9 ms·

The Consumerist Church of Fitness Classes

71 points by wallflower 9y ago

forkLding 9y ago
I can see this more as I'm going less to fitness classes and going more to the gym. I go to the gym to work out but it also relieves stress as I often enter my flow state and am very meditative. I find its very easy to think once you're working out very hard and entering a routine. I also find thinking about developing new features keeps me semi-distracted from all my physical tiredness and keeps me going. In many ways, theres a spirtual dependence on the gym for me.
eesmith 9y ago
What the ... Okay, that's crazy talk. That's the role that clubs have always had. "Exercise classes often function just as much like a church as they do like a gym: They gather people into a community, and give them a ritual to perform..." We can say the same thing about square dancing in the mid-20th century. Or going to your local bar. Or quilting bee. Or .. you get the idea. "“I think I’ve figured out what [people are] really drawn to, and that’s the community aspect of it" That's almost exactly what my salsa teacher said is the reason that people take salsa lessons. Only, without the "better, harder, faster, and more" emphasis.
- chillingeffect 9y ago
  You're exactly right. the metaphor is strained through repeated, unsubstantiated invocations of "ritual, ritual ritual." Yet only one activity is given: exercising together. The span of rituals doesn't apply to life changes such as birth, puberty, pair-bonding, death, etc. The span of shared values doesn't reach morality, communication, family life, money habits, ecological stance, etc. It's only about time and money for a fitter body. As far as promoting capitalism? Also strained. yes, you pay to take the class, just as one pays for any activity. That is certainly consumerist, yet consumerist is not always capitalist. There are no activities promoting usury, group ownership, abdication of responsibility through legal entities, or even markets which are features of capitalist society. And these are the features of capitalism we ought to be critiquing. These are its harmful facets. Paying to take part in an activity isn't leading us to feudalism, lifetime indebtedness, massive inequality in quality of life. It's a distraction and underestimation to indict exercise classes when there are real robber barons out there. As far as "mimics the form of religious services?" I don't see the invocation, offering, the sermon, the reading of traditional literature. Sure there is special clothing and music, but like you say, same with square dancing and, hell, almost any human social activity. > "often subtly discourages people who are overweight [...] from attending. Seriously? The entire marketing propganda can be summarized as "get fit!" which implies the consumer is overweight. I think the author is struggling between making observations and reading too much into things that aren't there without spending enough time in the everyday.
  - akgerber 9y ago
    To your point— sport clubs were popular in the Soviet Union: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voluntary_Sports_Societies_of_the_Soviet_Union https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voluntary_Sports_Societies_of_...
- analog31 9y ago
  Indeed, when I skimmed the article, my first thought was: "This is not wholly unlike playing in a band."
  - com2kid 9y ago
    Gym has a bit more physical penitence going for it. There is a sense of real bonding that happens to people who suffer together.
    - rdiddly 9y ago
      Oh don't think for a second that people in bands aren't suffering in several ways.
      - emacsgifs 9y ago
        > Just play the feckin' note!!!
    - loeg 9y ago
      Have you played a musical instrument? It is very physically demanding if you are challenging yourself.
- vadimberman 9y ago
  Exactly. I think the author may have misplaced the supertype. A church is a community. A fitness club is a community. All communities have hierarchy and social roles. Not every community is a church. Not every community is a fitness club.
- coldtea 9y ago
  >We can say the same thing about square dancing in the mid-20th century. Or going to your local bar. Or quilting bee. Or .. you get the idea. That's not really an argument against what the article says...
  - eesmith 9y ago
