In a society which views six-pack abs and pumped-up bodies as the epitome of fitness and health, making people embrace the concept of body positivity is quite a challenge. It also prompts debates about health and fitness beyond physical appearance.
The intersectional approach — merging body positivity and fitness — widens the idea of good health beyond size, creating a more inclusive, holistic and liberating approach to wellbeing.
What is body positivity?
Combating body shaming and promoting a broader and diverse understanding of beauty and self-image, body positivity began as a social movement in the late 1960s, urging for acceptance and appreciation of all body types, questioning societal norms of beauty and advocating self-love and self-worth regardless of appearance.
According to a 2019 paper published in the journal Philosophical Topics, body positivity is defined as the acceptance of our bodies as they are, regardless of size, shape, skin tone, gender or physical capabilities.
Intersection of body positivity and fitness
While the concept of body positivity refers to accepting your body as it is, it intersects with fitness by valuing your physical prowess and abilities and approaching fitness with an emphasis on overall well-being rather than just appearance, say experts.
“The idea is to encourage people to do physical activity that they enjoy and makes them feel good rather than exercising only for the purpose of changing one’s appearance,” says Yash Agarwal, fitness coach and founder of Yash Fitness, Kolkata. “It’s also about promoting a healthy relationship with the body and embracing one’s capabilities while challenging the idea that fitness and health are set into the framework of specific body types.”
While society has created an ideal of what is a fit body, trying to push yourself to attain that ideal without considering your body’s capabilities may lead to injuries and strain from overexertion.
Balance between body capability and aesthetics
“Achieving a single-digit body fat percentage, having six-pack abs or a beach body, walking 10K steps daily, etc. are some of the benchmarks or parameters of fitness today,” says Bengaluru-based weight-loss management specialist Ashish Paurana. “These do the rounds of social media as well, and many tend to believe and follow these.”
But the parameters portrayed on social media might not be apt for everyone. This is where the need to set up realistic goals comes in. Paurana suggests keeping a balance between your bodily capabilities and the idea of body aesthetics while setting up your fitness objectives.
“Ideal beauty lies in overall health and wellness rather than aiming for a physique according to societal standards,” adds Paurana. “Instead of just working out for bodily appearance, improving your stamina, mental health, sleep and digestion has a significant impact on overall fitness. This is the ideal way an individual can pursue their fitness goals while embracing body positivity.”
Breaking societal fit-body stereotypes
Since many factors have an impact on the framing of individual fitness goals, experts recommend a few strategies that help people stick to physical activities that can positively affect their overall fitness.
- Stop comparing yourself with others: Experts advise against comparing yourself to others in terms of the activities they engage in because everyone has different physical attributes and not every activity suits everyone.
- Take professional help: Instead of looking up on the internet and deciding your fitness routine, seeking professional advice helps to understand your body well and set realistic goals.
- Do what you enjoy: Instead of initiating fitness routines by imitating others, engaging in physical activities you genuinely enjoy can help you see fitness from a holistic perspective. This can also have a significant impact on your mental wellness.
- Avoid negative self-talk: Setting realistic fitness goals can be challenging if you talk to yourself negatively because it can make you doubt your abilities and erode confidence. “Redirecting your focus from how your body looks to how it feels and what it can do can make an enormous difference,” says Agarwal. “So, celebrate the accomplishments and milestones of your own fitness journey.”
Takeaways
- Accepting our bodies as they are, regardless of size, shape, skin tone, gender or physical capabilities is known as body positivity.
- Body positivity intersects with fitness by recognizing one’s strengths and abilities and approaching fitness with an emphasis on overall health rather than just appearance.
- Experts recommend keeping a balance between your bodily capabilities and the idea of body aesthetics while setting up realistic fitness objectives for overall health.
