Making The Shift: Let's Rejooov

Hey y'all, what's up?

It's the last week of Black History Month and I just want to say,

>>DON'T MAKE THIS THE ONLY TIME YOU ENGAGE WITH BLACK HISTORY<<

As I've mentioned in previous rejooovisms, there is a lot we can learn from the happenings in the past.

Also, don't forget that Black history is American history.

Moving forward though, I think it's important to acknowledge how respectability politics and Black professionalism snaked it's way into conversations surrounding Black health and why I think Black fitness culture needs to change.

It's the entire reason why I created the rejooov collective.

So, I'm going to hold your hand when I say this: we have the idea of what fitness should be all wrong.

And we're to blame, because while the disadvantages that continue to plague black people are plentiful, today, we have the ability to change the trajectory of where our perspective of fitness leads us, and so far, we're still alienating those who don't fit the mold under standards that never considered Black people in the first place.

And I don't like that.

So, after defining fitness and exploring how chasing it has affected our communities, I hope you'll see where I'm coming from and if not, hell, tell me how you really feel in the comments.

But let's start by defining what fitness is supposed to be.

It's used to name the ability to perform daily tasks, work, and physical activities with energy, and strength, without fatigue. However, in black fitness culture, we hardly think about a person's ability to perform, we assign a host of other attributes that have nothing to do with the definition mentioned above.

Since health conversations for Black Americans came into play, those in health spaces used respectability politics and perfectionism to judge the character, status, and even the morality of a person.

Essentially asking, how can you be a credit to the Black race if you're fat?

This culture of chasing fitness reinforces unrealistic body standards, largely ignores underlying chronic health issues, and overlooks the need for inclusive, safe spaces for people to chase fitness. Fat phobia in our community is just as prevalent today as it was then, and it changes nothing about the overall wellness present in Black fitness culture.

There needs to be a shift from fitness to wellness.

It's how we create a healthier community by making overall health the focal point and removing judgement.

Let's compare the definition of wellness, to that of fitness.

Wellness is defined as the state of being in good health, especially as an actively pursued goal, whereas fitness is solely performance based.

When shifting from fitness to wellness, we open up accessibility to living a healthier lifestyle through chasing health, not fitness, to everyone, releasing the preconceived notions of what it means to be fit.

So, how do we make that switch? Well, I want you to rejooov with me.

What I hope the rejooov collective looks like from the outside in is a group of people who understand that character, status, and morality have nothing to do with what you look like or how you perform. It's based on the inner work you commit to while on your wellness journey.

Through the rejooov process, we use self-exploration and self-discovery to pursue a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not just to look a certain way. Through this process, we adjust our perspective of movement to a more nurturing, enjoyable, and sustainable part of life.

Whether you're a seasoned athlete or someone who just can't find what your fitness thing is, you can benefit from the process of rejooov by joining the collective. You can subscribe here,

LET'S REJOOOV!

Thanks for reading! Like, share, & tell me your thoughts below. Be sure to check the rejooov collective out almost everywhere on socials:

IG - therejooovco & rejooovmove | TikTok - rejooovcothoughts | X - therejooovco | FB - the rejooov collective, LLC

Love & Light,

- Cina