    The article says "As more Americans have moved away from organized religion ... they have also moved toward new forms of community building, as well as new ways to seek mental clarity and spiritual experiences." My argument is that this is not "a new form of community building" but rather one which has been around for a long time. The article instead circles a relatively recent trend, and claims it's special. But nothing in the argument couldn't have been applied, say, 130 years ago to the then-new trend of cycling enthusiasts. In addition, I see no reason to believe it's connected to a recent "[move] away from organized religion".
    - dragonwriter 9y ago
      The move away from organized religion isn't recent, it's been ongoing in America for well over a century (probably since before the founding); the trend toward new forms of community building and new avenues toward spirituality and mental clarity that accompanies it is likewise not recent, but equally old.
      - eesmith 9y ago
        The implication in the article was that it was a recent change: > As more Americans have moved away from organized religion (a 2015 Pew Center study found that 23 percent of the adult population identified as “religiously unaffiliated,” up from 16 percent in 2007) they have also moved toward new forms of community building, The growth in "religiously unaffiliated" is relatively recent. That is, http://www.atheismandthecity.com/2016/10/number-of-religiously-unaffiliated.html http://www.atheismandthecity.com/2016/10/number-of-religious... shows it was around 5% from 1972 to 1992. That's too small of a percentage to explain the large number of social clubs, including or especially clubs like Lions, Freemasons, Odd-Fellows, Elks. I say "especially" because some viewed them as pseudo-religious organizations. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odd_Fellows https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odd_Fellows .) Freemasons definitely have more rituals than the gyms the article was talking about. Finally, the US has had neither a constant nor monotonic move away from organized religion. Compare the deism and skeptical rationalism of the late 1700s with the Second Great Awakening of the early 1800s.
nateburke 9y ago
Mark Greif's "Against Exercise" offers a much more thorough criticism, e.g.: "Today we really can preserve ourselves for a much longer time. The means of preservation are reliable and cheap. The haste to live one's mortal life diminishes. The temptation toward perpetual preservation grows. We preserve the living corpse in an optimal state, not so we may do something with it, but for its own good feelings of eternal fitness, confidence, and safety. We hoard our capital to earn interest, and subsist each day on crusts of bread. But no one will inherit our good health after we've gone. The hours of life maintenance vanish with the person." I'd post a link, but I don't think a public one exists. You can read the whole essay in his "Against Everything" compilation.
- andy_ppp 9y ago
  Brilliant, let’s all be physically idle nihilists then.
- Retric 9y ago
  This discounts the enjoyment of a heathy body and a good workout. It's like complaining about people eating food.
  - deleted 9y ago
    [deleted]
- chesimov 9y ago
  I exercise because it's fun, and allows me to do fun things like hiking in the wilderness. It's much more fun to hike when fit. Also cardiovascular exercise improves many aspects of brain function, which I'd regard as a plus.
  - ImaCake 9y ago
    I like exercising too. But I specifically like doing it outside. The gym has no appeal to me because I like being a part of the wider world when I exercise and feel that paying for the privilage to exercise is ridiculous. A more nuanced critque might consider whether some forms of exercise have a higher cost than their reward (e.g. they are really boring or expensive).
projektir 9y ago
I wonder if this person has actually been to a church. Churches are much more communal in my experience, it's not unlikely to end up drinking coffee and chatting with people, while at a gym, people often go in, do their workout, and go out.
- maxcan 9y ago
  Ever been to a crossfit gym? Its as communal as any church. The author is referring to "boutique fitness" like CF, soul cycle, barry's etc. Not typical "globo gyms" like Planet Fitness and others.
  - Retric 9y ago
    People can easily end up on similar schedules and see someone 3-4 days a week for months or years even at Planet Fitness. It's a natural environment to slowly build a friendship.
