the physical mechanics. For Tanvi Parikh, a NASM Certified Personal Trainer and software professional, the journey into badminton has become a public study in vulnerability, discipline, and the psychological hurdles of being a beginner again.
Documenting her progress via her Instagram handle @iwillgetlean, Parikh has launched a series titled “Badminton Diares.” The series serves as a transparent record of her attempts to master the sport, highlighting a struggle that many adult athletes face but few discuss: the emotional weight of the learning curve.
Returning to the Court at 35
For Parikh, the decision to take up badminton was tied to a milestone. In February 2026, upon turning 35, she shared a philosophy of taking “ALL the shots,” signaling a commitment to experience and growth regardless of the starting point. This was not her first encounter with the sport; she noted that she had approached badminton once before, four years prior, before returning to it now.
This transition is particularly notable given Parikh’s professional background. As someone who balances a 9-5 software job with the expertise of a certified personal trainer, she is well-versed in the science of fitness. However, the technical demands of badminton present a different challenge than general fitness, requiring a blend of agility, timing, and mental resilience.
Battling the ‘Shame’ of the Beginner
While many sports influencers focus on highlight reels and rapid improvement, Parikh’s “Badminton Diares” delves into the internal friction of the process. On April 13, 2026, she identified “shame” as one of the most difficult emotions to battle while on the court.
In the context of competitive sports, shame often stems from the gap between one’s perceived competence and their actual performance. For an adult learner, this is often amplified by the fear of making basic mistakes in a public or competitive setting. By labeling this emotion, Parikh transforms her social media presence from a simple progress log into a narrative about mental fortitude.
“Badminton Diares – 1/MANY ‘Shame’ is one of the only emotions I find hard to battle on court Its not the fast…”
The Value of the Training Diary
The decision to frame her journey as “diares” aligns with established athletic training methodologies. The use of a training diary is a recognized tool for both players and coaches to track development beyond simple wins and losses.
Effective training logs typically move beyond the “obvious” recording of activities to include qualitative data. This includes tracking daily mood, perceived effort levels (RPE), and immediate thoughts following a session. By documenting the emotional state—such as the “shame” Parikh mentioned—an athlete can identify patterns that hinder performance and consciously work to overcome them.
For a learner returning to a sport after a four-year hiatus, these records provide a concrete map of progress. When the feeling of stagnation hits, the diary serves as evidence of how far the athlete has come from day one.
Balancing Professionalism and Play
Parikh’s journey is a reflection of a broader trend among professionals seeking “third spaces” for growth. Balancing a demanding software career with a fitness journey—which she has documented over a 100-week period on YouTube—requires significant time management and a willingness to be a novice.
The intersection of her NASM certification and her role as a student of badminton creates a unique perspective. While she possesses the knowledge of how the body should move and recover, the skill acquisition of a specific sport like badminton requires a different type of patience. We see a reminder that expertise in one area of fitness does not grant immediate mastery in another.
Key Takeaways: The Adult Learning Curve
- Emotional Transparency: Acknowledging emotions like shame is a critical step in overcoming the mental barriers of learning a new sport.
- The Power of Documentation: Using a “diary” approach helps athletes track qualitative growth and mental shifts, not just physical stats.
- Lifelong Learning: Starting or returning to a sport at age 35 highlights the importance of maintaining a “beginner’s mindset” regardless of professional success.
- Holistic Balance: Integrating athletic pursuits with a full-time corporate career (such as software engineering) requires intentionality and a support system of documentation.
As the “Badminton Diares” continue, the focus remains on the intersection of physical skill and mental health. For Parikh and her followers, the goal is not necessarily professional dominance, but the courage to remain on the court despite the discomfort of the learning process.
Follow the ongoing progress of the series via the official @iwillgetlean Instagram account.
