Fit at Any Size
Does body size determine fitness? Why we avoid linking fitness with body size at Breathing Space, Dublin 8
Many people avoid movement and especially group classes, because they worry they aren’t ‘fit enough’ or don’t have the ‘right body’. This idea is often reinforced by gyms, fitness and lifestyle marketing that promotes the idea that health looks a certain way or has a particular appearance.
Our approach at Breathing Space, Dublin 8 is different. For us, fitness can’t be judged by appearance because bodies come in all different shapes and sizes, and movement has benefits for everyone.
We value all bodies.
We welcome all levels.
You don’t need to look or move a certain way to belong here.
Why we often associate fitness with body size
There are lots of reasons why we develop certain beliefs about fitness and body size.
It’s not hard to notice how the influence of decades of diet culture, before-and-after images used in marketing, fitness advertising, social media algorithms, and simplified health messages have all shaped our beliefs about fitness and body size.
This constant messaging chips away at our confidence and motivation over time, impacting our willingness to try new activities and amplifying the feeling that we don’t belong in movement spaces unless we look and dress a certain way.
What does fitness actually mean?
What fitness means to each person is very individual. We each have different goals, life experience, and starting places.
It can be helpful to think about what qualities are important to you when it comes to fitness. If you’re not sure where to start, here are some qualities that are often associated with fitness, but have nothing to do with what size you are, or how you look:
Ability to carry out every day activities
Strength
Balance
Mobility
Cardiovascular endurance
Coordination
Stamina
Recovery
Ability to participate in particular sports or physical activities
What fitness means to each of us is also likely to vary over our lifetimes. Changes and different stages of life can impact our fitness in small or significant ways, for example during:
Pregnancy
Parenthood
Menopause
Injury
Illness
Aging
If we acknowledge there isn’t a one-size-all approach to fitness, and that fitness is a dynamic state rather than fixed, we can prioritise our fitness in a way that is meaningful to each and every one of us, regardless of how we look or what stage of life we’re at.
What the research says
The World Health Organisation’s guidelines on physical activity for health benefits don’t mention size or weight at all. Instead, the guidelines focus on promoting the physical and mental benefits of physical activity for everyone who is able to.
They define physical activity as ‘any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that requires energy expenditure’ and that it ‘refers to all movement including during leisure time, for transport to get to and from places, or as part of a person’s work or domestic activities’. No mention of gyms, specific sports or classes. Instead the emphasis is on physical activity that is enjoyable.
You might love rugby or the gym. Someone else might love walking. Others prefer guided Yoga and Pilates classes. The key is finding a physical activity that you enjoy and can do consistently.
Movement offers benefits that can’t be measured on the scales
There are many fitness measures we can use without going anywhere near the scales. Consistency, which comes from finding movement practices you enjoy and fit your current lifestyle, is more effective than intensity when working on your fitness. This will have the most impact on your physical and mental wellbeing when it comes to movement and exercise. Let’s look at some of the positive benefits and measures we can focus on.
Increased energy
Even gentle exercise can have a positive impact on your energy levels. Having more energy makes everyday activities feel easier, and increases your stamina over time.
Improved mental wellbeing
A regular movement practice helps reduce stress, leaves you feeling in a better mood more often or for longer, and improves your sleep. Reducing stress and sleeping well are the foundations of better health and wellbeing.
Creating a more inclusive relationship with movement
How we talk to ourselves matters when it comes to creating a more positive relationship with our movement practice. Instead of asking ourselves “how many calories did I burn in that Reformer Pilates class this morning?” it might be more helpful to ask ourselves questions like:
How did I feel after class?
Do I have more energy?
Am I moving more comfortably?
Am I sleeping better?
Do I feel stronger?
Did I enjoy myself?
By asking these kinds of questions, we can start to move towards intrinsic motivation for our movement practice. This means that we’re motivated to do an activity because we enjoy it. The activity itself is its own reward, rather than being motivated by external factors of specific outcomes like a weight-based goal.
How Breathing Space, Dublin 8 support every body
All of the classes at Breathing Space are designed to help you move at your own pace, encourage you to rest or modify when needed, and build your confidence over time.
Our instructors and teachers encourage curiosity rather than comparison, will welcome you to class, and meet you where you are in your movement practice.
The schedule across our two studios encourages you to explore different classes and modalities, and to bring variety into your movement practice. We offer:
Physio-Led Yogalates
Physio-Led Mat Pilates
Mat Pilates
Functional Strength
Mixed Level Reformer Pilates
Reformer Pilates: Dynamic Strength
Reformer Pilates: Lunchtime Express
Physio-Led Reformer Pilates
Pregnancy and Postnatal Classes, Workshops, and Courses
Finding goals that feel more meaningful
Think about what is important to you. How do you want your movement practice to make you feel? What does consistency look like for your lifestyle right now? What daily activities do you want your movement practice to support?
Picking a meaningful goal for your movement practice will feel more supportive than choosing a goal that you think you’re supposed to pick, or one that is influenced by marketing.
Some examples of goals might include:
Walking upstairs without pain or getting out of breath
Having the energy to play with your children
Being able to carry your own shopping bags
Having better balance
Feeling less stiff
Sleeping better
Lower stress
Feeling calmer
Feeling stronger
Goals that are meaningful to you, and align with your lifestyle, are more likely to support long-term consistency in your movement practice.
Getting started if you’re feeling nervous
Most people feel intimidated to start a movement practice, especially if it’s a new activity, you had a negative experience of sports when you were younger, or you lack confidence in your ability. It’s totally normal to have these kinds of feelings and to put off starting a movement practice, or trying a new activity.
If you are feeling nervous about where to start, here are some practical suggestions:
Starts with a beginner-friendly or a Physio-Led class
Tell the instructor or teacher that you are new
Wear comfortable clothing that you can move in (a t-shirt and joggers work perfectly well)
Take breaks when you need to
Focus on how movement feels rather than how it looks
Remember, everyone starts somewhere
Conclusion
As we’ve explored in this blog, fitness is made up of many measures and qualities. Body size tells us very little about someone’s strength, mobility, or wellbeing. Regular movement can improve physical and mental health, confidence, and quality of life at every stage of life and at any size.
Whether you’re returning to movement, trying yoga for the first time or looking for an inclusive Pilates class, Breathing Space, Dublin 8 offers supportive classes designed to help you move in a way that works for your body.