  - exelius 9y ago
    Can confirm; I’ve made a few good friends at Flywheel just from going to classes regularly. Tends to appeal to people with similar lifestyles (working professionals who are competitive and athletic).
  - raverbashing 9y ago
    Ah yeah, the team building and communal aspects of CrossFit are encouraged Too much cult like for me though (Though I think CrossFit does a lot of things right, like no endless boring "cardio" exercises and having actual strength training)
    - lotsofpulp 9y ago
      From all the literature I've encountered, cardiovascular exercise is the most important for those in a sedentary lifestyle. Weight training is important too, but it's not a replacement for cardio. Anecdotally, the fittest elders I meet who do office work are those who run and cycle or do other cardio activities.
scarface74 9y ago
This article is a puff piece where the author tried to make a connection where there is none. I took fitness classes for awhile and taught them for 10 years. Most organized fitness classes except for cycling were so choreographed that you could never get in the zone because you had to spend so much time thinking about what to do next and keeping up with the instructor. I found the people taking the classes to be so judgemental at the higher end clubs and corporate clubs. They would not take classes if the person teaching didn't "look" like an instructor. I didn't look like the typical instructor - I was short muscular and aggressive. But that was a benefit.
- CalChris 9y ago
  Before Les Mills commoditized everything, teachers did their own choreography. And it was a lot more interesting. Some teachers had amazing musical interests. Ok, some didn't too. But now everything is mediocre. That aside, I agree with the ritual and community observation. But the music is so awful I drifted away to the weight room. Yeah, I do a 5x5 program (on an iPhone app) which is very simple to follow but the lifting itself is quite meditative. I was surprised.
  - scarface74 9y ago
    It was a part time working hobby for me. I did my own choreography, mixed some of my own music with CoolEdit (bought by Adobe became Audition) and I saw the writing on the wall. Everything became about Les Mill and dancing. My simpler, athletic style of teaching became less popular and I had neither the time nor inclination to learn other people's choreography.
- cantrip 9y ago
  It's possible that some people just don't feel comfortable taking classes from someone who self describes as aggressive.
  - scarface74 9y ago
    That's not what I said. I didn't have a problem. It was mostly women in their 30s and 40s who weren't slim and didn't have the "instructor body". Even though they were usually in better shape and taught classes that were physically tougher but didn't always teach more complicated but physically easier classes. A lot of the women didn't want to work hard. They just wanted to have "fun". I got a pass from students because I was a male and they didn't expect me to be dancing and prancing across the stage. I had people said they were going to try my class because "I looked like I would give a good workout". That was when I first started and I really sucked when it came to the fundamentals.
junkscience2017 9y ago
Atlantic articles are now mostly indistinguishable from satire
hashkb 9y ago
My religion is Phish. It's a massive cathartic ceremony, and with the correct chemicals, I hear the angels. I get what they're saying. It's dumb to restrict spirituality and even "religion" to certain institutions.
- alexasmyths 9y ago
  Spirituality and Religion are not quite the same thing. Even hearing Angels is not necessarily very religious (and of course, we may hear a lot of things with chemical help ...). Spirituality is a personal, intellectual, possibly experiential thing. Religion often entails cultural overhead, community, and generally a lot of work: those who have had the opportunity to 'see angels' have the responsibility of then promoting their new understanding in the world, living as examples to others yada yada, i.e. it's mostly hard work and heavy cross-bearing, i.e. 1% inspiration (seeing angels) and 99% perspiration (being a good person, which is hard).
  - turc1656 9y ago
