8 influencers who are making the fitness world more inclusive

When we talk about being fit, what comes to most people’s minds are those ripped bodies we see on the internet, in addition to crazy diets for weight loss.

However, what many do not know is that, in fact, this concept has much more to do with health and quality of life than with aesthetic issues. After all, moving contributes to physical and mental well-being, and still helps with socialization and creating new friendships.

Due to the fact that the fitness culture excessively values ​​thinness and defined muscles, individuals who do not fit these stereotypes end up feeling intimidated and, as a consequence, put aside the practice of physical activities and the benefits that it can bring.

Along with prejudice, the gym environment, the lack of appropriate equipment, the lack of accessibility and the difficulty of finding clothes that are really comfortable on their bodies are factors that discourage them from exercising.

With the purpose of transforming this reality and ensuring representativeness in the fitness world, there are influencers with “non-standard” appearances who, on social networks, defend that it is possible to be happy, healthy and practice any modality, regardless of body type or physical condition .

Therefore, they propose a new perspective on physical activity, emphasizing that it should be accessible to everyone and that health should be the main goal, rather than the search for a specific ideal of beauty.

Below, you can see 7 “out of the ordinary” fitness influencers that can serve as inspiration for many people:

VANESSA JODA (@vanjoda)

Founder of Yoga for Everyonea yoga school that seeks to democratize and value bodies through hatha yoga, Vanessa Joda decided to develop the project after going through a troubled period in his profession in the area of ​​foreign trade.

“I think a lot about democratic yoga, because, unfortunately, even today it is too elitist. So, I have this desire to make it more accessible”, she said, in an interview with Good shape. Still in the conversation, she also reported that the practice made her return to “inhabiting her own body”, which contributed to her self-esteem.

The Yoga para Todes classes take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays, at 10:30 am and 8:00 pm, at Casa do Povo, a space located in the Bom Retiro neighborhood, in the center of the city of São Paulo.

VICTOR DOURADO (@douradolife)

At age 16, Victor Dourado had to have both legs amputated after being in a car accident. Today, at 27, he is the founder of Prosthetics, a company specializing in orthopedic prostheses, in addition to having more than 100,000 followers on Instagram. On social networks, he publishes content in which he appears practicing some sports, especially bodybuilding and fighting, showing how sport and physical activity are important in his life.

LESLIE CRUZ (leslie.maricel)

With over 100,000 followers on Instagram and over 60,000 on Tik Tok, Leslie Cruzaged 25, produces content related to physical activity, in addition to reflections to encourage fat people to love and accept themselves.

“Finally, I’m learning to be at peace with the body I have. The only thing I hope everyone can take away from my profile is learning to love yourself for who you are and, moreover, love how you look”, she says, in the caption of one of her videos, in which she appears doing bodybuilding exercises in a gym.

AMANDA MOMENT (@amomente)

amanda moment is CEO and co-founder of Wonder Sizea casual and fitness clothing brand that wears sizes 42 to 70. The idea of ​​creating her own line of plus size fitness pieces came about after the birth of her son, in 2017.

“After the pregnancy, I tried to do physical activity, but I couldn’t find clothes that helped my performance, which made me realize that wearing clothes that didn’t contribute anything to my performance greatly limited my relationship with the sport”, she said. in conversation with .

Still according to Amanda, physical exercises are essential for building self-esteem and self-confidence, as they contribute to the development of body awareness.

“My intention is to show that everyone can practice anything freely, regardless of body. I want to encourage women to seek a pleasant and fun physical activity to do, taking movement as a lifestyle“.

WESLEY HAMILTON (@iamweshamilton)

In 2012, Wesley Hamilton he was shot several times, which damaged his spinal cord and left him paralyzed from the waist down. After the incident, he started to have new habits of physical conditioning and decided to create the NGO Disabled But Not Reallywhich aims to train individuals with disabilities by promoting physical, emotional and mental well-being.

NATI MOTA (@saudegg)

Graduated in physical education, Natalia Mota created the project Health GG with the intention of “helping everyone to have a better relationship with exercise”.

On Instagram, she says she wants to show a fat body moving, as well as wanting to fight the idea that physical activity is a form of punishment.

“I want to show everyone that a fat professional is capable and works super well like other professionals”, says she, who teaches online training.

DREA COSTA (@dreacosta)

Passionate about dance since childhood, Andrea Costaaged 36, has already ventured into different physical activities, such as fighting, bodybuilding and walking, but only one made his heart beat faster: pole dancing.

“I’ve already tried to practice some more traditional sports, but I didn’t identify with them. And one of the things I like most about pole is that it is a democratic and very welcoming activity, especially for people with ‘non-standard’ bodies”, she says.

The passion for pole started in 2015, after having a bad experience with boxing classes at a gym.

“I tried to fight and it was horrible. I remember the teacher said that we were supposed to do push-ups and jump rope, and I still don’t know how to jump rope and I couldn’t do push-ups either. I felt really bad. There was no attempt to adapt the exercises so that I could do them. I remember leaving class crying and never coming back”.

Today, she shares content with her more than 20,000 followers on Instagram in which she appears practicing pole dancing and promoting self-acceptance, in order to demystify the view that fat people are incapable, sick and unhappy.

“Fat bodies have the right and are worthy of being loved, respected and admired the way they are”, he highlights.

“There was a time when I thought I could only be happy if I lost weight. I practically didn’t live until that happened. I see many people with this same mentality, and that’s very sad, because we don’t allow ourselves to be happy just because we’re fat. Being fat doesn’t stop you from doing anything. Everyone knows what’s best for them. If the person wants to lose weight, fine. But at least don’t stop yourself from living and being happy in this process. Do not make this your only and main objective in life”.

Finally, Drea reveals that the @rozthediva is one of his main inspirations in pole dancing, as well as the collective fat poleof which he is proud to be a part.

“Roz The Diva is an American pole dancer, fat and black. She’s wonderful, she’s my first reference, I’ve followed her since before I started on pole. I also need to mention the women of the Pole Gordas collective, because each one of them inspires me a lot”, he concludes.

ELLEN VALIAS (@atleta_de_peso)

In her profile, the amateur athlete Ellen Valias, who is also a student of physical education, encourages everyone to practice sports, especially fat people. Its contents reinforce the idea that the priority when moving around should not be weight loss, but well-being and psychological health.

Ellen is also the founder of @rachaobasquetefemininoan initiative that brings together women who want to play basketball in a light, fun and high-spirited way, that is, without the pressure of having to hit every shot.