When you look at most fitness channels, you see one body type - super fit! Many fitness content creators go to great lengths to achieve results, dedicating their lives to training, a carefully managed diet, sleep and recovery. This isn't always realistic for the average person who wants to stay healthy while living a balanced life. Not to mention, being fit is their entire job!
One goal I have at Earth & Owl is to workout regularly with people of all ages, body types, fitness abilities and from all walks of life. Keep in mind that I live in a small rural community and it isn't always easy finding people willing to appear on camera. While you may be able to discern the approximate age or fitness ability of someone on my channel, what you don't see are the challenges they face off camera. My participants include but are not limited to a single mother working multiple jobs, a grandmother caring for a sick family member, a catastrophic car accident victim, a business owner with four small children, a hard working sun up to sun down farmer, and more! This is what fitness looks like - navigating daily challenges while making room for your own health.
One of the ways I show up and do my best to be a positive role model is by embracing healthy aging. I don't have a hair and makeup team or fancy production crew. It's just me, my rebounder and a bedroom turned studio in the farmhouse built by my great grandparents. Do I always love the way I look on camera? Heck no, but I'm committed to showing up no matter what! Embracing going grey at 44 is part of that commitment. I hope it gives others permission to come as they are. This channel is for all bodies and all abilities!
Some days you'll have time for an hour long workout. Other days you'll be exhausted and 10 minutes is all you can do. Any and all efforts to move your body consistently are valuable! Take it one day at a time. You can count on me to keep cranking out the workouts. Join me as often as you can, even if it's only for a few minutes. We can do this together!
Shout out to all the brave individuals who appear on camera with me. You are incredible and prove every single day that representation matters!
44 comments
I just found you and am you’re such a breath of fresh air. I think it’s understandable that people whose whole job is to teach fitness classes or put out fitness content have very fit bodies. Clearly this is something they love and do a lot. It’s still hard to not compare ourselves. Especially since, like you pointed out, they’re also doing a lot to make sure the rest of them looks great (and there’s nothing wrong with that). I’m turning 40 soon and of course I do some skincare to take care of myself, but I want to embrace aging gracefully and it really helps to have people in social media who are doing the same. It’s a privilege to age that not everyone gets.
I just got my new rebounder, put it together myself, and found you on YouTube. I’m sooo excited to find you and begin rebounding. I just turned 66 this month and am not new to working out (I go to Orange Theory and take Pilates classes). But I get bored. I love your energy, authenticity, and that you live in a small town in Nebraska. You’re real. I grew up in western Nebraska and graduated from UN-L! I now live in Iowa. Looking forward to beginning my journey rebounding with you!
So glad to have found you! Looking forward to this amazing journey I’m about to inter. Feeling so Energized! Thank you!
So glad to have found you! Looking forward to this amazing journey I’m about to inter. Feeling so Energized! Thank you!
Your positivity and authenticity are what keeps me coming back! At a time when- after a lifetime of healthy physicality- I was feeling less than hopeful about my current – and I hope temporary – lack of mobility, you brought joy, hope, community and a program that has given me access to what I was craving – that exhilaration one feels through movement!