    "Spirituality and Religion are not quite the same thing." Exactly. I've been saying this for years to anyone who asks me if I'm religious. I say "no, but I am spiritual". I reject the notion that God takes attendance every Sunday and doesn't like me eating meat on Fridays. I also find zero need for organized religion. Spirituality is something different. But, hey, if the religious thing works for other people, then have at it. It doesn't work for me, but maybe it does for them. Spirituality doesn't require religion, just as getting in shape doesn't require a gym membership or a group class.
    - alexasmyths 9y ago
      "Spiritual but not religious" Maybe you missed my point? I'm kind of saying spirituality is easy, less practical part. :) The 'work' of spirituality is hard. It's often done through religion. Crazy point: those who 'religious and attend services' are least likely to commit crimes, but those who are 'spiritual but not religious' commit the most! Sorry no reference. Point being, we are creatures of habit, and action speaks louder than words. I guess there is a lot of theological debate about whether or not it's more important to 'have faith' which is a matter of spirituality, or to 'go to church and be a good person' ...
maxcan 9y ago
I've always thought of crossfit as combining the best community aspects of religion with rituals that actually deliver on what's promised..
nradov 9y ago
Who cares what the motivations are. If people are getting more exercise that can only be a good thing.
- catawbasam 9y ago
  The point is that more than exercise is involved. Getting exercise does not require an expensive membership in a club.
  - nradov 9y ago
    Well sure there are ways to exercise without a club membership. But having access to a facility with good equipment, instructors, scheduled classes, etc sure makes things a lot easier. It's all about removing obstacles and encouraging people to make good choices.
ajhurliman 9y ago
How did we get to the point where simply buying something is a bad thing? And meeting people in your community while getting healthy is also frowned upon, too?
- jhurliman 9y ago
  Also, gym memberships generally cost less than 10%[0] of your earnings. [0] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tithe https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tithe
- deleted 9y ago
  [deleted]
- yodsanklai 9y ago
  > How did we get to the point where simply buying something is a bad thing Nothing new here. Consumerism has been questioned by most religions and philosophies. (for good reasons.) > And meeting people in your community while getting healthy is also frowned upon I remembered when I moved to the US from Europe, I was surprised to see how fitness was such a huge industry. In my country, we tended to practice sport in some types of non-profit associations. (even though US-style gyms are on the rise.) I liked this much better than going to the hassle of dealing with membership fees and an agressive commercial structure. In particular, it was also much more friendly than your regular gym. Students stayed on average much longer than in a gym, and they were involved in running the structure.
- sametmax 9y ago
  It's trendy to be against the most basic things nowadays. People ran out of important subjects to rumble about, and realized that change is hard. Instead of actually making the tough decision to involve themself to improve things, they go on on criticizing, changing topics, going more and more inane as the list of real problems dries.
- xkcd-sucks 9y ago
  Commerce tends to foster conflicts of interest and other ethical problems
dilyevsky 9y ago
By that logic you can call nearly any group activities "religious". Dumb article.
nephrite 9y ago
This reminds me how muslim preachers condemned coffee houses because they would draw people away from mosques.
spicymaki 9y ago
I don’t see what’s wrong with getting together with others and trying to improve oneself. Sure you can overdo it, but that is all part of growth. This article seems a bit overly cynical.
- ElatedOwl 9y ago
  It kills me a little to see them say overdoing it, there are so many factors at play and intensity of workout is only one variable. No mention of diet, sleep or programming... I think the author touches on a fair point, people want to push themselves harder than they should, but it's not going to kill you and your body is going to put a stop to it whether you like it or not. Seems to me author is just generally naive about fitness.

