The Commercialized Body
Commercialization is defined as “the process of managing or running something principally for financial gain”. This is how I feel about mainstream fitness. I know that is a strong statement, but I stand by it whole heartedly. While the intentions of most entities may be of good will and want to help people, it still has the aim to capitalize on the end goal that people want and sell it. I get it. I do. I’m happy I live in a country where you can have an idea and go with it. It’s great. I’m doing that here, so I don’t take that for granted. But I’ve simply had enough of staying silent about the direction I’d like to see the information about the body go. There are foundational concepts about how the body functions that are simply not brought to light in mainstream fitness because it’s thought of as “too sciency”, “not commercial enough”, or “too program oriented” instead of results oriented. Corporate sectors want a sure thing so taking a risk on getting deeper into what the body needs is not of interest usually because it’s a longer process that takes patience and companies are not willing to “sell” that. But, I AM and I have for over 20 years.
Now, I do want to mention that there are a few amazing companies that certify people to become personal trainers, and their curriculum is sensational. And, I see the number of people that these institutions certify and it’s great. However, with the number of trainers that should be performing these more in depth approaches to exercise and fitness, how come we are not seeing and hearing about this in everyday language among people?? Yet everyone talks about high intensity training, or bootcamp classes, or Pilates, or yoga, or other name brand exercise programs, but NO ONE is talking about the other, and quite frankly, more important prep work in mainstream conversations or about foundational concepts – because it’s not “sexy” or thought of as important or has no “sizzle or selling power”…. Well, you might hear about foam rolling or core work, but as I get into more of these posts, you will see how even that is so distorted and misrepresented by commercial fitness conversations. Furthermore, it’s the researchers and scholars that really need to get the credit because THEY are the ones investigating the science that will change our ideas of how we should exercise. THEY are the people I would love to see on talk shows or covers of magazines – not famous people that are not even trained in the field and promoting some new kind of exercise or health plan. It’s the researchers, clinicians, and medical personnel that are involved in finding more truths about the body that absolutely deserve ALL the credit that all of the exercise plans are based on. And, some of the science of what these researchers talk about if often left out in commercial magazine articles and programs, etc…
Let me be ultra clear, wanting to get to a goal and get there fast is a recipe for disaster. Before I work with ANYONE, even if it is a professional athlete, they must basically, ‘show me what they can do’. I have a proprietary 11-point system I use to analyze specific movement patterns, connective tissue integrity, and the depth of a few other body IQ parameters. Now, there are entities that promote healthy weight loss and exercise, but the common conversation about these topics among people is still not where I think it should be. That will take a lot of people, such as myself, going in the same direction to start and continue this movement – to represent how the body actually works without worrying if that will “sell” or not. Yes, I do have something to sell, but these things are not based on conjuring up a way to make it sizzle or be sexy. I spend my time thinking about how to explain concepts about the body and turning that science into application. Period. There is a difference. Trust me, if I’ve made a living training my Los Angeles based clients (and distance clients online), I know I can do just fine without pulling anything tricky on a platform like this. Anyway, you get the idea.
Until next time, be well!
