- American Council on Exercise and SELF invite a panel of fitness experts to discuss ways to promote body inclusivity in fitness
- spacesWebinar will be recorded and posted on ACE’s website and YouTube for continuing education credits for certified health and exercise professionals
- Virtual event is open to anyone interested in attending
To kick off the new year, American Council on Exercise and SELF are hosting a live webinar on Jan. 19 with a panel of experts to discuss ways exercise professionals can ensure people of all sizes feel supported in the fitness industry. The panel will discuss the current state of gym spaces, the issue of weight bias and stigma, and concrete ways exercise professionals and enthusiasts can help create a more inclusive fitness environment for all.
The live webinar is open to all, with an option to earn continuing education credits for qualified professionals. The webinar will be recorded and available on the ACE website and YouTube channel.
Research indicates that fitness experts can often exhibit weight bias (negative beliefs about and behaviors toward people in larger bodies), but health and exercise professionals can play an essential role in creating inclusive spaces where all bodies are welcome.
To acknowledge the problem of weight discrimination and stigma in the fitness industry and help professionals and enthusiasts learn how to be part of change, ACE and SELF have partnered with size-inclusive certified personal trainers and experts for an information-packed discussion about what it will take to make fitness more inclusive.
The free virtual live event will be hosted by ACE on its platforms and is an extension of SELF’s Future of Fitness digital issue, which explores the prevalence of weight bias in the fitness industry and honors the game-changing fitness professionals who are helping make spaces more size-inclusive.
In addition to acknowledging the prevalence of weight-related bias in the exercise industry, the session will include actionable tips for trainers, gym owners, gym clients, and other enthusiasts to help address weight bias-related issues and to better promote inclusivity in gyms, studios and workout spaces. Topics include proper terminology, tone, exercises and modifications to employ so that clients and prospective clients feel comfortable knowing trainers are properly equipped on how to approach weight bias and stigma in the fitness space.
PANEL EXPERTS:
- Tasha Edwards – movement educator, writer, certified health coach, ACE-certified group fitness instructor and founder of Hip Healthy Chick
- Louise Green – size-inclusive trainer and educator, author of Big Fit Girl and Fitness for Everyone, and founder of the Size-Inclusive Training Academy
- Christy Greenleaf, Ph.D. – kinesiology undergraduate program director at the University of Wisconsin, with a focus on psychosocial aspects of weight/weight bias, physical activity and body image
- Chrissy King – certified personal trainer and founder of The Body Liberation Project
- Leta Shy – editor in chief of SELF, moderator
About the American Council on Exercise
Since 1985, the American Council on Exercise (ACE) has been the leading non-profit education and certification provider for health coaches and exercise professionals in the United States and around the world.
With more than 90,000 highly respected certified health coaches and exercise professionals, ACE Certified Professionals are on the ground daily helping people move, stay active and make lasting lifestyle behavior change to build healthier communities.
Headquartered in San Diego, ACE collaborates with public health partners to educate people of all backgrounds about the importance of physical activity and other healthy lifestyle behaviors; advocates for public policies to increase physical activity opportunities; and supports scientific research that investigates the efficacy of behavior-change interventions and the effectiveness of exercise practices and trends.
About SELF
SELF reaches over 20 million people each month across a wide range of platforms, including web, video, and social media. SELF is recognized as a global thought leader in health content and has won numerous awards, including a National Magazine Award, Webby’s People’s Voice award, MM&M Gold Award; and has appeared on Adweek’s Hot List and Ad Age’s Publisher’s A-List.
Disclaimer:
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a health advice. We would ask you to consult a qualified professional or medical expert to gain additional knowledge before you choose to consume any product or perform any exercise.