71 points by wallflower 9y ago

I can see this more as I'm going less to fitness classes and going more to the gym. I go to the gym to work out but it also relieves stress as I often enter my flow state and am very meditative. I find its very easy to think once you're working out very hard and entering a routine. I also find thinking about developing new features keeps me semi-distracted from all my physical tiredness and keeps me going. In many ways, theres a spirtual dependence on the gym for me.

eesmith 9y ago

What the ... Okay, that's crazy talk. That's the role that clubs have always had. "Exercise classes often function just as much like a church as they do like a gym: They gather people into a community, and give them a ritual to perform..." We can say the same thing about square dancing in the mid-20th century. Or going to your local bar. Or quilting bee. Or .. you get the idea. "“I think I’ve figured out what [people are] really drawn to, and that’s the community aspect of it" That's almost exactly what my salsa teacher said is the reason that people take salsa lessons. Only, without the "better, harder, faster, and more" emphasis.

chillingeffect 9y ago
You're exactly right. the metaphor is strained through repeated, unsubstantiated invocations of "ritual, ritual ritual." Yet only one activity is given: exercising together. The span of rituals doesn't apply to life changes such as birth, puberty, pair-bonding, death, etc. The span of shared values doesn't reach morality, communication, family life, money habits, ecological stance, etc. It's only about time and money for a fitter body. As far as promoting capitalism? Also strained. yes, you pay to take the class, just as one pays for any activity. That is certainly consumerist, yet consumerist is not always capitalist. There are no activities promoting usury, group ownership, abdication of responsibility through legal entities, or even markets which are features of capitalist society. And these are the features of capitalism we ought to be critiquing. These are its harmful facets. Paying to take part in an activity isn't leading us to feudalism, lifetime indebtedness, massive inequality in quality of life. It's a distraction and underestimation to indict exercise classes when there are real robber barons out there. As far as "mimics the form of religious services?" I don't see the invocation, offering, the sermon, the reading of traditional literature. Sure there is special clothing and music, but like you say, same with square dancing and, hell, almost any human social activity. > "often subtly discourages people who are overweight [...] from attending. Seriously? The entire marketing propganda can be summarized as "get fit!" which implies the consumer is overweight. I think the author is struggling between making observations and reading too much into things that aren't there without spending enough time in the everyday.
- akgerber 9y ago
  To your point— sport clubs were popular in the Soviet Union: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voluntary_Sports_Societies_of_the_Soviet_Union https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voluntary_Sports_Societies_of_...
analog31 9y ago
Indeed, when I skimmed the article, my first thought was: "This is not wholly unlike playing in a band."
- com2kid 9y ago
  Gym has a bit more physical penitence going for it. There is a sense of real bonding that happens to people who suffer together.
  - rdiddly 9y ago
    Oh don't think for a second that people in bands aren't suffering in several ways.
    - emacsgifs 9y ago
      > Just play the feckin' note!!!
  - loeg 9y ago
    Have you played a musical instrument? It is very physically demanding if you are challenging yourself.
vadimberman 9y ago
Exactly. I think the author may have misplaced the supertype. A church is a community. A fitness club is a community. All communities have hierarchy and social roles. Not every community is a church. Not every community is a fitness club.
coldtea 9y ago
>We can say the same thing about square dancing in the mid-20th century. Or going to your local bar. Or quilting bee. Or .. you get the idea. That's not really an argument against what the article says...
- eesmith 9y ago
  The article says "As more Americans have moved away from organized religion ... they have also moved toward new forms of community building, as well as new ways to seek mental clarity and spiritual experiences." My argument is that this is not "a new form of community building" but rather one which has been around for a long time. The article instead circles a relatively recent trend, and claims it's special. But nothing in the argument couldn't have been applied, say, 130 years ago to the then-new trend of cycling enthusiasts. In addition, I see no reason to believe it's connected to a recent "[move] away from organized religion".
  - dragonwriter 9y ago
    The move away from organized religion isn't recent, it's been ongoing in America for well over a century (probably since before the founding); the trend toward new forms of community building and new avenues toward spirituality and mental clarity that accompanies it is likewise not recent, but equally old.
    - eesmith 9y ago
      The implication in the article was that it was a recent change: > As more Americans have moved away from organized religion (a 2015 Pew Center study found that 23 percent of the adult population identified as “religiously unaffiliated,” up from 16 percent in 2007) they have also moved toward new forms of community building, The growth in "religiously unaffiliated" is relatively recent. That is, http://www.atheismandthecity.com/2016/10/number-of-religiously-unaffiliated.html http://www.atheismandthecity.com/2016/10/number-of-religious... shows it was around 5% from 1972 to 1992. That's too small of a percentage to explain the large number of social clubs, including or especially clubs like Lions, Freemasons, Odd-Fellows, Elks. I say "especially" because some viewed them as pseudo-religious organizations. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odd_Fellows https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odd_Fellows .) Freemasons definitely have more rituals than the gyms the article was talking about. Finally, the US has had neither a constant nor monotonic move away from organized religion. Compare the deism and skeptical rationalism of the late 1700s with the Second Great Awakening of the early 1800s.

nateburke 9y ago

Mark Greif's "Against Exercise" offers a much more thorough criticism, e.g.: "Today we really can preserve ourselves for a much longer time. The means of preservation are reliable and cheap. The haste to live one's mortal life diminishes. The temptation toward perpetual preservation grows. We preserve the living corpse in an optimal state, not so we may do something with it, but for its own good feelings of eternal fitness, confidence, and safety. We hoard our capital to earn interest, and subsist each day on crusts of bread. But no one will inherit our good health after we've gone. The hours of life maintenance vanish with the person." I'd post a link, but I don't think a public one exists. You can read the whole essay in his "Against Everything" compilation.

