Does exercise build character? - Editorial

American Fitness, July-August, 1992 by Peg Jordan

Exercise no longer just builds bodies. It's purported to patch ailing self-concepts, prop up faulty internal motivators, build character and, what's more, elevate one to the status of elite breed of human being. There is a trend among the contemporary fitness promoters and devotees to claim a social victory for the committed ones - those who exercise no matter what ... because life is short, so just do it. Sound familiar? I've certainly done my share of deffying the daily workout, but lately I'm alert to a growing number of social messages that hint at a new menace-the forward march of a master "race" of exercisers.

Paying dues in the form of sweat guarantees one access to the "better than" club in American life these days. Better than non-exercisers, better than the infirm, better than the deconditioned. It's as if we're no longer satisfied attributing physical and mental benefits to exercise, we're going after the very soul and moral fiber of humanity.

I'm not alone in questioning these signs. A favorite essayist Barbara Ehrenrich wrote in Lear's, "By confusing health and virtue, we've gotten testier, less tolerant and ultimately less capable of confronting the sources of disease that do not he within our individual control." Robert Chianese in "The Humanist" questions the "solitude and self-inspection" that fitness buffs require for remaking their physical selves. He asks: Does it ultimately shrink their emotional selves? I wonder too, as I hear the mean-spirited edge that creeps into compedtors as they mega-dose on amino acids, or the self-inflicted deprecation that women in the gym share when they miss a workout or eat their own birthday cake. The true fitness fanatic has no room for inconsistency, self-doubt or frailty.

Perhaps it's time to listen more closely to our conversations. If a hardened physique becomes a virtue, then a softer one becomes a sin. If ironclad disciplne is required to "sculpt to perfection," then creative flexibility and spontaneity of spirit is often the price to be paid. Once again, this editorial is not an official viewpoint of AFAA. It's just a few inches of copy meant to trigger some thought, incur some wrath, inspire some response.

Anna Marie Neal

When you're 18 years old, full of exuberance and energy, the scope of human potential seems unlimited. Life burns with an unmistakable flare, so when the life of someone young is snuffed out, without warning, a cold and sorrowful shiver passes over the survivors. That's what rippled through the halls of AFAA headquarters when we discovered that our own fiery-bright and youthful friend and employee, Anna Marie Neal, died tragically in an auto accident. With an unmatchable positive attitude and a willingness to learn, Anna mastered a variety of capacities at AFAA as she balanced work with school. Her memory lives on like a glowing ember for us in the form of a dedicated internship program. The year-long program will provide students with practical work experience, as well as assisting them with their educational interests.

The Anna Marie Neal Internship Program is offered to students at Taft High School where Anna attended school before going on to Pierce College in Los Angeles. We intend that it serve as a tribute to the goals and dreams of our young friend.

The Land of Gender Balance

Just wanted to say "right on!" to your "Editorial" about "Sexism and the Fitness Instructor" (March/April '92). In my resume and bio writing business I interview fitness professionals all over the country. Invariably, the men always talk about what great money they are earning. I don't hear this from women. In fact, salary studies show the average fitness instructor income in this country is about $10,000 per year. Just like pink collar professionals, the majority of the instructors are women.

Isn't it something how we automatically hand over the accolades and throw our support to the men when women have clearly been the trailblazers in this industry? Thank you for taking space to lucidly state your observations of reality.

Sounds to me like Peg Jordan may harbor some resentment toward the successful men of our industry. As she states, "This is an industry launched, dominated and fairly much run by women...Men pull strings very well in this industry. And we're in collusion with them." I get it - men work hard and are successful. But its collusion on your part. I guess the old axiom is true. "Behind every successful aerobic instructor..."

The men who demand top dollar are, more often than not, tops in the industry. If a studio, club, conference or aerobic association is willing to fork over the dough, then who is at fault? No one. I don't mean to disparage Peg's "private survey." But having been the aerobics director of a major New York City fitness chain, I can honestly say the competition in hiring top-flight instructors is fierce - and it absolutely transcends gender bias. We look for instructors who will keep the cash-paying public coming back. It is absurd to cry discrimination when an individual with unique aerobic gifts is able to command a greater audience and bigger paycheck.