Alec Vyshnevski believes it’s time for a new revolution.
In the late 19th century, doctors began to discover disease in affluent white collar workers and realized that a sedentary lifestyle was at the root of many of their problems. For the first time, physical activity was required and prescribed. In the 1950s, as the U.S. strove to be competitive with the USSR, another revolution in physical culture took place as governments began mandating athletic standards in schools.
Now, Alec is eager to encourage a new movement, one that encourages physical culture as a social project in community.
Alec, who is a trainer as well as a second-year UWaterloo science student, saw people going to the gym and working on personal fitness goals, but he also saw how much more people could accomplish and enjoy when they were surrounded by like-minded individuals pursuing athletic goals together.
Several years ago, Alec connected with a group of friends who trained together and who had similar athletic and fitness interests. Over time, the group grew and diversified. When their Facebook group hit 200 members, Alec and another trainer, Timothy Ponepal, decided it was time to actually formalize this movement into an organization.
Alec, who was already a St. Paul’s resident, sat down for lunch one day next to GreenHouse Director Tania Del Matto. Over a plate of chicken stir-fry and rice, Alec learned that GreenHouse was an incubator for social change – a community of people who wanted to make world a better place and who inspired one another. This resonated strongly with Alec, who was attracted by the idea of being part of a community where people could share ideas and inspire one another, the very philosophy that motivated his own idea for social change.
He applied and was accepted to GreenHouse for the winter 2015 term. “Tania and I meet weekly to discuss ideas,” says Alec. “She gives me feedback, ideas, and connects me with people working on similar projects.” Alec has appreciated peers who are also looking at prototyping their ideas or looking for means to secure funding, but he has also strongly valued getting to know more people at St. Paul’s who are looking to make positive change in the world. “It’s been a very supportive environment.”
So far, Gravity Chamber has hosted training sessions in a variety of physical endeavours — from gymnastic rings to kettlebell juggling — but they are in the process of shaping their future plans, which may include a physical culture podcast, programs with underprivileged children and youth, producing free outdoor fitness training facilities in the Kitchener-Waterloo area, developing a website to promote physical culture, a social fitness app and other ideas still in development.
“We're trying to create an open and inclusive community where everyone feels welcome. People often get intimidated by physical activity or think that they are not good enough. People don’t try new activities because they lack experience, don't have any friends that do it or don't have time. Ultimately we're trying to resolve these issues and help people of all demographics and skill levels to help each other become more active.”
Whether he is talking about the Gravity Chamber community or the GreenHouse community, Alec says, “When people participate in an activity together, there are physiological and psychological benefits that increase your human potential and your capacity to enjoy life.”
- by Susan Fish