» Canadian Forum
Altruistic FITNESS E
very year, I make it a goal to complete at least two fitness ex- cursions. One of these is orga- nized for clients at my Toronto
fitness centre, Think Fitness Studios. For the second excursion, I have teamed up with colleague Bryce Wylde to form a charity-based expedition ini- tiative called BryceandBrentGiveBack. com. This year Bryce and I decided to cycle across Cuba with a group of 15 other cyclists.
vehicles on the road, which made cycling easy. As we made our way from Jibacoa to Matanzas, we passed through villages separated by fruit or- chards, sugar plantations, tree-lined avenues and rolling hillsides. The road conditions proved to be quite technical and challenging as most of the route was strewn with potholes and obstacles. Moving from the coast through the centre of the island, there was a noticeable temperature climb to- ward the mid-30s heightened by the relentless and unobstructed sun beat- ing down on us. We passed through the small town
of Santa Clara, taking just enough time to snap a picture with the monument of the iconic political activist Che Guevara. From Santa Clara we cycled through Cienfuegos, which sits facing the Caribbean Sea which has attracted pirates through the ages. Probably the most challenging por-
tion of our five-day journey was the final eight kilometres of continuous hills that took us to a scenic oasis in Habanilla. Our last day took us 110 kilometres to the magnificent Sierra del Escambray before finally reaching Trinidad on the southern coast. This challenge was a true experi-
“Aligning an altruistic purpose to an event…brings a much deeper meaning to preparing for it.” - Brent Bishop
The experience We began our journey in the his-
torical capital of Havana with of goal of ending in the town of Trinidad some 500 kilometres later. Riding through Havana was like
going back in time; most of the cars were large, bright coloured American Chevys and Buicks from before the Revolution. Outside Havana there were few
46 Fitness Business Canada May/June 2014
ence that included tough terrain and long tiring days intermixed with cul- ture and historical learning. We put our fitness to the test as we enjoyed an incredible country rich with cul- ture, generous people and amazing topography.
Find your “why” For us, the most important part of this adventure was our charity.
It is
not only the destination that drives fitness results – the destination is just the “what” associated with the fitness goal. What truly drives results is the “why.” Our “why” was Oxfam Canada, “a
network that empowers individuals, communities and organizations to build a future free from the injustice of poverty where the rights of women are
Combining charity work with fitness goals can help kickstart and maintain motivation BY BRENT BISHOP
promoted and respected.” Whether your goals are aesthetical-
ly driven, performance driven or pure- ly health related, we all want to look, feel and perform at our best. One of the biggest obstacles to making goals a reality is a lack of meaningfulness to a goal. Motivation though inspiration is a
concept that rings true for me and my fitness business; you can’t maintain motivation without inspiration. The problem is that the initial inspiration of losing weight, gaining muscle or re- habilitating an injury is short lived. Once you lose this, your momentum is stifled and it is easy to fall short of your goals.
Get motivated Consistently attaching goals to an
event destination that challenges hab- its serves as a great instigator to get moving and keep moving. Aligning an altruistic purpose to an event takes it one step further by bringing a much deeper meaning to preparing for it. Knowing that I would be cycling
in intense heat over rolling Cuban countryside forced me to get on a bike and start preparing. And also know- ing that my fundraising efforts would be helping to end poverty and elevate women’s rights brought more pow- er to my actions (and kept me mov- ing up those hills when my legs were burning!). With this event I was able to ele-
vate my cycling performance and fit- ness level while experiencing a jour- ney with an amazing group of people working toward a common goal. There is nothing more rewarding than push- ing yourself to achieve a challenge knowing that you are supporting a much greater cause. So what’s your next challenge? FBC
Brent Bishop is a celebrity trainer, on-air fit- ness expert, author and owner of Think Fitness Studios. For more information, visit www.
IamBishop.com. Support or join the next chal- lenge at
www.BryceandBrentGiveBack.com
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