To Your Good Health – An insight into health in the 21st Century

Championing body positivity in the 21^st century

April 1, 2024

I grew up in a family of fitness fanatics.

Mum is an accomplished tennis player. And despite the loss of sight in one eye, she continues to play several times a week, as does my father. As seasoned sequence dance teachers, their failed attempts to retire and hand the baton down to younger club members means that they continue to teach twice weekly classes. Additionally, like myself, both indulge in long daily walks. I think they may be the fittest octogenarians that I know!

As an undergrad, Dad was an avid weight trainer, gymnast and athlete, representing his college in a number of sports. He was also a founder member of the Gibraltar Amateur Basketball Association. ‘Fitness’ is clearly imprinted in the Flower family DNA as his younger brother not only founded the oldest Athletics Club in Gibraltar, but become the first athlete to compete in the 440 yards at the 1958 British and Commonwealth Games. In 2004 he went on to receive an MBE for his devotion to sport, and in 2014 he was awarded the Gold pin and Order of Merit Award from the Commonwealth Games Federation in recognition of over 60 years of service to sport.

With that background it seems only natural that fitness would play a large part in my own life journey, and unsurprisingly it has.

Becoming a Pilates Instructor seemed a natural progression after a lifetime of dance, yoga and gym training. I am passionate about physical fitness and although my workout focus has changed over the years, my daily bodywork regime is still inspired by my childhood fitness idol, Lisa Lyon. Although my weight trainer brother’s inspiration, Arnie, needs no introduction, it’s unlikely that you’d have heard of Lisa. Yet as winner of the first Women’s World Pro Bodybuilding Championships, she is now regarded as a pioneer of women’s bodybuilding. At the time, I had never seen female representation of this sort in the fitness world. ‘80s, female fitness was more ‘lycra and legwarmer’ aerobics than muscle-based training. The fact that a woman could be so physically strong whilst retaining her femininity was a revelation to my younger self.

Despite advancements in the health and fitness industry, in my mind Lisa Lyon remains the pinnacle of achievement in terms of female bodywork representation. The fact that I have carried this aspiration with me into my 50s demonstrates how important inspirational role models can be to a young, impressionable child. This is why I was so delighted by the recent reboot of the ‘90s TV show Gladiators. Watching this show with my awe-struck daughter reminded me of my early fitness aspirations. What could be more motivating for a sporty child than watching impressive athletes performing at the peak of physical fitness?

Illustration of a female bodybuilder flexing her muscles and winking at the viewer.

My daughter has clearly inherited the Flower family fitness gene. She is a Sports Leader in her school, a role that has introduced her to activities she might not otherwise have considered. She has discovered a keenness for Tag Rugby and she absolutely loves football. Luckily for her, she lives in an era where there are plenty of female football role models. Inspired by the female Gladiators, she has now also implemented a short, pre-school ‘workout’ and is intent on becoming as strong as ‘Sabre’!

The show could not have come at a better time, in my opinion. It wasn’t easy growing up a girl in the ‘80s, but in this era of social media, I can’t begin to imagine what young people have to contend with. Aside from the sedentary nature of an over-reliance on screens for entertainment, the body image content presented rarely promotes health. Fad diets, unrealistic physical ‘ideals’, and the ever-present desire for ‘Instagram flawlessness’. Not only does the internet appear to be awash with health misinformation, but the tantalising promise of ‘quick fix’ solutions hardly promotes a positive message either. In an era of ‘hacks’ we seem to have lost sight of the value of industry. In my opinion, one of the most admirable qualities of a Lisa or an Arnie is in their work ethic – a hard-grafting commitment towards achievement of their health goals. Indeed, in her excellent book ‘Body Magic’ Lisa talks about her aversion to fad diets and the need to be patient with oneself, to create a ‘structured programme of exercise and more realistic eating habits’ that ‘will eventually give you the body you want.’ Sensible advice. Also totally in line with the current functional approach towards health.

As my daughter prepares for secondary school I am aware that her exposure to the less-than-healthy aspects of modern living will amplify. However, with a background embedded in the benefits of healthy eating (the advantage of having a Nutritional Therapist mum!) and a keen interest in sports, I’m optimistic that she can continue to maintain a healthy relationship with her body and her mind. Now, more than ever it seems, an array of female sport and fitness role models are available to inspire. The perfect antidote to the social media barrage of filters and fakery imposed on impressionable young minds. In the face of all of this, it’s good to know that she’ll always have this positive framework imprinted in her psyche. Maybe one day she too will have a framed photo of her childhood fitness icon adorning her office/studio space? An inspirational daily reminder of youthful health, fitness and life goals.