Our mission is to change that.
I hated gym classes, she says, and I was told over and over again I was fat.
Soon, though, her view on exercise changed dramatically.
Katie Thompson/Amanda K Bailey
Its a concept she hopes becomes more prominent in other gyms, studios, and virtual spaces too.
The very beginning stages can feel very intimidating!
I found myself feeling so inspired and motivated by the coaches I trained with, he tells SELF.
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I still get chills thinking about it!
Thats why virtual workouts can play such a crucial role for people who are just starting out.
And the rewards of ushering in movement have been immense for her, especially during her transition.
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Prior to [it], my body didnt always feel like home to me.
Its important to me, so I want to be able to share it with others in my community.
But Ive committed to one to two days a week, and Im feeling stronger each time.
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I sat down and thought to myself, What am I truly passionate about?
Fitness was the number one thing that came to me, Davis tells SELF.
Now, she helps studio members explore their interests, hone their goals, and build consistent routines.
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Theres one thing she hopes to eventually see inallmodalities: a true embrace of body diversity.
Youre not alone; a lot of us feel excluded, she says.
It now has members across five continents, helping further her mission to make fitness way more accessible.
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Alicia Jamison admits she first got into fitness for selfish reasons, as she tells SELF.
I wanted my gym community to help me get in shape and look a certain way.
But in the process, she learned that movement offers so much more than that.
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My team helped me change my relationship with exercise.
Now, I train with the main priority of mental and physical well-being, Jamison says.
Start small; just one to three times a week is plenty, Jamison says.
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Set small goals and collect many small wins, and that will lead to the biggest change.
Its truly come full circle, she says.
Ive been honored to guide many through the program that changed my relationship with my body and fitness.
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Now, she helps people that are new to exercise etch out their own start.
Find a class or a workout that appeals to your sense of fun, she says.
Its about finding what feels and works best foryourbody.
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Know that you deserve spacephysically, vocally, emotionallyand find power in that.
All of her music is so inspirational and hits the spot.Least favorite exercise: The stair-climber.
When Paris Alexandra first got into fitness more than 20 years ago, she started small.
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Photography: Katie Thompson.
Creative direction: Amber Venerable.
Wardrobe styling: Kat Thomas.
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Hair: Chika Nishiyama and Avery Golson.
Makeup: Monica Alvarez.
Production: Melissa Kramer.
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