FITNESS
we have and values we
believe in. So much effort seems to be made in
herding us, like sheep, to
think and act the same.
Being in the fitness industry for over 12 years, it still
boggles my mind how
many women consistently put down other women
for being a particular
body type or dressing in a
manner they deem “inappropriate.”
If a woman has more
body weight than ideal
for her height and is
“sloppy” (a term used in
the industry for not having a tight body), than
she more often than not
be called fat, obese or
lazy. She will be told to
just start working out and
she will look better. Another woman may work
out regularly and have a
“tight” body, yet still be
viewed as fat because
her stomach is not completely flat, her butt too
large, or her thighs not
the size of matchsticks.
This woman mostly will
be told to stop eating so
much, so she can be-
come smaller and look
more “acceptable”.
Then my favorite type of
woman who gets ranted
on is the skinny woman.
The model type who is
told she needs to eat a
burger and put some
meat on her bones.
Heaven help her for having a naturally thin body
type and a fast metabolism. How dare she!
Our worth is not dictated
by our dress size or number on the scale.
I am ranting here because the stupidity of it all
makes me crazy. Imagine
a society where we gave
ourselves and others the
freedom to just be? To
embrace how we look,
to stop judging others for
how they show up? What
if we stopped needing
the designer yoga pants,
the latest and greatest
running shoe? What if we
were comfortable walking around in a bikini not
being a size 8? What if
we allowed our cellulite to be seen, held our
heads high and gave
ourselves the respect
we deserve? Imagine
the freedom of fully embracing our beauty and
uniqueness.
Imagine if we moved our
bodies for the sheer joy
of being able to do so.
For the bliss and health
benefits we are rewarded with for doing so.
Imagine the euphoria of
not caring what anyone
else thought about you.
How would life be if we
all evolved to granting
ourselves and other complete freedom to live our
authentic selves?
Sandra O’Brien is mother to the world’s three most fabulous children. She
is also a Law of Attraction Life Coach, Personal Trainer, yoga instructor,
published author and Reiki healer. Her work has been featured on CityLine
Television, and The Toronto Star. She is owner of Muskoka Hot Yoga,
and Muskoka Goddess, offering hot yoga, tabata bootcamps, personal
training and coaching. She created the Goddess Creation system, a
female fitness program to blowtorch body fat, sculpt sexy lean muscle and
empower women everywhere to be the best version of themselves, inside
and out. She enjoys dancing, reading, hiking in the forest, meditation.
For more information on Sandra, please visit www.muskokahotyoga.com.