Healing Through Fitness   

The theme for this year’s Women’s History Month celebration is “Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope,” and with the pandemic, inflation and other life stressors, healing and hope may be needed now more than ever. In Black communities, COVID has had a disproportionate impact on more than just physical health, but also mental health. Known as … Continued

Healing Through Fitness    

The theme for this year’s Women’s History Month celebration is “Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope,” and with the pandemic, inflation and other life stressors, healing and hope may be needed now more than ever. In Black communities, COVID has had a disproportionate impact on more than just physical health, but also mental health. Known as a way to improve both, exercise can be a helpful tool in combating the effects of certain medical illnesses, weight gain or loss and freeing mental stress. A local Detroit fitness coach is bearing this in mind and working to impact the health of her community.  

 

The need to get healthy and stay healthy first comes with the movement of the body. As more African Americans get into fitness, Black-owned gyms and training facilities are beginning to sprout up in urban areas. Coach Khari Dickey is working to get Detroiters healthy and active with the opening of Konnected Fitness in the city’s West Village neighborhood.  

 

Black professionals in the health and wellness arena are few and far between. Statistics show just over five percent of fitness coaches are African American, leaving little space for conversations around Black health and wellness. As more facilities emerge, Black communities are able to take control of their overall health and for some medical ailments due to diet or mental strain. 

 

“Overall, eating healthier and working out and doing it with proper form and consistency will help to reduce your overall risk or occurrence of hypertension,” said Dickey. “Konnected Fitness supports overall improvement of health so when it comes to things such as hypertension, cholesterol, diabetes and conditions such as that that impact the Black community, the type of exercise we do, which is more conditioning-based, which is a form of cardio, does actually help to improve heart health.” 

 

In addition to physical fitness, mental health has become a widely discussed issue within Black communities. Considering all facets of health, Konnected Fitness is a source to guide participants through not only the journey of physical health, but also to achieve mental agility as well.  

 

“The intersectionality of physical fitness and mental health is that we don’t exist separately; mind, body and spirit fit together. It’s important when we are working out or creating a certain environment to keep that in mind. It is important specifically for Black communities because working out and being within a certain environment allows us to cultivate things within ourselves by being able to start at a certain point and conquering different parameters within working out,” said Coach Khari.  

 

The pandemic has put a major strain on mental health as weight gain for some has been a side effect of more than two years spent indoors. Women and men who suffer from issues with body positivity often find relief through physical activity. This could lead to results reflected in the mirror and on the scale.  

 

“Konnected Fitness as a brand works to promote body positivity because, in general, there’s nothing within Konnected Fitness’ brand that specifically focuses on body image that said ‘hey you should look this specific way.’ My mission is to connect with your best self through fitness so that allows you to choose your own goals and focus on being a better version of yourself,” said Dickey.  

 

Immune health has become a hot button issue as COVID cases began to rise. Stressing the importance of diet on immunity, Khari is encouraging Detroiters to take an active role in their health by being mindful of their food choices.  

 

“It’s important for communities to get more physically active because physical activity and exercise helps to improve your overall health, but even more in the current scope of things, physical activity actually does help to boost your immune system along with eating healthy,” said Dickey. “Outside of that, there are the mental benefits. The mental benefits actually contribute as well.” 

 

For some, time is a barrier preventing physical fitness. With busy lives, it can be hard to carve out time to get the body in motion, thus taking a toll on all aspects of health. For those not able to find the time to hit the gym, the great outdoors can serve as a natural healer for the mind, body and spirit.  

 

“I always suggest that people go outdoors and walk or find a place where they feel comfortable walking. Even increasing your steps or physical activity will put you in a better position of health. Just move as much as you can; go to the store and park further from the door. Focus on increasing your movement and increasing your steps throughout the day,” said Coach Khari.  

Konnected Fitness is located at 8001 Kercheval Ave., Suite 102, Detroit.