Gay exercise

Your goals might change over the course of your life, or even day to day. For many, changing how we practice fitness begins with changing how we think about fitness. Bristow says another way to keep fitness fun can be, surprisingly enough, to record yourself.

For those who want to create a space for mindfulness in their workout routine, yoga might be gay way to go. We can also be more exercise about our goals. This kind of positive reinforcement can serve as a way to shift negative self-image from within.

But before you step into the gym, it’s important to also question how the oppressive systems that make up toxic fitness and diet culture affect our own self-image. Doing what works best for you and is best for your ability level can help create a strong routine by creating positive reinforcement and consistency.

Taking rest days can be just as important as your workout days to avoid injury and to stay in a good headspace. It is important to acknowledge that a lot of toxicity in fitness comes from oppressive systems, says DJ Rock. Choosing the right exercise style for you and finding queer fitness buddies can make working out less scary.

You're going to the gym to reveal who you already are. Bristow tells Them that when we work out too much, we can cause long-term injury and create an unhealthy relationship to fitness. Choosing the right exercise style for you and finding queer fitness buddies can make working out less scary.

Exercise can be both freeing and oppressive, depending on how we practice it. When we throw away this idea away, we make room to center joy in our fitness. From interrogating the negative associations you have with working out to finding fun ways to move your body, read on for eight tips from queer fitness experts on how to make exercise more approachable, fun, and affirming.

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For some, forms of cardio — like running, dancing, and biking — help them destress by releasing endorphinsbut for others, cardio may not produce the physical results they want or just feel like a chore. Fatphobia, ableism, transphobia, racism, and other forms of oppression all impact gay way we view ourselves and demand our bodies fit thin, eurocentric standards of beauty.

Honor where you are at any given moment. Surrounding ourselves with people who share our workout goals can be a great way to make fitness fun and exciting, rather than a tiresome chore. Some people might find that strength training and lifting might be more aligned with their goals, like building muscle or just getting stronger.

Sometimes an affirming fitness community can take time to build, be outside your budget, or inaccessible where you live. This, of course, is easier said than done, as gyms can be daunting spaces for many queer people, often out of our fear of judgment from others.

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In reality, all bodies are different, and what you see on social media doesn't reflect the reality of what being healthy or fit means. When you engage with it positively, working out can become a powerful tool to help you enjoy your life, feel more in touch with your body, and even create a loving community.

Try different activities if you have access to them, from swimming and rock climbing to dancing and hiking. Hunting for a new fitness plan? If you want a larger community to exercise with, group classes — particularly queer-centric ones, if you can find them — are a great way to make friends who are interested in the same kinds of fitness as you.