What are our messages???

So...
What do you think of these pictures?

How do they make you feel?

Who relates to them?

Why do we use them?

Should we be using them?

What is our message? Part 1

I am not sure about you, but I know I get annoyed when I see happy, thin, young women (usually with non-sweaty hair, non-red face and excellent make-up application) running on the treadmill, usually sporting the form fitting outfits that seem to be all the rage.

These images often make me feel inadequate, that there is something wrong with me and that I should be looking like them when I exercise. I feel this way and I like to be active... how do pictures like this sit with those who aren't active?????

Exercise has gotten a bad label... usually created through the horrors of archaic structured gym classes and other unsuccessful bouts into the fitness world. The unfortunate things is that the fitness industry in some ways continues this negative label.

TV advertisements, infomercials are often bombarded with very "fit " looking individuals. Often with wearing tight fitness clothing with excellent muscle definition (that would take years of dedication to achieve). They are often beautiful, young and in many cases Caucasian.

We also see these images in magazines, newspapers and yes even in our community programming.

How often have we heard (and in some cases felt) " I need to get in shape before I can go to the gym...." Is this the message we want people to have? Is that not the message we may be sending when we use similar images.

What if a person does not like the gym, or they fear treadmills, or the idea of weights is as boring as watching paint dry. What do these images mean to these folks?

My beef with these images is who do they speak to? Who do they represent? Who feels they can belong alongside those images? I for one don't. The speak to a small segment of the population, and definitely not to the parts of the population we want to reach.

When it comes to physical activity for our community members we need to look at differentiating ourselves from the fitness industry. Don't get me wrong. They offer a service and are of value- but to only some of our community. As leaders in this field and in our community we must be careful with our messaging. What are the images we use? Who do we want to reach? Can these people see themselves in the images we use?

Images are just a small part about messaging.. but they also attract attention. If a person can identify themselves in an image they are more likely to relate to the material being present. They feel more like they belong and they may perhaps are more inclined to consider the programs or services being offered. Which is important when we are trying to get people moving.

Now go out and enjoy some sunshine...I'll chat more about this later.
Angela

Glorious glorious paths

I was able to go back to my home town, Lethbridge for some holiday time. The unique thing about this visit was it not being rushed. Normally I am running around visiting people and then hustling back up to Edmonton.

The nice thing about taking the extra time is I got to explore some of the changes that have been happening in the city- especially in the area of town I grew up in as a teenager, which is the west end. For those of you familiar with Lethbridge you know the city is divided in half by the river valley, the west end being on one side and the rest of the city on the other.

When I was in high school and did not have my drivers license (and even after I got it too) I heavily relied on my bike to get me to my friends house. We would often bike to each other’s house, or bike to the university (we liked to pretend to be university students- bizarre I know). We would bike to get slurpes and bike down into the river valley and even all away across the big bridge to downtown. I have very fond memories of scooting along the streets and paths in the west end of Lethbridge.

So on one beautiful day, when I had not much planned I borrowed a bike and off I went to retrace some of my youth. First- I was shocked by how much the area I grew up in has grown. New schools, tons of new houses and shopping centers. I was sad to see the farmers fields replaced with cul-de-sacs and condos. I became fearful that my hometown has fallen into the trap of urban sprawl.

Those concerns aside my real reason for this blog today was to talk about the glorious path system I encountered on my bike ride. I was blown away with the trail system they have built for pedestrians, cyclist, dog walkers and skateboarders to use. It was one of the best bike rides I had gone on in a very long time. The trails kept going... and when needed allowed you to loop back… no cars to content with. Just smooth sailing for as long as I wanted. Wonderful.

Honestly a-round-of applause-goes to the Lethbridge planners for including this in their plans. The new paths seemed to play an integral part in the new neighborhoods, and well integrated with the paths I used when I was a kid. Not only did I hardly have to go near streets or have to stop at street lights, I got to enjoy some of the aesthetics that Lethbridge has to offer.

The one key thing I liked about the path system is the multiple entry/exit points to get on it. I also liked how it was wide and, for the most part, well paved. The fact I was able to go from the north end all the way to the south end with little disturbance made the trip a pure joy.

Paths like this don't happen. They take foresight and planning. It also takes a lot of work on those who are advocating for these kinds of changes. Planning for this type of infrastructure should always be mandatory with new communities. And expansion of path an trail systems should be part of the municipality's long term planning. So hats off to the folks in Lethbridge who made the path system happen in the west end.

What I don’t know is how well this system is on the other side of the river or even down in the river valley. Hmmm... perhaps something to look forward on my next visit home.