andy_ppp 9y ago
Brilliant, let’s all be physically idle nihilists then.
Retric 9y ago
This discounts the enjoyment of a heathy body and a good workout. It's like complaining about people eating food.
- deleted 9y ago
  [deleted]
chesimov 9y ago
I exercise because it's fun, and allows me to do fun things like hiking in the wilderness. It's much more fun to hike when fit. Also cardiovascular exercise improves many aspects of brain function, which I'd regard as a plus.
- ImaCake 9y ago
  I like exercising too. But I specifically like doing it outside. The gym has no appeal to me because I like being a part of the wider world when I exercise and feel that paying for the privilage to exercise is ridiculous. A more nuanced critque might consider whether some forms of exercise have a higher cost than their reward (e.g. they are really boring or expensive).

projektir 9y ago

I wonder if this person has actually been to a church. Churches are much more communal in my experience, it's not unlikely to end up drinking coffee and chatting with people, while at a gym, people often go in, do their workout, and go out.

maxcan 9y ago
Ever been to a crossfit gym? Its as communal as any church. The author is referring to "boutique fitness" like CF, soul cycle, barry's etc. Not typical "globo gyms" like Planet Fitness and others.
- Retric 9y ago
  People can easily end up on similar schedules and see someone 3-4 days a week for months or years even at Planet Fitness. It's a natural environment to slowly build a friendship.
- exelius 9y ago
  Can confirm; I’ve made a few good friends at Flywheel just from going to classes regularly. Tends to appeal to people with similar lifestyles (working professionals who are competitive and athletic).
- raverbashing 9y ago
  Ah yeah, the team building and communal aspects of CrossFit are encouraged Too much cult like for me though (Though I think CrossFit does a lot of things right, like no endless boring "cardio" exercises and having actual strength training)
  - lotsofpulp 9y ago
    From all the literature I've encountered, cardiovascular exercise is the most important for those in a sedentary lifestyle. Weight training is important too, but it's not a replacement for cardio. Anecdotally, the fittest elders I meet who do office work are those who run and cycle or do other cardio activities.

scarface74 9y ago

This article is a puff piece where the author tried to make a connection where there is none. I took fitness classes for awhile and taught them for 10 years. Most organized fitness classes except for cycling were so choreographed that you could never get in the zone because you had to spend so much time thinking about what to do next and keeping up with the instructor. I found the people taking the classes to be so judgemental at the higher end clubs and corporate clubs. They would not take classes if the person teaching didn't "look" like an instructor. I didn't look like the typical instructor - I was short muscular and aggressive. But that was a benefit.

CalChris 9y ago
Before Les Mills commoditized everything, teachers did their own choreography. And it was a lot more interesting. Some teachers had amazing musical interests. Ok, some didn't too. But now everything is mediocre. That aside, I agree with the ritual and community observation. But the music is so awful I drifted away to the weight room. Yeah, I do a 5x5 program (on an iPhone app) which is very simple to follow but the lifting itself is quite meditative. I was surprised.
- scarface74 9y ago
  It was a part time working hobby for me. I did my own choreography, mixed some of my own music with CoolEdit (bought by Adobe became Audition) and I saw the writing on the wall. Everything became about Les Mill and dancing. My simpler, athletic style of teaching became less popular and I had neither the time nor inclination to learn other people's choreography.
cantrip 9y ago
It's possible that some people just don't feel comfortable taking classes from someone who self describes as aggressive.
- scarface74 9y ago
  That's not what I said. I didn't have a problem. It was mostly women in their 30s and 40s who weren't slim and didn't have the "instructor body". Even though they were usually in better shape and taught classes that were physically tougher but didn't always teach more complicated but physically easier classes. A lot of the women didn't want to work hard. They just wanted to have "fun". I got a pass from students because I was a male and they didn't expect me to be dancing and prancing across the stage. I had people said they were going to try my class because "I looked like I would give a good workout". That was when I first started and I really sucked when it came to the fundamentals.

junkscience2017 9y ago

Atlantic articles are now mostly indistinguishable from satire

hashkb 9y ago

My religion is Phish. It's a massive cathartic ceremony, and with the correct chemicals, I hear the angels. I get what they're saying. It's dumb to restrict spirituality and even "religion" to certain institutions.

