Saying farewell after nearly 10 years

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 04/08/2020 (2122 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After enjoying nearly a decade of writing this column, I have decided to move on. It has been immensely fulfilling to share my thoughts on health and fitness, and to regularly receive feedback from readers over the years. Many thanks to my friends and colleagues at Canstar Community News for all your support over the years.

Looking back at the past decade, I see many changes in the fitness community, some for the better, and some for the worse.

We’ve seen a shift toward functional fitness. The term is surely overused, but it essentially means exercising in ways that mimic day-to-day tasks of life. We’ve seen a noticeable departure from less versatile machines and choreography-based aerobics, and the return of practical free weights and calisthenics. This is in my mind a major victory in the world of fitness.

Another positive change is the emphasis on breathwork and mindfulness. In the last few years, more fitness coaches have introduced their clients to modalities that improve their performance and well-being both inside and outside the gym. I’m delighted that the industry has finally caught on to the reality that our clients need to feel good just as much as they want to look good.

Another prominent trend has been group fitness. I wrote the very first edition of Fit as a Fiddle back in 2011, and it was all about community-based fitness. The idea of belonging to an exercise tribe was new and exciting back then. At that time CrossFit gyms were doing an amazing job of bringing people together in the name of fitness, and we saw the rise of spin classes and boot camps, adding to the popularity of group fitness.

Almost a decade later, as I write my final column, I fear the pendulum has swung too far in the opposite direction. I’ve seen some group fitness trends lead to unhealthy competition and excess dependence on the group dynamic. CrossFit, for example, a once-supportive and encouraging community is now fraught with ego-pandering and identity politics. Fitness professionals have a duty to educate clients with the end goal of independence for the client.

I worry about those who are so addicted to the excitement of exercising in a group that they become incapable of exercising by themselves. I worry when someone’s exercise routine becomes their entire identity. I worry when I see someone belittle others because they don’t share the same fitness routine. I worry about the growing number of people who are unable to find the intrinsic motivation to treat themselves with respect and love.

My parting message to my readers is one of encouragement and support.

Find an exercise program that makes you feel alive, instead of doing something just because someone said you should. Find a coach who can do better than a cookie cutter program or a one-size-fits-all class. Don’t ever get caught up in comparing yourself to others or using someone else’s measuring stick.

Exercise because you love yourself, not because you want to be like someone else. Exercise to feel amazing. Exercise to have the confidence and energy to live life on your terms.

Tania Tétrault Vrga is owner and head trainer at North Star Fitness. Send questions to her at  tania@northstar.fit and visit the website at www.northstar.fit