PERSONAL TRAINERS: WEAR CLOTHES.

Posted by mikaylamore on July 28th, 2022

 HYPOCRISY IN A 90 DOLLAR GITCH

I think it’s oddly fitting that the morning after I started working on this, Facebook and Instagram went down for a while due to some technical difficulties. I couldn’t help but wonder what people whose entire livelihood depends on those mediums are thinking to themselves, whenever things aren’t going as planned on social media. Will the universe explode? depo-subQ provera 104 - pillspower.com

We live in an interesting time. The days of dial-up internet, land lines, and text message limits are a thing of the past, and they’ve become just as antiquated as human interaction.  Because of the widespread (over)use of social media, people seem to have lost the ability to be themselves. The internet has created a place for the poorly raised to demand attention, and it only builds on itself by the amount those less poorly raised cheer it on with their likes, shares, and follows.

In fitness, the issues above become compounded, given the fact that the industry I belong to is arguably one of the most steeped in superficiality of any in existence – and that’s a reality that won’t change.  There are a number of crusaders out there trying to level the playing field, but they’re still largely outnumbered by those who would rather play the same game to what they perceive as their own advantage.  The hot-button to more “followers”, more likes, and more shares is a simple equation: Remove clothing, and try to look attractive.  In this day and age, entire “fitness careers” have been built around this premise, with nearly nothing ever delivered as far as actual fitness training content is concerned.  It’s an ongoing issue that has legit coaches pulling out their hair for the sake of this industry’s integrity.

I’m not going to sit here and pretend I don’t remember what I’ve said in numerous articles; I still stand by the fact that I believe a person who’s an expert in fitness should possess (or be well on their way to possessing) a body and health that clearly demonstrates an above-average handle on fitness than the average person.  Not only does it show you’re a disciple of your own craft, but it also has a zero percent failure rate as far as making your business credible at the surface level, from outsiders looking in.

But with all of that said, I believe it’s important we don’t drink the same kool-aid that fuels 80% of the pernicious culture of social media fitness marketing. Even if we try to make that kool-aid “different” by simply changing the flavour.

Scroll through a virally popular influencer’s Instagram really quickly and you’ll be surprised at how much it all blends together to end up looking like one consistent piece of naked flesh. Really. Try it. It’s bizarre.  I got Instagram 7 months ago now, and I was amazed. I thought things were bad on Facebook, but clearly I had no idea.

In combating these thirst-trap accounts, many coaches will try to juxtapose their own nudity with upbuilding quotations, mantras, or otherwise verbose ramblings that are meant to inspire. To this day, I haven’t seen one that actually creates any justifiable linkage between the words and the posted image.

Before keyboard warriors get at me to say the above is exactly what has all been helpful and inspiring to countless people who have personally reached out to them (or inspiring for them themselves!) as they begin a fitness journey, I’ll say this:

• We shouldn’t act like we can’t tell if someone has a great body until they drop their tank top and shorts.
• If what I’ve described above is REALLY what it takes for people to be inspired, then perhaps it points to a deeper issue.

On that second point, I believe “deeper issue” puts the term lightly. And I believe it’s an issue that the online fitness industry has been doing nothing but coddling and fertilizing, by way of actions I refuse to contribute to.

We need to remember that if we became certified fitness experts, we’re supposed to be in this to help people over the long term. If we keep the idea brewing that the key to confidence, happiness, fitness, health, and a greater self-esteem ultimately comes from taking off your clothes for public consideration, we are not helping anyone over the long term.  And that’s regardless of whether we’re the ones doing it ourselves, or the ones promoting it.