Experts seek to end fitness class putdowns
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — My grandmother can do more push-ups than you. No one wants to see jiggly cellulite hanging out of a bikini. You need to make up for all those cookies you ate last night.
While those kinds of drill sergeant-style putdowns and body-shaming warnings have long been a part of many fitness classes across the country, some instructors and researchers are promoting a change of message aimed at empowering clients, relieving stress and fueling students with confidence.
“Body shaming and focusing on appearance and comparing yourself to other people, we absolutely know that’s harmful for women,” said Renee Engeln, a Northwestern University psychology professor who has been studying messaging in fitness classes.
“The more you’re exercising to look good or to lose weight, the less you tend to enjoy it, the less you tend to stick with it. Whereas women who exercise because of how it makes them feel — healthier, stronger, less stressed — they tend to get more out of exercise, and they tend to stick with it longer.”
She recently surveyed hundreds of women who worked out in various types of classes and asked them to list their least favorite motivating comments. Around half said they hated comments that focused on appearance. Topping the list of loathed comments were those urging women to get a bikini body, look like a celebrity or endure punishment to atone for yesterday’s dessert.
“You still go into most group fitness classes and the lowest common denominator conversation is like ‘bikini body, ladies,’ ‘July Fourth is around the corner,’ ‘what did you eat last night?’ ” said Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, a New York fitness instructor and assistant professor of history at The New School who has been studying feminism and group fitness.
Sadie Kurzban, owner of New York’s 305 Fitness, a dance workout with a live DJ, says such messages from