Bullying – how to be part of the solution

Millions of people are victims everyday worldwide because the simple matter of being who they are, not looking like the predominant social standard.

 

 

May the gyms or training fields be other places where the stalkers can find new victims, or insist with who are already?  The answer is yes – it’s going to depend on you, trainer, this stops or corrects.

 

The bullying consists in, during a lapse of time, stalking somebody purposed to injure the self-esteem, or forcing to segregate out from a bunch of people. The agressions can be physical, psychological, verbal, sexual, social, an even laboral (mobbing).

 

The reason why you must not allow the bullying in your gym or training field is as simple as the attendants go to learn, perfect by contending themselves. So, if you detect the competitive spirit opens a chance to the aggression to the contender, you must stop the situation immediately.

 

The ideal would be your place has a clear written regardin rule (for example: bullyin is not allowed here). But the truth is that, whether a rule or not, the stalkers ever will look for the way to injure. That’s why we give you here some urgent ideas you can apply while the parties look for specialized professional advisory for healing that situation.

 

 

As a trainer:

• Have clear your behavior rules: They must be based upon the respect, they must be shown with right facts. If your pupils see you stalk, although you reprimend them, they’ll understand they have an understood permission to stalk.
• Choose carefully the ways you are going to encourage your pupil: It’s not the best idea comparing to other ones, or, if he doesn’t do the routines with the intensity you expect, the better would be asking why his performance is not the wished before disqualifying him.
• Don’t do a party with the stalkers neither the victim: More than neutral, remind them you are the leader in the room or at the field, so if they are not capable to respect themselves, they respect on you at least. You don’t have to scream it but to say it straight.
• Don’t ignore the aggression, don’t encourage it neither: Make the gym or the training field to be a kind place for everyone. But neither act like nothing happens because the indifference, in this case, is more dangerous than any kind of action due to it can get like agreement or complicity.

 

 

Against the stalker(s):

• Once you have identified who stalk, talk one by one and in private. Your message has to be clear and straight – at least inside the gym or the training field, that behavior is not allowed.
• If the Stalker(s) relapse(s), call the attention in public. The message and the tone must be exactly the same. If you can add you are not going to tolerate it once again, that could work.
• If both previous rules don’t work and your gym or training field has a written anti-bullying policy, apply the top penalty.
• Never let the stalkers join you into their party. Usually, who stalk empower when they make the victim to believe it’s not about their bunch but there are much more people beside them. When you say them you are not part of the aggression, this begins to weaken.
• If the Stalker(s) is (are) under legal age, contact the parents or tutors and explain the situation as well as your position about.
• Don’t add exhausting training routines as a punishment. The true penalty for the stalker(s) is not doing two additional sets or staying 30 minutes more but to have restricted access to the place or services you offer.
• It’s probable the stalkers cancel their membership or fee. Don’t see it like a lose – see it like an affirmative action which looks for protecting the positive experience of working out at the gym or the training field.

 

 

With the victim:

• Talk in private, let clear he must take action to block the aggressions in an assertive way, and that you don’t see any reason for he to ashame, feel fear or guilt.
• If he needs to talk to you, give the proper space and time. Remember you are the leader at the gym or training field. So, if you’re not trustworthy, who more he could vent with what he feels? Check out this guide if you need more orientation.
• It’s not enough to say “you gotta be strong”. It’s necessary to give effective, smart ideas to accomplish it. If you own the proper psychological or pedagogic resources, offer them. If not, refer the victim to specialized professional advisory – the most is free.
• Regarding the previous, never advise to respond the aggression with a larger aggression – the violence only borns more violence, and you’ll get more bruised in the end.
• Don’t revictimize – don’t expose the victim to a new aggression, in other words. Don’t overprotect, neither.
• Use the training to provide confidence and courage. But that doesn’t mean exhausting but teaching to feel proud of the achievements, understanding they all were reached based upon the own effort. It’s a very practical way to go educating on self- esteem.
• If we have recommended you not to be part of the stalking party, neither join a party with the victim. Keep in the middle but open to ssolve the conflicts breaking out between both parties.
• And don’t forget if the victim is under legal age, contact the parents or tutors to coordinate a supporting circle providing tools and resources to overcome the aggression episodes.
• If the victim decides to cancel his fee or membership, give the time and the space. Probably, he needs it to think better about the issue. Indeed, let clear the doors are ever open.

