The Community of Fitness is What I Love

I’ve always thought that I love fitness because of how it makes me feel physically. It’s such a great feeling to push myself to do hard things and challenge myself in new ways. And while not everyone loves to get hot, sweaty, and out of breath from exercising (I do!), our bodies simply feel better when they are strong, mobile, and our heart pumps more efficiently. Despite loving DOING fitness, over the past few years I keep seeing signs that it’s the community of fitness that keeps drawing me in. 

The Many Types of Community in Fitness

I can’t believe how long it took me to realize that my love of fitness doesn’t center around the working out aspect. I even thought that my studio and past jobs in fitness were just about fitness, but the world keeps showing me that it’s about so much more. I love to be social, bring people together, and be part of something bigger. 

Here are some ways that community keeps showing up in my fitness world: 

• In my youth, I did Highland Dancing with my teammates. We practiced together, travelled together, and performed in shows within the wider community. 
• When I went to college, I stopped dancing and was looking for something new. A friend invited me to go to the gym with her, and it became a fun way to visit with her and gave us something to chat about later. 
• Going to the gym regularly led to my first fitness job. Soon I found myself approaching the gym owner and manager with ideas for challenges and community-building events. I loved to see the bonds these challenges created between participants. 
• Building a fitness business is all about creating relationships and a community of your own; and now, I’m part of a larger community of Pilates business owners growing our businesses side by side.  

The Community of Fitness Keeps Me Engaged

It’s crystal clear to me now that the workshops, retreats, friendships, group classes, and coaching have helped me stick with my favourite fitness activities. I get excited to go do things because of the people I’ll know there and for those that I might meet. When I see communities like those created by Peloton and Lululemon, I see how they keep people engaged and excited with themes, special events, and group classes. They make you feel special and part of what they’re doing. 

I’m so happy to have clarity on this “new” (even though it’s not) aspect to my relationship with fitness. I love bringing people together for classes in the studio, online challenges, workshops, and now retreats.

I’m excited to create more Pilates retreats in the future because even in group classes, Pilates is a very solo activity. Classes are nice and small, and everyone is focused on moving their own bodies and controlling their movements. And while online classes like those in Sweat with Melissa are convenient, there isn’t a lot of interpersonal connection. There is a fabulous community of people doing Pilates and working on feeling great every day, and retreats are a great way to bring them all together. 

When you look at your own fitness past and present, I bet you’ll see aspects of community alongside your love of the activity. Even if you prefer solo activities like Pilates, running, golf, rock climbing, or cycling, you likely have found a community that you train or play with regularly. And if not, you’re welcome to join the b.Pilates & Fitness community in the studio, online, or at a future event. I can’t wait to meet you. 
The next b.Pilates & Fitness event is happening on Sunday, May 22nd. There will be Pilates in the Morn, Dinner in the Eve. $10.00 from each Pilates ticket and $5.00 from each dinner ticket goes to the MS Society of Canada.

Pilates at Dunvegan Dance Academy – https://train.bpilates.ca/packages/12117/purchase

Private Party Buffet Dinner at Humble Roots – https://train.bpilates.ca/packages/12118/purchase