I have always tried to bring people together through physical movement. I love fitness so much, I want other people to enjoy it just as much as I do! Now, I’m not crazy, and I get that not everyone is going to feel the same way. I’ve come to realize that, even more than just sharing fitness, I want people to feel included. We are better together!
These past few months, it has become obvious to me that social connection is so important. We all want to be part of something; we want to be seen, heard, and met at where we are in life. Even as an introvert, this is true. For me, fitness is a way of belonging and connecting with others.
Finding a Fitness Community
Over the years of running challenges, hosting workshops, fundraisers, and larger group classes, I have found that people don’t realize what they are missing until they participate. Many years ago, I created and ran a fitness challenge at the big-box gym I worked at (and they still run my challenge!). After the challenge, participants shared how the challenge touched their lives. Yes, there were stories about feeling stronger, or running faster, or losing weight – but one woman still stands out to me.
She told me that she had been a member of the gym for three years. There were large cardio rooms, weight rooms, fitness classes, cycling classes… but during all of those years, she had never said more than “hello” to another member. During the sixty-day challenge, she tried new classes, stayed at the gym longer than usual, and started making friends! Through the challenge, she met others with common interests, and was now meeting her new friends to work out together!
This is the kind of story that fills my heart. Yes, I love that fitness makes people feel stronger, healthier, and even happier; lose weight etc. But even more so, I love how it brings people together.
How I Bring People Together
I bring people together in my studio (when we can!). People come, people go, and others get to know one another. Since my studio is small, I can’t have many clients gather at a time and I get the urge to bring people together in bigger ways. Not just my clients, but other instructors – because our business can be a bit lonely. Instructors tend to work alone, even when they are part of a big gym.
These days, I’ve been bringing people together virtually. This past week, seven teachers came together to teach a class of about 45 participants as a fundraiser. A few weeks ago, I hosted Lesley Logan of Online Pilates Classes and Profitable Pilates, when she taught a virtual pop-up class (OPC). We gathered online for this fun class and Q&A session. It was so much fun, that I am excited to be hosting her once a month, with the next one coming up on Thursday, May 28 from 5 to 7pm.
Join the Virtual Pilates Pop-Up Class
My dream for these virtual events is for them to become in-person gatherings once larger gatherings are allowed again. I want to meet in class, through workshops, and even at retreats one day.
Yes, it feels good to me when people share about how much fun they had at an event. I have fun, too! But the best part for me, is knowing that I have had a hand in helping someone have a better day. That is my goal for every client that comes into my studio for Personal Training or Pilates Session: for them to leave feeling better than when they arrived.