I don’t the biggest reason I started caring about what women are taught in exercise classes was twofold: pain and bones.

Around the same time, my mother had fracture diagnostic of osteoporosis and I at 27 had low back pain (those who are familiar with hospital rounds will understand the hours of standing). I went to PT and learned how long it takes to get stronger BUT that I actually CAN get stronger. The habit hole led to diving deep on the basic recommendations and landmark research on osteoporosis prevention.

So now I teach Pilates, and I explain in it why we use heavier weights or don’t follow a usual flow. I explain progressive failure and reps/sets, and always encourage people to eat.

As a woman, we are taught to focus on aesthetics (and given misinformation STILL that isn’t even correct to achieve this ideal aesthetic) to the exclusion of using the best time in our early adulthood to build muscle and bone strength.

This is why fitness IS and HAS BEEN a feminist issue.