Even from a young age, I was always into fitness. For the past 15 years, I鈥檝e been a coach, personal trainer, group instructor and before that I was an elite cyclist competing for Canada.
I know it feels good to be physically fit. And I know almost every Canadian knows this.
So why is it so difficult to get started?
Of course there are complex personal reasons to avoid exercise, such as a lack of motivation, bad past experiences, injuries, illnesses, work and family obligations鈥� the list is long. All of these reasons can be addressed on an individual basis. Professionals in health, fitness and counselling can help, as can friends and family. But I believe we should start one layer back, one step removed from our individual stumbling blocks so we can look at the place of fitness in Canadian culture.
In an effort to share my expertise, enthusiasm, love of fitness and also to keep these passions local, I and another mom opened a fitness studio a few blocks from where we live near Fraser and 41st Ave.
The process of opening Eastside Fitness gave me some insight into the darker side of the industry. I believe fitness is for everybody and all bodies, which is why our motto is 鈥渇itness for every body.鈥� Active, healthy living is for regular, everyday people, but you wouldn鈥檛 know it based on these darker aspects I encountered when I opened the studio in 2011.
Coded language
The first year I filed corporate taxes, I spent more time than I could spare trying to identify the correct industry code for Eastside Fitness.
I searched for a business tax code in a category of Health and Fitness. There was nothing.
I searched for Sport and Fitness. No, again. Fitness and Health? Physical Fitness? Nope to both.
According to the government, a gym like ours, in fact all gyms and yoga studios, are categorized as 鈥淩ecreation and Entertainment.鈥�
By labelling fitness as an extraneous, leisurely diversion, we send the message that being physically fit is only an option.
My mission is to change this way of thinking. I believe the physical fitness industry should be categorized as a health care provider or have its own code.
Fearful 鈥渆xpert鈥� claims
If I was new to exercise, I would be most afraid of these two things because experts have made it clear as day that I should be.
The first is injury. It seems everywhere you turn you will hear one expert or another warn that 鈥淴鈥� or 鈥淵鈥� or even 鈥淶鈥� exercise will cause injury.聽 As a beginner, that is scary stuff!聽 How do you know which exercises you can safely do?聽
The second fear I might have is that I was wasting my time. Because the other thing many experts say is that one form of exercise or one piece of equipment is the best choice above all else.
Both of these claims discourage people from beginning an exercise program. Remember, there isn鈥檛 one way or one best way to achieve physical fitness. Rather, being consistent over a period of time is the key to success. Trust and listen to your body and pursue simple, enjoyable movement, such as walking or dancing, to get started. Finally, it is possible to workout anywhere and at any time with no equipment.
Fitness messaging in popular media
Too often I see ads depicting young, slim women in Lycra who are photographed in difficult, advanced yoga poses. Or the subject is an athletic man performing impressive feats of strength on expensive gym equipment. These models are invariably happy, smiling and enjoying their (seemingly effortless) efforts. The beginners will think to themselves: That鈥檚 not me.
This quote is one of my favourites and it鈥檚 on point here. 鈥淪aying that you can鈥檛 do yoga because you鈥檙e not flexible enough, that you can鈥檛 run because you鈥檙e not fast enough, that you can鈥檛 lift weights because you鈥檙e not strong enough, is like saying you can鈥檛 take a shower because you鈥檙e not clean enough.鈥�
You don鈥檛 have to be a high performance athlete to follow an exercise routine or program. You don鈥檛 have to be young, fit, fashionable or tech savvy to begin a fitness regime. You don鈥檛 have to dedicate hours from every day to become physically fit.
I love the fitness industry and I know we can overcome these darker sides. I love showing beginners how strong and fit they already are and empowering them to take control of their physical fitness in meaningful and realistic ways. This is my first column in the Courier and I look forward to sharing more.
Darnelle Moore is the co-owner of Eastside Fitness. She believes every body can be fit. Reach her at聽[email protected].