 

If you need more orientation, write us on our Twitter account or our e-mail: chulucanasgym@gmail.com

  

My Profile – Wílmer Talledo “Romario”

The muscles of the hunter

How to help when somebody has a problem

By ChulucanasGym

The existent public pressure over a bodybuilder or an athlete in general could be as high as this person had built a brand, and that brand means achievement, knowledge, or popularity. But the problem comes in when the carácter over that pressure is applied is not ever consonant to the person playing that role, and when it happens, the reaction could be self-destructive.

When that comes to happen, the reaction of the public uses to be mixed according to the degree of sympathy or antipathy to the character, which has to born, grow, and keep many times  in a vertiginous way, responsing much to the market commandments in spite of the own processes of personal building. And the justification of many athletes is that, before everything, they have to response to a sponsor, if they have one, or adapting to the conditions a potential sponsor imposes them, if they find one. And if the person has not been prepared mentally for understanding those exigences and knowing until what point he can put a limit, the frustration, the sadness, the anxiety can manifest anywhere until blasting in different grades.

Many sports careers got frustrated when that no-return point has manifested suddenly or become public, and if the self-destructive trend was already manifested on the top of the wave, it can be stressed once it breaks and the vicious circle ends to sink who be inside it again and again.

That’s how much important the psychological assistance is key in the work and life of any athlete. However, many sponsorship programmes don’t include it and many trainers or people recognized as mentors don’t have all the tools for serving as an emotional support because they think it is not a part of the work, because they think it corrects alone, or because they are also into that self-destructive trend. And what is worst, the own bodybuilders and athletes prescind of this kind of service alleging they are not mad nor freak.

Then, the key here is breaking up that vicious circle and the work is not only bodybuilder’s or athlete’s. It also has to be his possé, particularily other bodybuilders or athletes having some clarity for detecting when someone as them begins to bring down, and could be gathering energy that can blast in the less expected moment. As this problem uses to be more common than many people think, although they don’t speak about it, we go to draw here a possibly useful protocol for you.

If somebody claims for help is because somebody needs help

A basic rule consists in differentiate between the person who needs help and the person who looks ffor help. The first one shows evident signs that his things are going wrong but prefers to keep them inside or prefers to ignore them. The second one learns that something goes wrong, like a lost ship, and he ever will be seeing who can help him from the shore for correcting the course. Get focused in this second group of people because they are who really would get out the hole.

Then, if you see that somebody seems to be in trouble, keep expectant and try that he has it in clear. A friendly “you ever stand by me” said privately will be enough at all for that person in trouble to be aware of, when he decides to step ahead, he really will have whom ststands by. Of course, don’t make them empty or diplomatic words but a real promise.

So, what to do if the person needs help and doesn’t look for it. Unless you think you are enough able to asume a whole adbisory and companion process, the best is waiting for him to change his attitude. If you still think you have to pitch him a “you ever stand by me”, do it, but don’t feel frustrated if nothing happens after the “thanks”.

If you are in trouble, look for someone who is going to say you the clear things to get it out, not who is going to say you what you want to hear and cheating you that nothing is happening.

Detect the phrases, anticipate the main topics

Very few people uses to ask for help with the “This happens to me, I need some advice” formula. Generally, the person uses to project the problem and uses a formula like “What do you do if this could happen to you.”Surely if the person uses the first formula, means his decision to face and solve his problem is strong… although this is very relative.

Whatever the formula is, the first you must do before replying is to verify if the space is right and the time is enough (see the next step). If the answer is affirmative, try to answer sincerely and briefly. Remember that, at the moment, who has the problem is the another person. Although that doesn’t remove you ccan be passing through the same too, or another different situation, it could be right you learn to respect each individual case.

If the space and the time are not adequate, act sensitively. A “It’s a very interesting question and I’d like to answer it, but would you like if we talk about it much calm?” can work, maybe underlined by a gesture meaning “it’s not good to talk here”, a warm hand on the shoulder, and a smile. Yes, all that is a powerful pain relieving.

