They aren’t celebrated. Nobody showers them with awards. You don’t hear about them online.
But, together, these
neighbourhood fitness heroes change lives.
They do more to improve the health and vitality of society than any fitness influencer on IG.
We should celebrate them.
So, that’s what I’ve decided to do.
Welcome to my end-of-the-month note.
Today’s a bit different.
Today I’m celebrating the neighborhood fitness heroes. And at the end, I’ll share my next big initiative with you.
You’re welcome to share this email.
An object in motion stays in motion.
That’s Newton. That’s science.
Our job as trainers is to help humans move more.
When they do, odds are, they won’t stop as long as they get past the sloppy start.
---
He showed up to the gym in his painting outfit.
Seeing somebody commit to lifelong fitness for the first time is really quite beautiful.
The first time that I saw it was with Steve.
Slim and in his 60s. Frail and new to the gym.
He showed up that first day without workout clothes, telling me that all he had to wear was his painting outfit.
I introduced him to the other trainers and regulars at the gym.
By his third workout, he would stay afterwards to chat with everybody.
Community acts like glue, helping new members ‘stick’ through the
sloppy start.
Then, two months in, Steve showed up one day wearing workout shorts and had protein powder in a shaker bottle.
"My grandson helped me buy it." He said.
Baby Jon with a client wearing
workout shorts. (Circa 2010.)
That was it. I had him. Steve had become a gym-guy!
The bottle was a symbol that Steve self-identified as somebody who exercises.
He’d overcome the sloppy start.
—
Your job as a fitness hero is to help others discover a lifelong passion for exercise.
When they do, pat yourself on the back.
But know that it has less to do with sets and reps than you’ve been taught.
Creating an accessible space and fostering a strong community does more to help people find health and fitness than anything else.
Steve was a client of mine for 4.5 years.
It’s been 9 years since we last trained. He’s now 76 years old.
Two weeks ago he messaged me on Linkedin to say hi. This was the update that he sent:
"Our quite-well-equipped gym is finally reopened!
We moved into our new condo in July 2020 (during Covid) and are just now able to use our amenities - including a lovely (large) bright, indoors (full windows) pool!"
--- It’s 7 a.m. Pitch-black and cold. Yet, here they are together, sweating and smiling.
There’s a group of 4-6 women who work out in my garage 2-3 mornings a week.
Nobody broadcasts it on IG.
There’s no judgment or pressure. Whomever can make it, shows up.
It’s free. Alison’s working out anyway. Though the women tell her that she should charge and that they’d gladly pay.
Alison used to be a trainer. That’s how we met. Now she does it for fun.
I often wonder just how many other exercise groups are taking place in garages, parks and basements at the exact same time that we don't hear
about.
—
The internet self-selects for sensational and sexy.
Nothing wrong with it, but it’s not real life.
There’s simply more to fitness than what you see on IG.
And furthermore, IG makes fitness seem inaccessible more often than not.
What we need is somebody to tell the important stories well, in a way that gets attention.
With that said, I’m excited to share my next initiative.
---
Introducing my next initiative: Celebrating the neighbourhood fitness heroes.
So many issues could be improved if we could get the general public to be more active.
The overwhelming burden on the health care system will be diminished.
Mental health will be improved.
And more babies will be born. Giggidy.
In every neighbourhood, there’s heroes leading the charge.
The 70-year old aquafit instructor who has been teaching at the community pool for 30 years.
The first-ever queer-friendly gym in Montreal, Canada.
The children-friendly facility in Miami, Florida.
And the list goes on, and on, and on.
Overall, these men and women do more to contribute to societal health and well-being than anybody you’ll see on Instagram.
Their stories aren’t inherently sexy.
But they need to be told.
And if they are told well, they will have an impact.
So, I’m going to tell them.
I’ve hired a media team quarterbacked by an incredible full-time videographer specializing in ethical PR and advertising.
Our goal is simple:
~To tell the stories that need to be told in a beautiful and engaging manner.
~To showcase to the public how welcoming and accessible fitness is.
~To demonstrate that it’s not all abs and asses. Those things are fine, but it goes deeper.
We’ll be starting on my personal Instagram account and then expanding into longer-form YouTube video and podcast formats.
