A Conversation with Women: Weightlifting and Inner Strength
I’ve been on a journey of health and healing since I was 18. While studying massage therapy, I ran daily on the beach in Southern California. At night, I walked to a set of wooden stairs that overlooked the Pacific Ocean. I sipped on warm tea and gazed up at the stars. I often wondered what my purpose was and had a deep curiosity for the meaning of Life. Later, I studied nutrition, learned Yoga, and continued to search for the recipe for living Life with vitality. When I discovered the Modern Mystery School, I found the missing ingredient to optimal health and personal progression: spirituality. We are spiritual beings having a physical existence. While you are spirit first, you cannot deny your physical body. Well, you can…but you likely will not yield very good results.
While actively pursuing the path of knowing myself, learning to master the tools of meditation, rituals, and chi work, I eventually found my way back to my first love: fitness. It was through the hardship of the COVID-19 pandemic that I became truly dedicated to my training.
In my quest of health and fitness, I discovered something that pained my heart. I witnessed women perpetuate myths about weightlifting to other women. To take this one step further, I watched women market these fallacies to profit off of other women.
“I don’t want to look too bulky.” “I don’t want to look like a man.” These are common misconceptions made by women regarding weightlifting. It is very difficult for women, or some men for that matter, to gain high levels of muscle mass without years of serious training, a high caloric intake, and in some cases the use of anabolic steroids (no promotion here, just facts). Basically, you won’t suddenly become like Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Where did these ideas begin? I really don’t know. Although, I find it interesting that in the narrative of modern day feminism, men are accused of holding women back. In my experience, I’ve seen more women hold other women back from being successful than the opposite being true.
What does weight lifting have do with women’s empowerment? Well, how can we as women ask for social change in good conscience, without first taking a look at what is going on within the sisterhood? The change starts with us. The shift in women’s empowerment begins with leading other women to success. The transformation begins with telling the truth and sharing what really helps other women achieve their goals.
Some women care about their bodies. There is nothing wrong with that! Caring about your body is caring about yourself. In the wake of the “woke” movement around “body positivity,” female celebrities who lose weight after being overweight, have been criticized. What’s wrong with being healthy and living longer?
There’s a difference between body dysmorphia and taking care of your body. One of my observations in the Wild West of social media is fit women telling other women to do lots of cardio and focus on eating less (caloric restriction). I used to run track, so I can empathize with the love of raising your heart rate and getting your blood pumping. Sure, you can generate results with those methods, but are they the most effective? What is the underlying belief system in this type of thinking (eat less, run more)? What are other women cultivating in the collective consciousness about the strength of women?
Do you want to be lean? Do you want to have toned muscles? Muscle definition comes from having muscles to begin with. Having muscles burns more fat. There’s a great medically reviewed article on busting myths about women and weightlifting here.
Telling the truth about how to get strong matters. “As above, so below. As within, so without.” The Hermetic teachings of the Modern Mystery School guide initiates to the understanding of personal transformation influencing all levels of your being. Becoming physically stronger can have an impact on your inner strength. Do you want women to be strong on all levels? Yes, there are many paths to growing stronger. My invitation to you is to tell the truth about these ways. Let’s not lead other women astray. Let’s guide women to fulfilling their goals. If these goals are for their physical bodies, let’s not judge them. What would the world look like if women encouraged other women?
Learning to lift weights builds confidence. When you pick up heavy things, you are reminded of how capable you are. Your confidence can translate to courage (read my article on courage here). By overcoming new challenges in your strength training, you are wired in a new way to overcome the fears and personal challenges in your life.
Lifting weights creates a new mindset within you. Mastering your mind is the first of 7 Hermetic principles taught by Modern Mystery School. By mastering your mind, you can master yourself.
Will you always feel like lifting weights? In my experience: no. I lift weights whether I feel like it or not. This is where I practice exercising my Will. The tools handed down in the Empower Thyself program directly support the understanding and strength of your Will.
Let’s be strong, Women. Let’s teach our young girls the truth about the different ways to grow stronger. The World is ready for your strength.
In Sisterhood,
Christina Becerra, Certified Guide and Ritual Master in the Modern Mystery School