Another thing you must consider is anticipating to that person is going to tell you. Put in every scenario, imagine the phrases he can release, and prepare answers (look below in those tips). There’s no worst feedback for that person than putting a face of surprise, devastation, or thriller.  You simply will contribute to stress the idea that he has no relief, and that’s not true – not first hand. Surely it works better if you know to keep your mind open. If not, the best will be you say a “I got it – may we talk about it later?”, and solved case.

Unlink the world, relink inside

Once you agree to meet for talking about the problem, you have to consider two things: first, having all the possible time for the person to expand; second, the place where you are going to meet has none distraction. Also, regarding the technologic hegemony, it has to be a space and time you can prescind it at the most.

It’s not a social meeting, it’s a private conversation, so while the less distracting elements you have, you could concentrate more into the issue. Consider it’s about a respectful attitude to that person, himself, and yourself. If you are going to depend on a turned-on cellphone, the best is you take it another time later, because there’s not much baffling than opening the heart and suddenly a call or a message impossible to elude break up the whole thread.

About the time, obviously look for that one when you have nothing to do. The weekends are ideal because they are ever dedicated to rest. About the place, as we said, look for somewhere that avoids the distractions and that favors the comfortability of the another person in all case, not the yours. Although our advice is looking for a place like the countryside or a beach, if the person feels more comfortable indoors, respect his decision.

The first time is for relieving

When somebody has a problem and never has spoken about it to somebody else, experiences something called catharsis or releasing the inner me. The worst you can do is to cut off this process, so let it happens without interruption. Allow that person to take confidence, relieving what he feels, going to build his story or his argument totally free until he takes everything off. That’s why we insisted on the importance to care the space and the time.

If you detect he has difficulty to do that catharsis but he wants to experience it, you could create some kind of a simple task helping to that purpose. If you learned meditation exercises, those use to be pretty good. If you don’t know both techniques, you can write us down at chulucanasgym@gmail.com for bringing you some ideas.

About your body language, what the psychologists recommend is you set comfortabily as close as you trust each one, face-to-face as well as besides. It’s important there is an intimacy environment that favors to relieve. If your degree of trust is high (especially if you’re buddies), a hand on the shoulder or an arm over both shoulders with a quiet face are amazing, so don’t miss to experience the physical contact. But if the person rejects it, don’t insist.

Listen to without judging

We said before that one of the things you must do when somebody asks your for help is to anticipate for knowing how to react. It’s not about filling with prejudges, it’s about making you stronger to provide right the required help. So, when that person begins to relieve and wwhile he does it, don’t disturb him to say if what he did or said was good or bad, just let him to do his process. Once he finishes, you can evaluate caring to be very sensitive and firm at the same time.

We said before you need to have a widest mind for facing what he has to tell you, and in this respect, consider that any controversial issue can appear in the conversation. In our experience, the probable scenarios forming very hard emotional charges for any person are: his family or economic situation, consumption of forbidden or addictive substances, some chronic health condition, stalking or violence, some legal trouble, a repressed sexual orientation, or a few conventional, extra-spor either, job decision.

It could be complicated here to say you how to react before each scenario because the problems are different from person to person. However, we insist that your serenity, your strength, your affection, and your common sense (especially) are going to be much helpful.

Advise honestly, learn to set limits

One of the most valuable things  when you expose your point of view is saying what you think honestly, not what the another person would expect to listen, if not why did he look for you? However, even when the another person has the whole intention to solve the problem, it’s probable he sets some resistance in the beginning. If that happens, don’t work on him to change his mind because it will be worst. Just expose your point of view, let him that after the conversation, to meditate himself and to take the most adequate action course.

Once both of you have nothing more to talk, close the moment naturally, friendly, happy, that the whole moment you stood feels like something releasing, not like something uploading more for you or for that person because it’s not about it.

If both of you think a session won’t be enough, arrange a new meeting for talking and hearing as the role is, but indeed, warn him of your available time for a sense of respect also exists from his own process. Remember him you will agree to listen to him, thank him for trusting in you, encourage him for stepping to solve what concerns him. This has to be clear everyway. The same thing about the personal spaces - You can’t invade  them when any of both wants so!

Don’t let for any reason that your participation turns into a dependence of any kind. That would be harming for real. One thing is the humankind and the sense of solidarity, but one another is taking advantage for submitting body and soul. Don’t allow that, and wwhen you feel that is happening, stop it and take the best decision for both, including to get out apart.

