Why are spiritual qualities lacking in the fitness industry?

Posted by Maria Kang on June 19, 2007

I was asked a great question the other day from a fellow reader and I thought it would be interesting to post this since it is a question most people inquire about:

Question:

As you may know, I’ve read through some of your blogs and journals: you come across as a person with a great deal of “depth” and self reflection. Taking those qualities in conjunction with your passion for fitness, it has to be said that you are very well rounded and truly a renaissance woman. The opinion I seek then from you is why does it seem these qualities are often lacking in the fitness industry? I have known many people over the years in the fitness industry. Some I knew well, some only in passing, but too often I have found many are very one dimensional. I would really appreciate your insight. In fact, if I might be so bold, it is a question you might consider investigating in a blog or journal entry.

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Answer:

Hi _____:

Thanks for reading.

I think in any industry – you will find the majority in a robotic mental state and a minute few with extraordinary depthness.

I don’t meet most people who I can relate to on a deeper level – hence my desire to post all the time.

The fitness industry is highly physical – and it focuses on very superficial aspects of a person’s being. So this industry especially doesn’t cater to the ‘deeper person.’… After all, that’s not our focus. Right?

However, if you research more on eastern fitness practices: yoga, tai chi, chi gong…you will find deeper people.

In Good Health,
me!

3 Responses to “Why are spiritual qualities lacking in the fitness industry?”

Debbie says:

June 19, 2007 at 11:47 am

I was just getting ready to post on a topic related to this one. One of my regular readers had commented to me through email that many of my readers were becoming superficial in their comments on my posts. Are we all just getting lazy?
Maria Kang says:

June 20, 2007 at 7:14 pm

I don’t think we’re not getting lazy – I think the media really controls our psyche and therefore effects our concentration on very superficial ideals.

Thanks for the comment Debbie!
Jeff says:

June 25, 2007 at 10:37 am

As a personal trainer for the last 5 years I have battled the superficial “bug” that has infected so many people looking to fitness as a run around answer to their life’s troubles. (I have been very discouraged by it at times) But this shallow motivation can be quickly qiuckly pushed to the back burner as truer motivations are flushed to the surface by a heart rate reaching 160. I believe most good fitness professionals are not so shallow and like their clients learn that no true success really comes from the outside in but the inside out. I know the marketing is shallow but the reason why so many struggle to achieve results is the lack of handling the deeper issues we all face in our lives. Ninety percent of my clients don’t need a better exercise or supplement. They need better life skills and a deeper understanding of themselves and their relationships with others. I can easily share with someone how to move and eat properly but it is the true fitness person who can help someone move out of the comfort zone and change. For the better! We have a huge responsibility and a lot to learn as guides of this transition from focusing outside to inside. My biggest wins have been from those who made personal and spiritual growth a part of their journey into physical health. It is hard for most to see it but we are the true fitness industry not the marketers.

Fitness Cure