THE SOCIAL MEDIA RABBIT HOLE
BODY IMAGE
AND THE FITNESS PROFESSIONAL
Changes to the way we operate during lockdown have exposed many fitness professionals to social media-induced self-doubt . You ’ re worth so much more than fleeting clicks , writes group fitness guru Marietta Mehanni .
B ody image . It must be one of the most talked about topics ,
and it doesn ’ t matter how many memes or quotes are shared about being happy in the skin we ’ re in , it ’ s a personal journey for everyone . Some of us have been blessed with grounded self-awareness , while for many others thoughts of personal physical inadequacy pop up several times a day , or more . A glance in a mirror , a look down at our belly , or a social post of a ‘ perfect ’ body , and we find ourselves doubting if we are in the shape that we ‘ should ’ be .
The fall
For the past year , I and many other group fitness instructors have turned to online opportunities to continue to share our knowledge and expertise regarding exercise and movement , arguably at a time when people were more sedentary than usual and needed us most .
During this time , I have become much more aware of the countless fitness influencers sharing on the same social platforms . Slim women with six-pack abdominals , gravity-defying buttocks , shapely arms and legs and flawless skin have crowded into the feed , touting programs that they claim will make you look like them . A glance at how many likes and comments appear at the bottom of their posts is enough to make any group exercise instructor doubt themselves . Occasionally , I would open the comments in the hope that someone would mention that this was unrealistic for most women , but instead , it is a stream of praise and ‘ wow , I want to be like you ’ comments .
If you are like me , you go back to your most recent live class or exercise post to quickly compare , and sigh . And then the questions begin …
• Am I good enough ?
• Do I look the part ?
• What can I do better ?
• What am I doing wrong ?
• Why don ’ t people like what I do ?
This , my friends , is the social media rabbit hole , in which your perception of your value is based purely on comments , thumbs up and smiles . It is heartbreaking when you know that you are doing the best you can and believe in your expertise and knowledge , yet some inexperienced ‘ young thing ’ is getting all the interest .
So , on top of comparing how you look , you are now trying to seek validation . Even though you feel like you don ’ t look the part , you hope that somehow the universe will provide you with confirmation that what you are delivering is being well received , liked and shared . When you teach a live face-
NETWORK AUTUMN 2021 | 55