How gyms and studios can be more inclusive

(CNN) – After more than a decade practicing yoga, Paris Alexandra continued to experience the same situation: being the only one in the room who looked like her.
“I was in a lot of different yoga studios where I was the only black woman or the only plus size woman,” Alexandra recalls. “So it was always different to navigate those spaces.”

That feeling of isolation and anxiety prevents many from entering a gym or studio. Research on the fitness suggest that factors such as race, ethnicity, the weight and the body image influence where someone feels welcome and comfortable enough to exercise in certain settings.

“Many marginalized communities feel stigmatized because they do not feel understood in the exercise spaces,” says Carlos Dávila, sports psychologist and head of diversity and inclusion at the Fhitting Room studio from New York. Not fitting in takes a lot of pressure, he says, so “it becomes a very different energy when you’re in a space where you don’t feel like you belong.”

Opening spaces

During her training as a yoga teacher, Alexandra met Alicia Ferguson, one of the show’s two companions of color. Thanks to Ferguson’s marketing training and Alexandra’s experience in community organizing, they co-founded their own yoga studio, BK Yoga Club, in Brooklyn.

The women consciously created the BK Yoga Club to be safe, inclusive and non-judgmental, a place where they could show themselves as their authentic self and empower others to do the same.

“Really, at the core of our DNA, the way we built BK Yoga Club was about the inclusion of the body,” says Ferguson. “We don’t really focus on being physically fit, but rather on being fit mentally, spiritually and on things that feel good in your body as opposed to how you are looking in your body.”

Since opening in early 2019, the studio’s message and mission have attracted a client base that is roughly 80% women of color, a stark contrast to the overall yoga industry in the United States, which according to federal data In recent years, it is still predominantly white. In addition to racial diversity, Ferguson says the BK Yoga Club has a number of queer patrons and gender expressions that differ from social norms.

Build a community

Over the summer, the studio moved to larger premises in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn. With space for a new backyard and cafeteria, Ferguson and Alexandra designed the new space to help clients and community members connect with each other in and out of yoga practice.

As a multiracial Latina woman, Yelitza León says that attending other yoga classes in the past made her feel self-conscious about her presence and practice. But from the moment he first walked into BK Yoga Club, he says he immediately felt at home.

“It was a space where I felt safe to be myself,” she says. “All the instructors were highly trained, and there was an understanding of the depth of the collective need to heal, so it was a space that felt good.”

It’s crucial that historically underserved communities have these kinds of spaces, Davila says, especially to help get through such a traumatic year. “We tend to be the communities that face the most health problems or food or nutrition deficits. fitness, in which we do not have access to the resources that would mitigate much of the stress that our communities have, “he adds.

What can professionals do? fitness

Generate cultural awareness: awareness derived from cultural literacy is key, says Davila, whose academic research specializes in diversity, equity and inclusion in the fitness. As a group exercise instructor, she discovered that understanding intersectionality and the ability to read the room are essential skills.

“One of the simplest ways for fitness professionals to create a more inclusive and welcoming space is to be aware of what is happening in your space, to be aware of the energy in the room, to be aware of gaps and the communications that can be happening around marginalized communities, “he adds.

Continuous training: Obtaining a certificate of physical fitness is the first step, but Dávila says professionals must continue to learn to better serve their clients.

Instructors must learn to adapt modifications to a wide range of body sizes, shapes and capacities. Dávila says that professionals in the fitness they should be prepared for whatever body comes into their space, adding that he took additional training to tailor his classes for his pregnant clients.

The co-founders of BK Yoga Club say they continually turn to their network of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) experts and specialists for support in areas where they are still learning and growing.

“I’ve been in this space for a long time and I keep learning new things,” agrees Dávila.

Hiring: As a diversity executive, Davila recognizes that it can sometimes be challenging to find a mix of candidates due to cultural norms about the fitness as an occupation. But ultimately, he says, it all comes down to management’s commitment to the cause. Reflecting its client base, the teaching staff at BK Yoga Club includes queer and gender non-conforming instructors and is comprised of mostly black and brunette women, conscious decisions on the part of the founders.

Marketing: Davila says that if a marketing plan highlights only a part of the population, anyone who is not part of that group will not feel welcome in that space. “If your message is inclusion, if your message is body diversity, then all that has to be representative in your advertising,” he adds.

Companies that sell clothing should also consider available sizes. Davila’s research has found that the exclusivity or inclusion of sizes has a “significant” impact on the image clients have of that space and its permanence. As Davila’s focus groups told him, “If you don’t show me that you are different, if you don’t show me that you want me here, I’m not going to spend my money here.”

Language: Language matters too, from the way instructors address their students to the music played in class. Since in the spaces of fitness historically a sexist language has been used, Dávila says that you have to work to unlearn and practice the use of suitable alternatives. The founders of BK Yoga Club say they consciously use gender-neutral and empowering language in classes and do not teach chants out of respect for the roots of yoga in a culture other than their own.

Accessibility: the rise of online classes It has opened up a whole new world of opportunities for both gyms and studios and clients. Through its digital platforms, the reach of BK Yoga Club has expanded throughout the country and part of Europe, South America and the Pacific islands. Virtual options may be more convenient for clients who are not comfortable attending in person, need more flexibility in their schedule, or live too far away. Online options can also be offered at lower prices than face-to-face classes, the cost of which can be a deterrent for many.

“I think the fitness is right now in an ideal position to be more inclusive, because there are many more digital platforms, “says Davila.” If the spaces are smart, online classes are going to remain after the pandemic, whenever it ends. “