By: Gabriela Yareliz
I love to try things. I am a curious raccoon, if you will. There are types of supplements where I have tried them all. The language learning platforms— I have basically tried them all. Something else I have tried a bunch of are fitness platforms.
I have talked about this in the past. I am picky when it comes to who I work out with. What am I looking at when I try a program or platform? I pay attention to the music and sound of the program. Does the person have good taste in music? Is the mic going in and out? Is the person quiet and then suddenly wildly loud? Do they talk a lot? Do I like their voice? Are they yelling at me? What is the vibe? Do they seem rushed? Are they anxious? Do they discuss form? Do they have issues they make public? Do they do strenuous workouts but have a period that has been missing for ten years? Do they have variety and innovation? I get bored easily. Am I paying money to do the same thing over and over again? These are the things I am thinking about.
I am particular when it comes to wellness. I believe strongly in maintaining top mind and body because I strongly believe our mind is what connects us to God.
Recently, I tried two new fitness programs. I won’t name them, but it’s not hard to know which ones if you do your research. One was an established fitness trainer who has dedicated decades to research, and she creates new choreographies. She doesn’t talk during workouts. Her taste in music is top. The other experience, trainer #2, was different. She yells in a voice that does not match her general vibe. It felt militant. The music was weird, like the type you don’t have to pay a license fee for. The movements were done in a spastic manner, and yet, weirdly the movement style itself was similar to trainer #1.
This last platform left me not wanting to go back to it or go past the free trial. What was interesting was that it left me so weirded out, I started looking into it. (Curiosity killed the cat, but not me). What I found was more than interesting. Apparently, the creator and trainer in the last platform discussed (trainer #2) used to work for the first trainer. Then, she left and started a platform that was a fraction of the price with similar movements. There was legal action from her former employer against her for infringement of copyright of the choreographies. The employer lost, as these legal things are tricky (currently being appealed— they settled out of court for breach of contract, though), but it all sort of suddenly came together for me.
This post really isn’t about the fitness platforms; it’s about the reality in life. In life, there are people who take and imitate. The vibes are off, and they seem to be something they are not. The way they move is a copy of something else. It sits superficially above the water. It’s the cheaper version. And as some Reddit posts will reveal, lots of people are ok with cheaper versions and imitations. That seems to be a theme now with luxury items. People are ok with a fake Gucci.
But then, there is the real deal. The real reals, we will call them. They are the creators. The ones who show up as themselves. They cost a lot more, but there is an expertise that backs it. There is authenticity. They know the intention and meaning of every movement and every word. It’s original.
The world is filled with imitations and the real. And let me tell you, when you are faced with both, if you have taken the time to do your homework, you can tell the difference. It’s like when I worked at the store— they trained you on what a real $20 dollar bill looks like so you can spot the counterfeit. We have to do this in everything in life. It’s one of the most important things we can teach children.
Life requires discernment. It goes way beyond a fitness platform and getting the body you want. It’s about all decisions including the people we allow around us. Is what/who we are choosing in alignment with our values?
We’ve all fallen for the counterfeit on accident. It’s part of life. But when you find the real deal, don’t let it go.
May we all choose to be the real real. The world doesn’t need more fakes.
GABRIELA YARELIZ 