Can Exercise Really Be Body Neutral?
The fitness industry currently thrives on diet culture- no ifs, ands, or buts about it- but does it have to?
Is it Possible for Fitness To Not Center The Beauty Standard?
My online studio, HPS was just awarded Best Body Neutral Workout by Women’s Health- and I’m psyched for a million reasons— but mainly because it means that the wellness audience is starting to see the cracks in the “diets as wellness” facade and are yearning for something that makes them…well… WELL! Seeing my name in a magazine I’ve read since I was a teen has also made me reflect on how to invite people in who may have a hard time seeing my POV.
Diet Culture and Self Care Mirror Each Other
I’m of the belief that fitness and mental well being don’t have to be mutually exclusive, nor do joyful movement and fitness/strength goals. I know from firsthand experience just how effective a movement practice can be to help build healthy body image, cultivate mental resilience, and improve my mood (and sleep and sex life and stress levels etc…) yet, as an eating disorder recovered person, I also know that the shadow side of the “fitness girl”archetype is obsession, rigidity, and shame.
Exercise Can Be Both Toxic and Healing According to Your Approach
At the same time, I think that if we relegate fitness and exercise to diet culture property and submit to the binary thinking that something can either be only good or only bad, it’s a missed opportunity for some real healing. When I say exercise can be self care, I mean it— and as much as I love my cute matching sets and expensive equipment etc, I don’t mean it in a capitalism and expensive skincare routines kind of way. I mean it’s a legit way to make self compassion a habit.
If we make a ritual of showing up on our mats with the intention of taking time for ourselves, doing something fun and mentally engaging that also works to boosts our health in endless ways, you’re basically rewiring your brain to understand that you’re worthy, loved, and taken care of—ie, SAFE. As someone with depression, anxiety, and PTSD, those are all a BFD to me- and I’m not willing to give that up because diet culture seems to have claimed exercise as its own. Reclaiming movement in this way and practicing regularly has some real potential to help you change how you see yourself, and your body- and it’s a total waste if we rob ourselves of that.
Conclusion
I’ll admit, it’s a grey area- but that’s exactly the thing, isn’t it? Two truths can be real at the same time- the same exercise can be used to fixate on perceived flaws and make you feel unhappy in your skin or be used a means of self care and cultivate the confidence (and endorphins) that come with movement. The exercise itself doesn’t change: a plank is a plank is a plank (as long as your tail is tucked, your glutes are squeezed, and your posture is proud 😉). The difference is how you approach it. THIS is why I created Helen Phelan Studio, for people to have access to a space that challenged them physically while still being kind to themselves mentally. There is a free 10 day trial for you to see for yourself!
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