Your help doesn’t replace the professional help

As we said in the beginning, many bodybuilders and athletes prescind a professional assistance from a psychologist or a psychiatrist, just in case. But they are also clear that in many times of their life they require to have their mind healthy (as much as or more than their body). It’s that time when your help as an emotional support works right. However, one thing you must have very clear is you don’t replace the work of a psychologist or a psychiatrist, unless you are, what means a double advantage for who asks your for help. But if you are not both proffesionists, your work consists in complementing and supporting the therapies or the treatments when they are ordered.

In that sense, your responsibility as an emotional support is including into your advisory package  that the person asking you for help to attend one of those health specialists. Inclusive you could go with him the day of the consult.

So, no all the cases have to end before a psychologist or a psychiatrist, but those ones what your resources as a support and the resources of that person for healing himself are limited, when you sincerely see there is a barrier  that the simple advice is not going to overcome. That’s when one has to be brave and accepting the professional assistance.

If in your community there’s no sports psychologist, look if there are clinic psychologists or psychiatric doctors. It’s good to have their phone numbers so easy and ask for references to serious persons for the sessions to be really healing, because –it’s good to say- many mental health specialists use to be badly mad than an average guy.

Educate about, accumulate wisdom

Do you remember when we talked about anticipating to the conversation? It’s probable this step you make base don the information you already know, but how much accurate is that information? If you are who loves to read everything and to have a general culture above the average, it’s probable you get more criteria width to understand what the person asking you for help is going to say you. That affords much.

However, no matter how much you anticipate, there will be issues out of your range. It’s not your fault because we can’t know or guess all. When that happens, help inside your skills, but get committed to search and learn about the issue on reliable sources that you can find now even on the Internet. If you get that researching and educating process to be made with the person asking you for help, the better. It’s probable that both realize that the solution was much more simple to find.

Anyway, have a time and a space to continue learning about the issue that involves the person asking you for help. If possible, ask serious specialists, try to educate around you, especially your training place – you know very well it’s one of the places where the prejudges are abundant, and many times the ignorance kills more than the own problem. Even it can save your own life.

Remember you’ll help to solve a problem, not that you are going to solve the problem on behalf of the another person

As we said before, a fatal mistake when an emotional support is provided is letting the person who asks you for help to leave the whole problem up for you to solve him, or generating dependence ties through that person is not going to move a finger unless you request it. Both scenarios are not adequate nor healthy, so you have to avoid them from the beginning of the process.

A “Look – I’m going to help you as much as I can, but who is going to solve the problem is you” said friendly, firmly since the first moment is a good beginning. Never let to include this disclaimer. In the same way, when you feel that person pitches you a “Do it on behalf of me” or similar formulas, you answer with the same attitude something like “That wwas not we agreed” or “It’s like you would be Mr. Universe but I work out instead of you.”

Ever encourage the person that although you can give some tips or ideas to find a solution for the problem, its that person who has the exclusive responsibility to solve it. Don’t give up to the emotional blackmail  of “If you were my friend” or “But you said me.” Remember him and remember that every guy has freedom to take own decisions, so the success or the defeat are on their hand, not your hands, nor nobody’s hands.

What he says you is a secret

One of the requirements of any emotional support is the confidentiality. Everything talked, the way how reacted, the content of the conversation is something that must keep only between you. Nobody else has the right to know it, and it’s the person asking for help who has to decide who and how shares it to what is happening him anyway.

Even if the contact is made by social media (what is a valid possibility), never go to use the virtual public spaces for making contact or advising. Instead, use the chat, that offers some privacy, although as much as you can, the better is the face-to-face contact.

If you have to congratulate the person for advancing on the process or closing it, try to be in private. If the person, despite your caution, wants his problem to become public, is his right. Decide too if you want to get out to the open as the person who helpsbut make it whenever the another person request it to you. Never take the initiative to highlight yourself because you’ll bring down all the healing process and it will be seen as a very disgusting action.

As everytime, any doubt you have, wwrite us down at chulucanasgym@gmail.com or follow us on our Twitter account.

The ChulucanasGym founder team appears on this entry.

Thanks! An athlete must be good in discipline, must form a possitive attitude too.

By ChulucanasGym
Model and photographs by Ronald Benites.

