What If the Problem Isn’t the Client? A Real Talk on Inclusion in Fitness

The fitness industry loves to brand itself as inclusive:Everyone’s welcome, endorphins for all, comfy clothes, and good vibes.

But for many people — especially those returning after a long break, or stepping in for the first time — the reality feels very different.

And it’s not always on them. Sometimes, it’s us.

We Say We Want More Clients — But Do We Make Room for Them?

Most trainers focus their marketing and programming on people who already love exercise. But if we’re all fighting for the same sliver of the pie, we’re missing out on the 80% of people who aren’t currently exercising.

That’s not a typo. Eighty percent of people in developed countries don’t meet physical activity guidelines.

So the question is:

• What are we doing that’s unintentionally excluding them?

• And how do we fix it?

The Anatomy Bias No One Talks About

I’m from Northern Ireland. I’ve got the deep hip sockets to prove it. And while that means stability for days (and an unfortunate risk of labral tears), it also means I’m never going to do the splits. Ever. My ancestors tossed cabers and welly boots — not high kicks.

Meanwhile, someone with Polish or Asian heritage might have shallower hip sockets and grew up in cultures where squatting and mobility were normalised. That shows up in what they can do on a mat or under a barbell.

So when a yoga teacher says,

“Reach your forehead to the floor,”and I can barely reach forward at all — I’m not being lazy. I’m doing my best.

But too often, the response is:

“Just try!” or worse — a physical push.

This isn’t about me being triggered. I’m fine. But imagine how that feels to someone who’s already self-conscious. Someone trying their first class in 10 years. Someone brave enough to show up — and now quietly deciding they’ll never come back.

You Are Not the Standard

Many instructors are good at what they teach because they’ve always been good at it. Hypermobile people teach yoga. Ex-athletes teach HIIT.That’s fine — but don’t assume everyone in your class starts with the same potential.

Just because someone can’t:

• balance on one leg,

• hang from rings,

• or flow through side-split inversions...

…doesn’t mean they’re new or unfit. They might be postpartum. Or a farmer. Or just built differently.

Progress isn’t linear — and neither is ability.

Language Matters More Than You Think

I once had a yoga teacher say, every time I entered Child’s Pose:

“You can rest if you need to.”

Except I wasn’t resting. I was following the flow. I was stretching through my lats and spine. But because they couldn’t imagine it being effortful, they assumed I was opting out.

Inclusivity means understanding that:

• A beginner isn’t lazy.

• An older client isn’t broken.

• A different body isn’t defective.

Validate what you see. Don’t assume you understand it.

Inclusivity Starts With Curiosity

Whether it’s pregnancy, hypermobility, chronic illness, cultural background, or biomechanical differences — ask questions.

“How does that feel in your body?”“Is there anything you want me to know before we start?”“What do you want to get out of today’s session?”

And if something’s unfamiliar to you? Go read. Ask your mentors. Use your CECs to expand beyond your current knowledge. Because nothing says “I see you” more than being prepared for who walks in.

Just Because They Can’t Do It Doesn’t Mean They’re New

We need to stop assuming that someone is a beginner just because they aren’t moving like a teacher.

That woman who can’t hold a balance pose might have raised four kids and run a business.That man who struggles in deep lunges might have decades of strength from working on his feet — just not the flexibility Instagram made you think he should have.

Not being able to press into a side crow or flow like a swan doesn’t mean someone is unfit, uncoordinated, or uninterested. It just means their strengths live somewhere else — and they’re trusting you to help draw them out.

Your role isn’t to assess whether they’re worthy.It’s to meet them where they are, and guide them from there.

Specialist or Generalist — Stay Humble Either Way

If someone’s out of your scope? Refer on with care and confidence.

“You know what, I know someone who’s an incredible fit for that exact condition — want me to connect you?”

And while you’re working with someone, stay engaged. Learn about their condition, medication, symptoms, and preferences. Collaborate. Grow with them. Make it clear that you want to become an expert in their body, not force them into yours.

The Broader We Cast the Net, the More People We Help

Not everyone who walks into your class is meant to stay. But if we all do our part to welcome, support, refer, and empower — then the right clients will land in the right studios.

And isn’t that the whole point?

What Do You Do to Make Your Space More Inclusive?

Tell me below — I’d love to hear the real-world strategies, big or small.And if you want help integrating inclusive practice into your studio’s customer journey, language, or coaching systems, I’ve got some killer frameworks for that too.

Let’s make fitness a place more people want to belong to — and can.