![]() ![]() In modern society, as we attempt to reconcile historical inequalities equitably, new stigmas have arisen in the name of a seemingly “beneficial” characteristic: health. Societies commonly developed stigmas about race, gender, wealth/social class, and a plethora of other visible characteristics. In chapter 10 of Illness Narratives, Arthur Kleinman describes how we derive the term “stigma” from Greek, referring to “marks that publicly disgraced the person.” 4 Especially in ancient societies, many stigmas plagued societies’ social structure. Stigmas of a Lack of Exercise and Poor Health The following three sections will illustrate different sides of the same coin: negative stigmas surrounding poor health and positive reinforcement of dangerous “healthy” mindsets and activities. While this belief may seem reasonable and even beneficial in an isolated state (one may believe that these positive affirmations of exercise would encourage the healthy behavior of exercise), the implicit negative sentiments created about those determined to be in “poor” health are undeniably damaging. Modern culture rewards good health and, to people who fall into the “healthy” category, the positive attributes of exercise appear to be an achievable outcome. On the other hand, rather than being hedonically motivated, exercise may improve one’s quality of life and mental health by escaping from the negative societal implications of being viewed as “unhealthy.” Moving and performing enjoyable activities may reasonably increase one’s happiness. ![]() On the one hand, this makes sense since better physical shape can make parts of life easier. 3 Moreover, in the long term, exercise, especially endurance training, improves the overall mental health of those who partake. Kathleen Mikkelsen explains in Exercise and Mental Health how activity alters peoples’ moods positively and improves symptoms of anxiety, stress, and depression. 2 Further, exercise benefits mental health. In his paper, Health Benefits of Exercise, Greg Ruegsegger explains how exercise is strongly correlated to an extended lifespan and the delayed onset of dozens of conditions and diseases, which improves peoples’ quality of life. First, exercise yields numerous positive physical outcomes. Before analyzing the recent shift in mindset surrounding exercise, it is essential to acknowledge the benefits of and reinforce the need for a moderately strenuous exercise routine. The old carrot that motivated exercise, the desire for health and wellness, recently became accompanied by a larger fear of the stick: stigmas and public shame.Įxercise as an intentional activity (rather than indirectly resulting from manual labor) initially gained popularity for its positive physical and mental outcomes. Although perhaps atypical for youth sports, this experience illustrates a modern characteristic of exercise: we physically punish ourselves in the name of fitness out of a desire to avoid negative outcomes alongside pursuing positive outcomes…and then give thanks for the suffering. Even more confusing, at the end of each practice, we lined up and bowed, yelling “ Arigato gozaimashita!” ( thank you very much) to our coaches for leading the workout. As the least fit member of the team, I felt embarrassed during conditioning since I always quit first. The other consisted of shutter runs in the gym under time pressure until you either collapsed or quit. We repeatedly propped ourselves up with arms and legs extended outward and bodies held inches above the ground until we collapsed. The first began when our head coach yelled “Spi-der-man” in three, slow, drawn-out syllables. I struggle to recall many of the exercises (granted, most names were in Japanese) except for two. We worked the same routine at every practice which far exceeded a warm-up jog and stretching. Practices and games mostly mirrored my other teams, except for conditioning. ![]() Although I speak little Japanese, a friend of mine recruited me when a teammate moved back to Tokyo. One fall in middle school I played for a Japanese baseball team.
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