One of the problems many athletes face is the anonimity because they have no clarity on a personal branding-&-publicity strategy, because they don't get to catch the attention of mass media as well. And when you are not public, who will be following about the things you do and get?

If you are in that bunch, your choices are discouraging or continuing to fight.  If you choose the second one, you can do it from the resentment -attitude that the most adopt wrongly- or you can do it from the enthusiasm itself; from the conviction you are superating your own limits, you can break the records as well.

How much does this count in an athlete? It has much to count, because as much as how you go educating and displaying your attitude, that much you will know  to asume your results and setting new challenges. If you ever keep possitive, the victories and the defeats will mean learning. If you trend to be negative instead, everything wwill generate you anxiety and you will live in a constant frustration status.

Of course your possé has much to count in the formation of a possitive or a negative attitude, and you must have the sufficient intelligence in that sense for realising when that pulls you, when that harms you. Depending on the answer, you must be too brave to step ahead or stop in your spot.

Coming next, some advice you can apply for creating a possitive attitude, based upon the experience of many peoplelike you, living with and within the sport, and who can superate through this.

Being Kind Is Free
They say the two expressions those open doors are "please" and "thanks" ("push" and "pull" are not)., and this is the key of your whole success - the respect. As much as you treat well to the people, the people will treat you well... or the most, at least.

The ameability is the skill you get to have your life well-mannered, with affection, deserving the care of the rest. Although being kindis remembered in the same level than being rude, the ameability presets favorabily the people for listening to you and helping you in what you need. Inclusive if the person doesn't have the capability of solving your problem turning it under control, be sure that your good treatment could commit that person to allow you for finding  and answer, a solution, or simply for that person does you that favor  you need in the best possible way.

Being kind also attracts the people and puts the spotlight on you. And as an athlete, one of the things you must be more focused about is the support , being just cheers, being to get a little different complex things as a sponsorship. It also allows you to have certain concessions in services you use to take. An athlete ever causes admiration, but a kind athlete  will be ever the person whom everybody will want to suport what they can.

And ever and forever, do it because you feel is right. The people use to realize, soon or late, when your attitude is real or when it's just a disguise.

Humble But Not Shy
The humility is the own recognizement of everything you are capable, thinking you're not much or less important than the rest. It's simply about how much great you can become, what costed you work to get, not making you haughty, disparaging, or arrogant, what could be its worst opposite edge.

The another negative edge of the humility is the shyness, the feeling you have of not deserving what you have got or the recognizement you receive, what borns from your own insecurity. And this is the keyword of all this advice.

If you shine with your own light (not lended, not stolen), don't fear the rest realizes it. Simply shine.  Don't mistake  turning off that bright because you will regret  in the future, or you will feed  a dumb aprehension against the rest because they don't give you such a space or chance.
The first trick is you learn to love yourself with everything you have for better or for worst, for recognizing you can improve the good and correct the bad, and feeling proud (not arrogant) for every task you are getting.

Do you remember of saying thanks? If they recognize it, thank it, don't get focused out of yourself, chase your next goal.  And when you get it, repeat the procedure. And this advice applies too for social media, no matter how many followers you got (what is relative) , telling them what you're achieving, thanking when the people appreciate it feeds your soul and prepares your body to step ahead much gladly.

If the people don't recognize it to you, take it easy, analyze if it's about a hard critic or simple envy. Anyway, don't let that disencourage you. Turn it into a fuel to go to the infinite and beyond.

Your Privacy Has Limits
everybody highlighting everything public, sports inclusive, could generate restlessness and curiosity. Its natural and even legitimate.  The question is how longer those restlessness and curiosity can reach. Answer: Until you allow it.

Set up access rings and deserve the people with access priviledges to your life according to the trust grade you go developing with them: the intimate, that only matters you, the private, that usually counts on your inner possé, the public, that can be known by the rest.

Never mistake letting a circle invading anoter one because when you lose control of the access, neither yourself will realize what belongs whose, when too. Yes, you'll end so confused like that.

Don't give your full trust to the people approaching to you. In some sense, first study them carefully. If possible, request for reliable references to the people who proved a more objective vision, and go slow on those lands. Just the same applies for social media.

