Body Neutrality and Navigating a Bigger Body in the Gym
This winter, I decided to swap my preferred studio (aka my local park or living room) for a legitimate boutique studio. After a combination of life events, I’ve found myself in a bigger body and downright scared to walk into the fitness class. I was terrified I’d be judged, unwelcome or excluded. I did it anyway and signed up for a spin class.
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I walked in, scanning the room for something. Maybe a familiar face, a smile, or other nervous faces. Instead, I was overcome with joy to see an abundance of other people navigating the world in their beautiful array of bodies: curvy, disabled, thin—it was like a mosaic, inviting me in without judgment as if I was the final puzzle piece.
It almost brought me to tears. I’d been fighting my different body, obsessing that it was “wrong” so much that I forgot its capability, amazement and importantly, its power.
Seeing the way these different bodies showed up and conquered the challenging class, filled me with a sense of empowerment I had not felt in years.
But, let's rewind a bit: why was I so scared to go in? Sure, new class jitters are normal for anyone and anybody.
“I’d been fighting my different body, obsessing that it was ‘wrong’ so much that I forgot its capability, amazement and importantly, its power. ”
Yet, I believe my nerves were rooted in something deeper: the fitness world's obsession with thinness, society’s intense fatphobia, with a little sprinkle of decreased self-confidence. But that self-confidence dipped when my body changed. It’s… complicated.
I am trying my hardest now to dive into body neutrality, and I believe it needs to be carved intentionally within fitness studios, running groups, yoga classes, gyms…the list goes on.
What is Body Neutrality and Body Diversity?
Officially, body neutrality was coined in 2015 by author Anne Poirier in her book, “The Body Joyful,”. Body neutrality promotes accepting and appreciating your body for its non-physical properties instead of obsessing about— and even loving—the physical. It strives to ask individuals to break apart the chains of self-worth with physical appearance.
Feeling neutral about your body invites you to get rid of expectations. To get rid of needing to feel “in love” with your body daily. To rid that you “should” feel comfortable in your body every day. To get rid of focus on what it cannot do.
The Effects of Unrealistic Beauty Standards
Having unrealistic expectations for your body can lead to mental health issues including eating disorders, negative body image, body shaming, low self-esteem, and more. The body positivity movement and body neutrality movements have sprung up as a response to unrealistic beauty standards and the fallout for women's health. Body acceptance and learning positive self-talk can help people with larger bodies accept their body size and enjoy better long-term mental health.
Removing the stigma associated with bodies that don't measure up to impossible body ideals helps people embrace a healthier way of life. Self-love and body neutrality advocates have given people a healthier alternative to diet culture and social media comparison traps. Positive affirmations are one technique that can help counteract the negative messages about women's bodies that are so common in today's world.
Body Neutrality Mantras
Body neutrality asks you to enjoy, experience, and listen to your body where it's at, today, with a grateful approach. Examples of feeling neutral while encompassing gratitude:
“My body allows me to move in ways that are joyful for me.”
“My thighs are powerful and got me up that mountain.”
“My body can dance.”
“My legs let me explore my favorite neighborhood.”
“I am grateful my arms can lift heavy weights.”
Try swapping negative statements when they come to the forefront with something like the above, slowly teaching your mind to stop bullying your body.
What about body diversity?
It is important to acknowledge that, despite what the popular narrative may feed us, fitness is for everyone, regardless of size, gender, shape, age, or ethnicity. The average woman in America reaches for size 16 clothing, so not seeing a diverse fitness class, or running group can push individuals to the fringes. All bodies deserve to feel welcomed and not as a second thought or a “check box” exercise. Fitness is for everyone.
How Does Body Neutrality Fit into Fitness?
Consider the last time you enjoyed movement: were you eagerly anticipating the next move, or were you able to just breathe and enjoy the position or challenge at hand?
When you stretch, focus on how good it feels, rather than thinking about what others are capable of. When you cycle, notice the energy in the room and move to the music, not on how fast someone else is going. When you jump or do a burpee, lean into you the pride of how your entire whole body is working in harmony to lift you, not how high you're going.
Fitness leaders: I challenge you to support your students with education by expressing the practical, everyday benefits of every single movement and exercise. Challenge students' individual skills, strengths and accomplishments. Banish anything to do with “summer bodies'' in your words/advertising. If you're doing that, ask yourself: why? While you’re at it, please stop talking about losing weight in general and please focus on the free, natural, remedy working out offers: euphoric endorphins.
When you let go of expectations, just like in body neutrality, you are inviting joyfulness and a sense of peace that you may not have even realized you have been missing.
Don’t Put it Off
However you enjoy movement and wherever you are with your body-acceptance/body-love journey, start today with gratitude. You are alive, your heart is beating, and you are capable. You are powerful.
I will finish this off with one last thought: don't let the way your body looks or feels hold you back another day. Days are like sand grains. Do what makes you happy, and you might find on the other side of that fear is complete bliss.
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Marissa Del Mistro is a writer, editor, and always on the hunt for the perfect workout. Marissa absolutely loves trail running, dancing, and cycling. When she’s not writing, Marissa loves cooking, podcasts, traveling and exploring her home in the beautiful unceded Coast Salish Territory of the Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ nations.