AHS19

Conventional approaches for women in the health and fitness industries have long seen a trend of equalizing them to their male counterparts as the standard practice. Though studies consistently reflect reflect vast gender differentiations in physiology, musculoskeletal constructruction and performance, biochemistry, and mechanics, the generalized focus of training professionals continues to fit both genders in one container.

The results have coaches training women without regard to greater joint laxity and assessing them for hypermobility to prevent injury, for example. They are educated to believe all clients must perform a squat with feet shoulder-width apart without regard to a woman’s wider q-angle and tendency to pronate the knees and feet. There is little, if any, training and education for female specific conditioning and strength training when we are addressing performance related to a woman’s menstrual cycle and each of its phases.

What we are witnessing is a rapid growing trend of female athletes who do not get their period, women suffering infertility, autoimmune disease and thyroid disorders. We are observing the continued and increasing popularity of bioidentical hormones, herbal supplement brands, hundreds of new diet and fitness publications each year, rising trends of online programs, as well as the steady climb in the health and fitness coaching profession. Simultaneously we have seen industries across the board working hard to keep up with the notable shifts and issues addressing women’s equality since the #MeToo movement which seems to deliver the ongoing promotions and ideas that women are equal based on the fear of generating any gender bias towards women at all. This is a dangerous and slippery slope.