Your Possé Has Not To Be Toxic
Talking about the people around you, a mistake we use to make is interacting with people who feed our ego so much, that  when we meet wisest people, we think they are attacking on us. In the other side, we have the people who seem to give us an Algebra or Aritmethics books - problems after problems.

Have the enough clarity to detect when your possés begin to become toxic, poisonous, polluting. When things are not clear for you, have the courage for requesting somebody trustable (not toxic) for helping you to see the situation, not to solve the problem on behalf of you.

The healthy thing in those cases is leaving out the toxic possés and migrate to others  which you can grow in a  balanced way. It will be difficult, but remember you  made to going the difficult back, so it has much to to with courage for taking a radical decision.

That applies not only to people but environment. If you can leave them behind, it would be the recommendable. if not, setting them up as much as  you have a quiet place to rest, at least. The same with your social media.

Goals Take Time
everybody repeats it to you, but it's also true that everybody looks for this to get short as much as possible, and the mistake is right there. In the effort to made everything more inmediate, many people end to skip steps, harming them long-term that can destroy, inclusive, their own life.

Use to step at time and standing up firm when you get it. Then step next. Although the temptation to skip is present everytime, even you can, it's better to go step by step.

Obviously, this means to invest time overall, but the virtue of every athlete is the perseverance, get focused on something until reaching it. Check out back what we put about humility, just in case.

Here is good to remember the power of Not once proving that, in fact, the idea or the proposal  is not the best one. Yes, you'll have to develop your skill to analyze the things cold head. It doesn't get inmediatly, neither, and it's possible you mistake in the beginning. Do it because the mistakes teach too, or the mistakes especially teach instead.

Diversify
If you heard somebody advising you (especially your parents) to have in mind something additional to the sport, consider it. Remember tat even if you are exclusively dedicated to it, the sport has a limited life among your whole life, and what will you do when that moment comes on?

Many athletes have one or more additional proffessions, those practice paralelly or once  their cycle has finished. Inclusive, if you thought to open your own academy, gymnasium, or training school, don't you think it would be useful to have some managing or accountability course?

It's recommendable you be a proffessional in the sport you do, and actually many federations worldwide offer official courses and certifications  those give you more weight... proffessional, we mean. Also, it's not a bad idea to make an alliance with with some university or institute for creating extension courses targetting the same purpose.

Now, if your choices are out the sports field, prepare for them so  if you have to assume them, you do  with the required competence. Look! Puting on your resumé you're a qualified athlete, raise scores. We promise it.

Healthy Body In Healthy Mind
Yes, we know the quote is in reverse, but this variant also applies in the formation of your attitude. Because it's not only about reaching an outstanding physique but that goes aside with emotions management, solving your problems adequatly, learning to get related with the persons possitively, and -why not- setting free of prejudge (anticipated ideas) or stereotypes (tagging the people without knowing them).

A big part of your physical performance depends on how much you have your mind prepared. When one of them is unbalanced, unbalances everything.
Your mental work passes not only by receiving a adequate and specialized proffessional advice (a psychologist, sports-specialized if possible), but you take the necessary time for going to work out your mind through  neuroprogramming or meditation. Some people will prefer to trust in the power of the pray, what also allows you  to project toward a spiritual dimension. Do it because it also works.

The reading or doing other productive hobbies will also help you to gro up your mind and acquire new knowledge you can add into the practice of your sport or discipline. Ultimately, it's not only about to be skillful but wise.

You Lose If Stressed
As a next consequence, learn to detect when your stress level raises much than it doesn't affect mentally only, phisically too. And if it affects you physically, your performance could fall down. However, learn to work under pressure. That's why the most experienced athletes themselves advice you to dedicate to the sport you like much for you can process those stress levels in a possitive way, avoiding you to disencourage, what could be awful.

[READ ALSO: The 7 tips of Pedro Bautista.]

Laugh, sing, dance. Make something that take you out the stress zone, that sets your mind free, so being easy to retake the focusing when needed, and learn that your resting times are to rest.

Your Opinion Matters... And Inspires!
everything you learn in your training, competition process, and in general everything around your athlete' life can be an interesting life leson going beyond the sports. Don't miss the chance to share that learning with the people, especially the new generations, who are ever looking for a model to follow.

