insideKENT Magazine Issue 96 - March 2020 | Page 85

HEALTH+WELLNESS
BREAKING DOWN STEREOTYPES, EXPLORING FITNESS AESTHETICS AND EMPOWERING WOMEN
- WHATEVER STAGE OF THEIR LIVES AND FITNESS JOURNEY:
WHAT DOES WOMEN’S
FITNESS LOOK LIKE?
BY HANNAH MATTHEWS
Chances are the vision you have in your mind is a
young, tightly toned woman wearing luxury branded
apparel leaving the gym with a carefree glow and
green smoothie in hand: an aspirational image we
will see regurgitated by the fitness industry, alongside
quick ‘fix’ boot camps and restrictive diets.
Of course, these women do exist and should be
celebrated for their hard work, commitment and
personal choices. The problem arises when it’s
commonly touted as the only type of fitness aesthetic
or approach that exists and works: shaming or
discouraging those that don’t fit the mould. The
further removed from the “fit women” image we
are; pregnant, breastfeeding, plus sized, lower income,
experiencing physical / mental health issues, 50+,
etc, the less we are celebrated and the greater the
perception of failure. In essence the lack of inclusive
representation in the health and fitness industry
equates to less women accessing movement in an
enjoyable, attainable and most importantly,
sustainable way.
So, what impact does this actually have on women?
Being fit and regularly moving your body in a way
that feels good has been medically proven to help
both prevent and treat symptoms of a whole range
of women’s health and wellbeing issues; fertility,
postnatal recovery, depression, hormonal imbalance,
heart disease, diabetes, metabolic syndrome,
dementia, osteoporosis, menopausal symptoms....the
list could go on. It’s vital all women, regardless
of circumstance or body shape, feel included
and can access the life changing and prolonging
benefits of fitness.
So, if you're holding back from getting involved
because you think ‘fitness’ isn’t for you, here are
some top tips…
• Focus on function and enjoyment. Don’t be fooled
into thinking that a ‘real’ workout needs to be high
impact and exhausting, alla boot camp style classes.
Channel your inner dancer by initially keeping
movements slow and controlled. Effectively
targeting underused muscles and joints during low
impact mobility exercises will not only avoid injury
and setbacks, but will fully activate your muscles
for a more efficient workout. If high impact is your
ultimate goal, going down this route will give you
the most realistic chance of getting there.
• Find work out clothing that works for your taste,
comfort and body shape. M&S have recently
launched a stylish new activewear range
‘GOODMOVE’, offering quality and affordable
options beyond the ‘Gym Bunny’ matching bra
and leggings twin set.
• Reflect on the influences that may be sabotaging
your feelings of success: this might include family
members, friends, fellow gym users or media /
online influences. Intentionally focus on influences
that show fitness and movement in a broad and
inclusive way. Check out the @ThisGirlCanUK
campaign on Instagram or visit their website at
www.thisgirlcan.co.uk for inspiration and support.
• Get started and gain confidence by finding a
qualified women’s specialist Personal Trainer (PT)
that can come to your home or vice versa and
avoid the ’public eye’ whilst you gain confidence.
A PT will be able to tailor your workouts and
ensure optimum progress towards your individual
goals. If your budget simply won’t stretch to hiring
a PT, try accessing their online materials or small
group classes to get you started.
• Set goals beyond aesthetics and weight loss
and ensure your PT is clear and supportive of
this. Look for terms such as ‘health first’, ‘body
positive’ or ‘non-diet’ in online bio’s. Tally Rye’s
new book Train Happy: an intuitive exercise for everybody,
includes some excellent practical tips on inclusive
fitness and the benefits of setting more holistic
fitness goals.
Hannah Matthews is a Kent-based Personal
Trainer exclusively working with women in their
transitional life phases, including; prenatal, postnatal,
perimenopause and menopause; helping women
flourish and find joy in movement. Follow Hannah
on Instagram @BloomandBoomUK for more
wellbeing information and health-first fitness
motivation.
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