Not About the Look

Re-Defining the Healthy Summer Body

BY BRENDAN LABRA

As the spring flowers blossom, many students may start looking forward to the warm months of summer. Others may be anxious about the way they look and are rushing to get into shape. This is the idea of the “summer body.”

A summer body is a popular fitness trend that usually takes over the mind of young people from the turn of the New Year to the summer months. People tend to hit the gym in an attempt to get into perfect shape before they go out and show off their work at the beach. While this may seem rather harmless, there may be some issues with using the term “summer body”.

Alexa Glatfelter, a senior applied health science major, has been working with students and faculty of Messiah College at the Falcon Fitness Center as a trainer all year. She has often heard “getting my summer body” used as a goal of those that she works with. Glatfelter is attempting to get away from the use of this language.

“I don’t like this term because it emphasizes the importance of what our body looks like when that’s not at all what it’s about,” Glatfelter said.

Our concept of a healthy body has become twisted. This is due to the constant over-exposure from the media to maintain the American concept of health. What does a healthy body and healthy lifestyle look like according to Glatfelter?

Artwork by Erica Horst

“Health is not about what we look like, but rather what we feel like,” Glatfelter said. “If what we look like is affecting how we feel, then we have a somewhat skewed concept of our body to begin with.”

What Glatfelter is saying here is that the term “summer body” reinforces the concept that we need to improve our looks. Rather, she wants everyone to know that this should not be what we focus on, but instead we should focus on how we can best use our bodies to serve Christ.

“The biggest thing to remember when viewing our bodies as Christian men and women is that we are made in the image of God, which means we are beautiful,” Glatfelter said. “No matter what size, shape, color, diameter or length, our bodies were made in the image of God. Therefore, we are to treat them as such.”

Animals chilling on the beach

Artwork by Erica Horst

The problem with the “summer body mentality” is that it completely goes against this notion. Rather than loving ourselves and our bodies no matter the state it is in, we are instead attempting to obtain this image of a “fit body” that we get from society. But, that doesn’t mean being careless with our bodies either.

“The Bible says that our bodies are like temples,” Glatfelter said. “This reflects the fact that we should steward our bodies well and treat them as the holy minds, bodies and souls they are. Because God dwells in us, we should be these vessels, these temples for God and not for ourselves.”

There’s an importance to treating our bodies with respect. In a world where a perfect body is often idealized, it’s hard not to let that message affect us. It’s easy to disrespect a body that doesn’t look like something on a giant advertisement.

Lettering by Erica Horst

“We can fight against this by encouraging others, Christians and non-Christians alike, to positively view who they are and how they were created and know that they are more than what they see,” Glatfelter said. “The ‘summer body’ is not a fully functioning body; it’s an ideal we will never reach.”

It is also very important, Glatfelter said, to remember that we were all created differently. “Everyone’s state of health is very different, in mind, body and soul; and it’s our goal as humans who value God’s creation and His beauty within us, to encourage one another toward health and wellness.”

It may be hard to encourage others or ourselves toward health and wellness when society presents us with “perfect” bodies. Going to a public gym as a beginner can be intimidating and shopping for healthy groceries can be daunting. It’s not always easy to find a starting point.

“There are ways to stay physically healthy at home,” Glatfelter said. “This doesn’t have to be anything crazy. Look up YouTube videos of yoga, Pilates, kickboxing and bodyweight exercises. You could also simply get up and move during commercial breaks.”

While it is important to try and stay physically fit, mental and spiritual health are just as important.

“Mentally, do some decompressing,” Glatfelter said “There’s a lot of anxiety out there. Do deep breathing exercises, a few deep breaths in and out. Or you can journal all the things that are running through your mind. Call a friend and talk to them about what you’re experiencing and ask them how they are doing.”

As summer starts, don’t be afraid to go out and rock the body you have. Focus on feeling comfortable in your body, keeping it strong and healthy. After all, a true summer body is just a body enjoying summer.