In the same way, we remind you not to miss the chance for using the media to share that wisdom. Although they could be interested on the number of medals or your next sports event, don't fear to add something new to your statements that generates top stories. If you have any regarding doubt, contact us for advicing you.

If you are identified to any social cause, don't doubt to give it time and put your image, incorporating your experience as an athlete for getting more people to adopt possitive attitude. From washing the hands correctly to campaigns against bullying and discrimination, a cause is ever waiting for you to empower.

Continué à courir, Champion!

EXCLUSIVE by ChulucanasGym.

It wasn’t easy to cross the Atlantic for him, even when he’d wanted to do it on his bicycle. Only supported by his family, Hugo Ruíz arrived to the south of France for havinh a more specialized training, after being invited by a local club.

Now, Chulucanas, Peru-native cyclist runs in Aurillac, a town with about 25000 inhabitants, below the Alpes, in a terrain going from 500 to 800 meters altitude. Inside some 20 sq km, tempered weather the most of the year… no comparison to his hot homeland!

- What do you like of Aurillac?

- What I like of Aurillac is that it’s very good to run because of its variety of topography, that helps me so much in my training.

- How did you do to adapt to this place?

- The truth itself is I adapted to the place fast. People is very kind and the city is very pretty. Actually, what it costed some weeks to me was the time zone change.

[Peru is GMT-5 and France is GMT+1.]

- How is your day here?

- Normally, everyday is the same. [laughs]Training, resting, and take advantage to read or study about something.

- What differences do you find out to your routine in Peru?

- Basically, my routine is the same to Peru. The only difference is I run more often here every week. In Peru, there were 1-2 runnings per month, normally.

- What’s that you miss a lot from Peru?

- I miss my family a lot.

- When your season ends here, what are your inmediate plans?

- Finishing, I need to have some rest, some vacations, then starting my preparation for the next season.

Post-produced by Sheyla Benavente.

Let's Return To Nature

By Ronald Benites

There is a place where all the effort and sacrifice we display at the gym is tested - the natural mean, outdoors, right there where electtricity and technology are limited use, where we are among the Creation.

Very few of us remember, or want to remember, that much before wireless and smartphones existed, human beings had to be in-shape for going amid the forests, the mountains, and the water, looking for our livelihood. It was necessary to be well fed but also having strong and flexible muscles for moving forward fastly, sagaciously, successfully. Despite it, surviving was impossible.

Inclusive when we were setting down as human settlements as towns or first cities, constant physical activity was basic to sustain our life.

As our knowledge allowed the technology developed muchly, we also were losing the connection to tat mean where we encourage or were encouraged to survive. In some sense, the confort of a roof or the immediacy of a click have been taking off our ancestral spaces, and altough we try to recreate few yards away our homes or inside them, it's not the same.

So, for who works out hard constantly at the gym or a sportscenter, the return to Nature must not be considered as an extravagant but necessary activity, not like an extraordinary milestone but a frequent habit.

The reason is so simple as the contact to Nature revitalize us when breathing pure air, forcing to be in constant physical activity, solving our lacks with creativity, getting amazed by the processes and interactions of living beings to the landscape... because we came from there and we have to return there as often as we can for cleaning our soul.

We could say that unfortunately our urban spaces drown our natural spaces much more everytime, but we are responsible in some sense about that process when we refuse to propose an ordered growing and a more rational exploitation of the environment, and the manner we live.

So it's desirable that we must incorporate the respect and conservation of our natural spaces where we can intervene preventively for our physical, mental, and even spiritual health, also demanding our basic services to be correctly implemented and satisfied. Spaces where we can practice physical activity and sports, meditate, produce healthy food, and even follow therapies of diverse kind too.

Our actual or aspirant authorities have there a straight interesting agenda item they must not skip but promoting, managing and defending.

Personally, I enjoy a lot being in contact to Nature. I feel I clean my soul, and there are fortunately many spaces around Chulucanas, my city, where I can reload myself after going some minutes up by walking, running, or biking (actually, the pictures of myself on this article were taken in this place).

But I confess  I have a big predilection by the mountains, abouth those I am going to feel ever wondered.  You know. Maybe become living there some day further, eating tasty and healthy, working out my body and soul while listening to the animals or the creeks' water in the background... in the end, returning to that space where the human learned once upon a time to be human.