Eli Cummings

How do those in the fitness community support each other?

My research started by going to the sdfc to observe the environment the people and how
they interact. I then interviewed two people who are a part of this community to get their
insights.
I saw many objects that the people in this community had in common or that many of
them would use at the sdfc. Location is very important in the fitness community. At asu the
community is centralized around the sdfc. the community is made up of all different kinds of
people who share a willingness to improve their health. Event in the community consist mostly
of local group fitness community but there is larger national event that connect those interested
in the community with big names in the community.
Many objects reveal things about this community such as head phones one ear vs two.
Clothes and water bottles make it easier to identify those in the community outside of important
places in the community. Many of the events in the community are held by the sdfc. The sdfc
does this in order to have something for everyone in the community to help them accomplish
their goals. The sdcf is also more than just a gym it’s a place to connect people. It offers all
different ways to improve health.

1. Introduction
1. State your central inquiry question
2. Introduce the community and/or cultural phenomena that you researched
3. Why this community now
2. Methods
1. Explain your research process
1. Observation
2. Interviewing
3. Secondary Research
3. Results
1. Explain what you found during your research
1. Artifacts/Objects
2. Places/Locations
3. People/Behaviors
4. Activities/Events
4. Discussion (Conclusion)
1. Discuss the significance of your “results”
2. Answer the question: Based on your research into your community’s cultural
phenomena, what are their central values, interests, and obstacles?
3. Answer the question: So what?
5. Closing
 How do those in the fitness community support each other my research looks to answer this

question I chose the community because I’ve always had a personal interest in fitness and given

that society is starting to prioritize fitness wellness and health for many reasons such as

preventative medical care and in order to improve overall quality of life.

My research process broke down what I was doing into steps I started by simply observing

the community in its entire tea I went to the Sundevil fitness on the downtown Arizona State

University campus my observations would include but were not limited to the equipment in the

facility the people that were in the facility with the people were doing what they could do what

they wore and how they acted and interacted with each other My next step was interviewing

people in this community the first was Enrique Montoya a facility supervisor at the downtown

SDFC the second interview was with Tanner account a avid member of the fitness community

lastly I dug into secondary research comprised of academic journals and pop-culture sources

such as social media and other mainstream news sources.

The result my research found that there are many important objects places and events in this

community. Different objects play different roles in this community one for instance water

bottles can be used to identify people in this community if you see someone outside of the gym

with a shaker bottle or a gallon water jug they are most likely a member of the fitness community

an item with similar purpose is clothing there clothing items such as joggers tank tops and

sneakers that people wear to the gym but also wear them outside of the gym an object that is

commonly overlook but plays an important role is headphone or earbuds they play a role beyond

just listening to music which in the gym is very important to most people according to Rachel
Germaine “a workout is ruined without music” but what I noticed about earbuds is that

sometimes people have both ears in and sometimes they only have one the reason that someone

would only have one earbud in is so they can talk to other people other objects of significance

include all the equipment that is in the gym weather they are free weights cardio equipment or

machines they are a means for people in the community to achieve their goals. This community

also has many important events and example of such events our group exercise classes these

classes provide a space for people in the community to improve upon their health In a group

environment where they can meet new people and support each other after attending three group

exercises one commonality was the instructor of the classes was constantly trying to motivate the

class and provide a supportive comfortable environment where everyone could improve upon

their house. These group actually clip size classes will not be possible without please to do them

which is where we get into places of importance and in terms of the Arizona state university

fitness community this place would be the Sundevil fitness complex (SDFC) The SDFC facilitate

the needs of all members of the fitness community to improve their overall health.

All of these results have meeting so just how when someone where is your balls and has one

earbud in and the other out it means that they’re likely willing to talk to you if you go up and ask

them questions or there working out with a workout partner or with a group of people who they

can then talk to encourage and advise knowing this is important and how one acts in the gym and

seek support within the community and one of the key elements of support is the Sundevil fitness

complex it’s self because it provides every piece of exercise equipment one could need

basketball courts group fitness classes and a pool so that it can appealed to the needs of any

member of the community to support them in improving their health Based on my research into
the fitness community’s cultural phenomena their central values are to the goals of themselves

and others when it comes to improving one’s health. According to Vinny Rockwell in todays day

and age there is a shift from reactive medicine to preventative medicine with this comes a

realization of the importance of fitness. Though Many people can become hesitant about

beginning a journey in fitness due to the common belief that those in the community are only in

it for themselves, hopefully this essay will help sway those on the edge about joining the

community away from this belief.

References
Acone, T. (2018, October 24). Personal interview.

Germaine, R. (2018, November 10). Personal interview.

Rockwell, V. (2018, November 20). Phone interview.

Montoya, E (2018, October 22). Personal interview.