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February 13, 2020 Alejandro Melgar Leave a comment

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Training and COVID-19 • • • These past coupl

Training and COVID-19
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These past couple months have been hard to watch. I have seen some trainers and gym owners that I know act out towards the troubles that have befallen them, in a manner that goes against the mindset of personal training. The mantra of training regimes, which is patience.

It has been disheartening to see a well known boxing coach speak at a Walk for Freedom rally. To me, it was because nobody would listen to his pleas. Now those groups are welcoming him with open arms. It's weird seeing gym owners and trainers yell in their cars, all while calling anyone that doesn't agree with them as evil.

If there is anything I have learned as a trainer and as a student in a marketing class, it is that one of the first rules in selling a product is also telling people that they need it. I hate to say it, but gyms are not necessary, and I say this knowing that it will bring hate.

The thing is, exercise is a necessity to everyday life and mental wellbeing, but a gym isn't. If anything, to trust a gym should take a lot of time since the fitness industry is notorious for taking advantage of people's anxieties and insecurities. What better time to do so then right now when many people are anxious, scared, or angry? And to push this idea while knowing that there are free resources in the city that do a better job of dealing with mental health distresses and illnesses is irresponsible.

If you're going to the gym to escape problems in your life, whether with a partner, friend, or family member, you aren't exercising for your mental health, you are exercising to run away from your problems. That was what I did when I was sinking in my own fears and insecurities. Exercises helps bring us to the surface, but the work is in our ability to understand ourselves, and how we communicate with others. I learned more from the CMHA peer school about working with people then I ever did as a trainer. I feel a lot better about getting back into the game now then before.

That isn't to take away from what gym owners are feeling, but fear-mongering and anger is still part of that selling tactic, which takes us closer to propaganda. (Continued in comments) 🤙

Amhara protest, April 11, 2021. • • • The Ca

Amhara protest, April 11, 2021.
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The Calgary Amhara Youth organization came together to protest the genocide in Ethiopia, within the Oromia region. After a couple hours of speaking and chanting for freedom of the Amhara people, the group marched down Stephen Avenue.

After marching for a block, they were stopped by police and were told to turn back. Their permit did not allow for a group of their size to continue marching down the street.

A couple hours before, Freedom March, a group associated with the Freedom Unity Alliance and Walk for Freedom, walked from the court house to City Hall and back with no issue.

Life is Training • • • Writing this story wa

Life is Training
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Writing this story was such a challenge for me. After capturing a couple photos of @rebeccasfavoritemoments (the weather was not kind to Calgary that week), she spoke about acro yoga.

She described the level of trust the person being held above has to have for the base, and the pressure that the base would have on themselves to ensure the person being held up would not fall. Writing this story, as she said, was like trusting me to hold her up.

She shared so much with me, and I was so honoured to hear her story and provide the space to do so, but also to write about it at all for my student online magazine.

I want to share this story on my personal account, because it was inspiring to learn what she has gone through, but it is also a story that speaks of resilience and moving forward. Through acro yoga, boxing, Muay Thai, and other martial arts; Garland said the lessons of those arts are the greatest ones to learn to help overcome obstacles in our life.

You can find it by clicking the link in my bio 🤙

Walk for Freedom, April 3, 2021. • • • I'm d

Walk for Freedom, April 3, 2021.
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I'm debating having another page for journalism photos. I have been out shooting all kind of photos of people for my program, whether for feature photos or different types of protests as well (I want to share my photos of the Amhara protest afterwards).

The challenge with going out to these events is maintaining that neutral position, whether a cause I disagree with, or one I largely support. In cases where I swing too far one way or the other, it might be unethical to shoot photos since I'll be looking for something to highlight that fits that bias and narrative.

I might keep it separate, but who knows. Anyway, not trying to start a dialogue on the people that are protesting, I just want to share these photos 🤙.

(I wish I had my focus on auto rather than on a single point for the first one).

Back to school • • • I have been reflecting

Back to school
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I have been reflecting on the past year of school, and with the conversation I had in an optional ethics "lecture," (we were all shooting the breeze), it got me thinking about all my peers, and those with varying circumstances.

For one, I am really impressed with many of the students that express themselves freely, that can articulate their feelings, and have a sense of composure rivaling that of an elder. It made me think of what I was like at their age (a really dumb kid).

To put simply, I hold a lot of pride for them, especially now with learning online. There are many things they are missing out on, and yet they persevere.

Anyway, I wrote about my peers, my experience at their age, my own limitations, and the strength in being vulnerable and aware of our strengths and weaknesses. You can find it by clicking the #linkinbio 🤙

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