Let's dive into a contradiction that's been on my mind for quite some time now.
As personal trainers, we promote our services by creating a demand for filling the "hole" in your life that you believe is missing.
We sell the idea that your happiness is directly linked to your physical fitness. But here's the kicker - most of us in the fitness industry struggle with mental health issues ourselves.
It's ironic that we preach about the health and wellbeing benefits of eating right and training regularly, yet many of us suffer from ADHD, OCD, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, body dysmorphia, BPD, and hypochondria.
It begs the question - are the lunatics running the asylum?
We've become so far removed from our original purpose of teaching exercise in our quest to find a niche and have a USP that out sells our competitors
We rely on your unhappiness to turn a profit. But let me be clear - happiness isn't solely linked to physical fitness. Even athletes and fitness enthusiasts struggle with their own demons.
Don't get me wrong, being fit and healthy can certainly help in the pursuit of happiness. But to prescribe it as the ultimate solution to all of life's problems is just mind-blowing. It's time for the fitness industry to take a step back and reevaluate our priorities.
Wouldn't it be great if personal trainers focused more energy on the very thing that sets us apart in the 1st place? Teaching people how to exercise. Allowing people to learn knew skills and understand movement so they can get better at that movement.
To wrap it up, personal trainers preaching physical fitness as the ultimate happiness hack while struggling with mental health issues is quite the conundrum. But don't worry, the solution is not rocket science, just a little bit of common sense.
Let's start by taking care of our own mental health, and maybe, just maybe, shift the focus of the fitness industry from washboard abs to overall health and wellbeing. Oh, and let's not forget to make fitness accessible and inclusive for everyone, because apparently, not everyone is born with a silver spoon and a personal gym.
By doing so, we can create a more sustainable approach to health and fitness that doesn't make us want to pull our hair out. After all, who needs a six-pack when you can have a healthy mind and a good sense of humor?
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