Decolonizing Fitness

I’ve been away for a bit recovering from Covid. As someone who is immunocompromised these have been scary times managing symptoms as this virus moves through my body. I also needed space to process my anger. After spending much of my days in isolation I ultimately contracted Covid in my home from a loved one. However, I understand how hard it is when mitigations are left up to us as individuals.   Thankfully I am in a place where I am starting to feel better and am able to engage in intentional movement again. So I wanted to share some...

One of the foundational components of Decolonizing Fitness is creating educational resources for coaches, trainers, studio owners, movement practitioners, and anyone who is interested in divesting from toxic fitness culture. In order to meaningfully address “toxic fitness culture,” we must first understand all that it encompasses. As a Black, queer, trans, chronically ill individual, it felt especially important for me to create my own comprehensive definition of toxic fitness culture because I and others like me are often the primary targets of the harm and misinformation peddled and purported in fitness and movement spaces. I also want to honor the additional descriptions...

When I talk about fitness I am specifically speaking about the way it is used as a tool of body regulation and conformity as fitness explicitly functions as a hinge between lifestyle and health. Through the lens of fitness there is a particular emphasis on body shape and size. The more adjacent a person is to thinness the more they are assumed to be of “good health” and "fit". Which in turn allows for them to be viewed as a successful, responsible and productive member of society. Whereas the larger a person’s body is (no matter the reason) they are...

I grew up reading Men's Health Magazine. I remember scouring the pages of that magazine on my lunch breaks while working at a grocery store. I was so excited when finally able purchase the magazine once my employee discount kicked in. I also recall turning page after page and seeing nothing but toned, tall, white cis male physiques. I felt both admiration for their bodies and deep hurt that I would never look like that. I would often wonder what was wrong with my body that I wanted to change it to look like them? I used to follow the workouts...