“Rock Bottom Gym – Where we don’t make you fit, we make you more fit!”

For years I too have been caught up in the hype, the hype implying that if you join this gym or you come to this class or you join this group, you’re going to get fit. After all, we’re the experts; we have all the equipment and we can motivate and teach you to do it correctly. Unfortunately fitness doesn’t come in a bottle, a pill or even a one-hour training session, it’s an all-day endeavor—yeah, bummer, huh? All day! That sucks!!! I agree, it does suck if, in fact, we think of it as an all-day aerobics class or all day in the gym—after all who would want that!? What we need badly in this country is a paradigm shift in the way we process the word “exercise” in our conscious and sub-conscious. In fact, we need to get rid of the word all together. For the moment, I am going to replace it with the word “movement." We need to “move” all day, how’s that? Immediately it’s more palatable; I can accept moving all day certainly more than exercising all day. And here’s the good news, our bodies have evolved, and we’re designed for that very purpose. All systems in our physical bodies thrive as a result of all-day movement. If you're still with me, you’ll notice that at least to this point I’m taking the onus off me and putting it squarely on your shoulders. But if you continue, you’ll find I toss some of it back at me and my industry.

Next we must throw the notion of all-day movement against the demands of our daily lives, demands that almost always involve long hours at a desk, in a vehicle, on the phone or a combination of those—demands that can’t just be dropped so I can walk around the block all day. Nor can I ask most of you to find an extra five to eight hours a week to dedicate to formal exercise. It’s just not a sustainable way to lose weight or control weight. We have all started and even maintained schedules like that to find we can’t maintain, get derailed and gain the weight back.

So it’s time to get creative. I’m not sure what that means for each of you, but I know if we sit down and discuss it we can find ways—whether it’s getting a stand for a laptop to access on your home treadmill, walking during meetings, riding your bike to work or walking every time you get on the phone—you have got to find a way to overcome and create new habits. After all, movement is not a something we should compartmentalize.

It’s something we should do all day without having to stress as to whether or not we can make it to the gym or a class. That being said, my part and the purpose for my space is as a place of teaching and of getting “more fit." If, in fact, each of you were able to reach your fitness goal by eating right and moving all day, then you would actually gain more from your time with me as you would be capable of higher intensity, more weight and quicker movements with less potential injury. So while I am squarely putting the onus on your shoulders in terms of more movement and good nutritional choices, I am also challenging myself to help you figure out how to do that while teaching you good form, proper technique and giving you the mental well-being you feel after attending. And let’s not discount the social aspect!

I absolutely think there is a place for gyms and trainers in our culture—just not as your entire means to wellness. We should supplement, teach and enhance.

Yours in Health – Doug Petersen