Decolonizing Fitness — Fitness

When I’m upset, energy rises inside me. I clench my fists.  I feel rage. I used to head to the gym and run until I couldn’t or lifted heavy weights until my arms shook. I thought this was healthier than throwing things, drinking, or other self-destructive behaviors but, sometimes, I did those things too. Dealing with unpleasant feelings for masculine folks is a complicated process and unfortunately, emotional processing skills in masc communities aren’t often talked about.   However, Ilya’s “Fitness Can Be Used As A Healing Modality” post has really saved me. The post taught me to understand fitness...

I firmly believe fitness can be reclaimed and utilized as a healing tool to help our most marginalized folks reconnect with their bodies in ways that feel supportive and liberating to them. Fitness can be affirming and accessible to all bodies.As a black, queer, non binary trans masculine person I am reminded of the ways this world seeks to pathologize and remove me from my body daily. I also, honor that the current fitness industry has caused many trans and queer folks so much grief due to gender based violence, homophobia and inaccessibility to affirming and inclusive services. We are...

This is information is for anyone who is interested in becoming more affirming and inclusive as a Fitness/Movement Practitioner. Before I get into to sharing some tips please know that: I don’t speak for every trans and queer person in this world. Although I’ve encountered lots of obstacles  because of my identity, I want to name that it is a luxury for me to be heard when so many of my kindred are brutally erased – with their stories left untold. The work I do is dedicated to the ancestors who continuously illuminate my path – my comrades and those...

I’d like to honor that the word “Fitness” evokes lots of harsh feelings for those of us who don’t embody normative beauty standards. I’d also like to name that marginalized folks (trans, gender non conforming and non binary in this context) are often disconnected from our bodies. However, I believe body-movement can actually be used as a healing component. We deserve to engage in practices and take up spaces that allow us to reconnect with ourselves in ways that feel supportive, not coercive.

There are lots of benefits to working out in a commercial gym, specifically if you find a convenient location and a cheap membership. However, many folks who are gender ambiguous in there presentation (i.e. trans, non binary, gender non conforming, femme guy, butch woman...) working out at commercial gyms can be very frightening, uncomfortable and a downright unsafe place for us.