This week I have a very important and very timely guest on the podcast! Simone Samuels is here to share all her knowledge about cultivating anti-racism in your fitness community and why this matters. I originally met Simone through Body Positive Fitness Alliance, and now she's on their board of directors and has created an online course for them as well!
Simone Samuels is multi-passionate fitness professional, writer, and vlogger based in Toronto. In addition to being a group and aqua fitness instructor and personal trainer, she is also offers consulting and education around anti-racism and diversity, equity, and inclusion. She believes in creating a warm and welcoming non-judgmental environment for all participants and actively tries to make fitness spaces less intimidating. Her fitness philosophy includes a focus on Health at Every Size (HAES), using increased functionality and strength as indicators of success. Simone teaches at fitness centres in Toronto and also offers online group fitness and online personal training.
On this episode we talk about:
- Why anti-racism is more than just "be a good person".
- Why we can't point the finger at individuals (or ourselves) until we take a deeper look at the systems of oppression that are causing us to show up a certain way in the world.
- What white supremacy culture is, and how it shows up in sneaky ways.
- Why we, as fitness professionals need to be more curious and less judgmental of our clients, and why it's a privilege to be able to say "no excuses".
- How systems of oppression like white supremacy culture, diet culture, and patriarchy are getting in the way of you listening to and accepting your body.
- So many more important things!
