As the founder and CEO of the Women in Fitness Association, I make it my daily goal to support women around the world with opportunities in the fitness industry. Women in the fitness field deserve every chance to be successful by growing into leadership positions or expanding their business.
Lindsey rainwater
According to a recent report analyzing US census data, women make up 58% of recreational and fitness workers, but earn just 86 cents for every dollar men make in the same occupations.
At the Women in Fitness Association, we encourage our members to be agile and seize opportunities. One of these new opportunities related to the COVID-19 pandemic is conducting exercise programs outdoors.
With indoor gyms and exercise facilities reopening safely, outdoor physical activity and exercise programs are a trend that is expected to continue to flourish. I believe this is an excellent opportunity for the sports community and women in the fitness space to better serve customers, reach new audiences, and forge more substantial connections with the wider community.
You will likely agree that exercising outdoors is a great option. But you may also be wondering whether it is important that local governments continue to expand access to public spaces for physical activity over the long term?
My answer is a resounding yes based on two main factors. First, it’s no secret that the benefits of physical activity outdoors are enormous. These include improved mood, increased self-esteem, and a greater sense of connectedness with nature and community. These positive results are more important than ever after the ongoing hardship and isolation of a global pandemic.
Second, sharing agreements between fitness / recreation professionals and local communities like the city of Denver have the potential to expand access to structured physical activity for millions of Americans. This is especially true for communities most susceptible to lifestyle-related diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that Hispanics had the highest prevalence of physical inactivity (31.7 percent), followed by non-Hispanic blacks (30.3 percent) and non-Hispanic whites (23.4 percent).
That’s why I’m a strong supporter of the American Council on Exercise’s Moving Together Outside campaign. Moving Together Outside was launched in spring 2021 and aims to ensure that post-pandemic sharing agreements or simple permits continue to be issued and are more readily available nationwide. This initiative is closely related to WIFA’s efforts to raise awareness and increase opportunities for women and others in fitness to support clients and their communities, and to move outside.
Local governments like the city and county of Denver can and have benefited tremendously from sharing agreements and similar permits for fitness professionals and their communities. For example, Denver has seasonal permits for private outdoor events, ideal for sports professionals who run courses in parks for six months. The community also implemented its Shared Roads initiative during the pandemic to help residents exercise outside while maintaining social distancing practices.
As one of the ten largest metropolitan areas with the highest personal trainer and group fitness trainer employment rates in the country, local governments like Denver are a great example of how sharing agreements and similar permits not only support professionals and residents, but also demonstrate their commitment to public private partnerships that can improve public health for all. This helps create a more engaged, connected community overall.
Each of us deserves a high quality of life. Regular exercise, fitness, and physical activity are critical to achieving this, among other essential factors. As a public health advocate, creator of opportunity, and champion for the fitness and wellness industry, I have a duty and moral responsibility to help make physical activity and safe outdoor spaces easier for everyone in our community. Moving Together Outside is our best chance to do this here in Denver.
Castle Rock’s Lindsey Rainwater is a management consultant, executive coach, and founder of the Women in Fitness Association