alexasmyths 9y ago
Spirituality and Religion are not quite the same thing. Even hearing Angels is not necessarily very religious (and of course, we may hear a lot of things with chemical help ...). Spirituality is a personal, intellectual, possibly experiential thing. Religion often entails cultural overhead, community, and generally a lot of work: those who have had the opportunity to 'see angels' have the responsibility of then promoting their new understanding in the world, living as examples to others yada yada, i.e. it's mostly hard work and heavy cross-bearing, i.e. 1% inspiration (seeing angels) and 99% perspiration (being a good person, which is hard).
- turc1656 9y ago
  "Spirituality and Religion are not quite the same thing." Exactly. I've been saying this for years to anyone who asks me if I'm religious. I say "no, but I am spiritual". I reject the notion that God takes attendance every Sunday and doesn't like me eating meat on Fridays. I also find zero need for organized religion. Spirituality is something different. But, hey, if the religious thing works for other people, then have at it. It doesn't work for me, but maybe it does for them. Spirituality doesn't require religion, just as getting in shape doesn't require a gym membership or a group class.
  - alexasmyths 9y ago
    "Spiritual but not religious" Maybe you missed my point? I'm kind of saying spirituality is easy, less practical part. :) The 'work' of spirituality is hard. It's often done through religion. Crazy point: those who 'religious and attend services' are least likely to commit crimes, but those who are 'spiritual but not religious' commit the most! Sorry no reference. Point being, we are creatures of habit, and action speaks louder than words. I guess there is a lot of theological debate about whether or not it's more important to 'have faith' which is a matter of spirituality, or to 'go to church and be a good person' ...

maxcan 9y ago

I've always thought of crossfit as combining the best community aspects of religion with rituals that actually deliver on what's promised..

nradov 9y ago

Who cares what the motivations are. If people are getting more exercise that can only be a good thing.

catawbasam 9y ago
The point is that more than exercise is involved. Getting exercise does not require an expensive membership in a club.
- nradov 9y ago
  Well sure there are ways to exercise without a club membership. But having access to a facility with good equipment, instructors, scheduled classes, etc sure makes things a lot easier. It's all about removing obstacles and encouraging people to make good choices.

ajhurliman 9y ago

How did we get to the point where simply buying something is a bad thing? And meeting people in your community while getting healthy is also frowned upon, too?

jhurliman 9y ago
Also, gym memberships generally cost less than 10%[0] of your earnings. [0] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tithe https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tithe
deleted 9y ago
[deleted]
yodsanklai 9y ago
> How did we get to the point where simply buying something is a bad thing Nothing new here. Consumerism has been questioned by most religions and philosophies. (for good reasons.) > And meeting people in your community while getting healthy is also frowned upon I remembered when I moved to the US from Europe, I was surprised to see how fitness was such a huge industry. In my country, we tended to practice sport in some types of non-profit associations. (even though US-style gyms are on the rise.) I liked this much better than going to the hassle of dealing with membership fees and an agressive commercial structure. In particular, it was also much more friendly than your regular gym. Students stayed on average much longer than in a gym, and they were involved in running the structure.
sametmax 9y ago
It's trendy to be against the most basic things nowadays. People ran out of important subjects to rumble about, and realized that change is hard. Instead of actually making the tough decision to involve themself to improve things, they go on on criticizing, changing topics, going more and more inane as the list of real problems dries.
xkcd-sucks 9y ago
Commerce tends to foster conflicts of interest and other ethical problems

dilyevsky 9y ago

By that logic you can call nearly any group activities "religious". Dumb article.

nephrite 9y ago

This reminds me how muslim preachers condemned coffee houses because they would draw people away from mosques.

spicymaki 9y ago

I don’t see what’s wrong with getting together with others and trying to improve oneself. Sure you can overdo it, but that is all part of growth. This article seems a bit overly cynical.

ElatedOwl 9y ago
It kills me a little to see them say overdoing it, there are so many factors at play and intensity of workout is only one variable. No mention of diet, sleep or programming... I think the author touches on a fair point, people want to push themselves harder than they should, but it's not going to kill you and your body is going to put a stop to it whether you like it or not. Seems to me author is just generally naive about fitness.