Social consciousness for bodybuilders

[WeirdAl]

Social consciousness for bodybuilders
Written by : Lorne Opler

I must have been about 15 or 16 years old at the time. But I will never forget the experience. I had ordered a bodybuilding correspondence course that promised me an amazing physique, if I simply followed the principles outlined in the routine. Each week, I was to receive by mail, my workout program for the next seven days. The course lasted twelve weeks. It did not require the use of free weights, but rather relied on body weight exercises or objects easily found in the home – a broom stick, a chair, a door handle. The exercises became progressively more challenging with each successive week. Accompanying each workout, there was also a sermon of sorts – readings to inspire the newbie trainer, providing ideas and motivation on how to live the bodybuilding lifestyle.

In the final booklet I received, there was a closing comment on the last page - a comment that has stayed in my mind ever since. This short piece wasn't focused on the new-to-me concept of pre-exhaustion or on the popular whole milk diet of that era (this was the late 70's). Instead, it focused on the unique responsibility that comes with being a lifter – a responsibility to carry oneself with pride, but not arrogance, with self-respect, but not self-absorption. Today it may seem odd that a bodybuilding manual would focus on such issues as personal development. Nowadays, it’s seems only about physical development. People just want to get huge, without concern or regard to the importance that character should play in the bodybuilding culture. As an idealistic teenager, seeking a meaning and direction for life through physique enhancement, I was utterly impressed by the author’s attempt to incorporate lessons of personal integrity into the course. He was interested not only in helping us skinny bastards mould our bodies, but also in helping us shape our consciences as well.

Now, almost thirty years since I first followed that course, those ideals still hold meaning to me. Sure, I train to look better…and bigger. But I’ve never forgotten the lesson that came inside the last envelope of that course – a lesson that seems to go unheeded in today’s “bigger at all costs” attitude. That is the lesson of humility…of quiet confidence.

At first thought, it might seem rather contradictory – the notion of a humble, selfless bodybuilder. After all, doesn’t building the perfect body require intense round the clock self-involvement, to the exclusion of everything and everyone else? Where’s the humility there? Yet, in my opinion, bodybuilding can be a powerful vehicle for promoting humility, integrity, and a genuine interest in others. Bodybuilding and weightlifting are sports that inherently develop a sense of discipline, self-affirmation, and mental toughness – admirable traits which many of us spend a lifetime attempting to cultivate. As bodybuilders, we are given the privilege to help others nurture these laudable qualities. People look up to bodybuilders for the focus and dedication with which they pursue their passion. Being able to inculcate others with a sense of purpose, a sense of achievement and of possibility should be and can be one of bodybuilding’s best attributes and contributions to society.

So just how does one socially conscious bodybuilder go about trying to change the world one lifter at a time? It’s easy. What we need are more people out there on the gym floor, in the squat rack, under the chin up bar, willing to share their training knowledge, experience and successes with those who are eager but uneducated, full of desire, but lacking knowledge. Too often I have witnessed a disappointing indifference amongst seasoned lifters towards the newbie weight trainer. While it's certainly nobody’s obligation to help out the novice lifter, doing so reinforces the notion that the iron game can be as much about building strong mentors as it is about building strong bodies.

Even today’s most hard core lifters were at some point in the distant past brand new to the weight room. Which guy has ever walked into a gym for the first time already shredded with vein popping biceps? The most rock solid muscle head was once upon a time just another average guy with just another average body - who like the rest of us struggled to bench press a couple of 45 pound plates. All of us started out at the same place. I venture to say, many of us would have been thrilled to be acknowledged by one of the big guys…even if it was just a smile or a nod hello.

Many of us began our journey towards physique transformation because we wanted to look like someone we saw or knew. Somebody inspired us to pick up that once impossibly heavy Olympic bar. In time, many of us fulfilled our ambitions and became that accomplished weight lifter we once imagined ourselves to be. Now, we are in a position to be that model of success and achievement for someone else. All we need to do is be open, approachable and conscious of the fact that we’re all in this game together.

So the next time you see that 100 pound skinny bastard giving his everything to lift the equivalent of his own weight, consider walking over to commend him on his efforts. Better yet, offer to spot him on his next set. You many not be able to detect his sense of gratitude, but mark my words, your show of interest and encouragement stoke his emotions with the affirmation and validation he needs to know he belongs there. Who knows, your simple thoughtful gesture, might make the difference between his decision to come back the next day, or bag it in favor of just another afternoon on Play Station 2.

Written by Lorne Opler

Bio: Lorne Opler is a health educator in Toronto, Ontario with an interest in exercise and sport psychology.

GREAT READ, your on a roll babe

[WeirdAl]

GREAT READ, your on a roll babe

lol..well, just trying to be a productive member and help out a little

your doing great, where do you find all these great articles?

IG that is a great article. I needed to read something like that to change the way I act in the gym. Sometimes I get so wrapped up in trying to improve myself, I seem to forget about others. Reading that article reminded me of myself back in the day. There were a few people I wanted to be like when I started and I would give anything if they would just look my way. It was almost as though I didnt exist in the gym. If I didnt have a strong desire to progress I wouldnt have lasted. Once again, great post!!

That was a verty good post, thanks IG