Somewhere, a Nazi is Exercising. Are you?

I saw this once in a Reddit post about leftist prepping, and it stuck with me. I am…not very good at exercising. Routines are antithetical to my brain. I am not in particularly good shape. But as we look forward to the next few years I’m hoping this can be some motivation to work on my health and fitness.

It is genuinely so important to work on fitness as a means of resistance. And I don’t just mean being strong enough to punch nazis, though of course knowing how to throw a punch and take a punch is certainly valuable, especially for those who intend to be “on the front lines,” putting their bodies between fascists and the oppressed. But there’s so much more to being fit. Having the cardio and flexibility to run and the stamina for an all-day protest. Being able to carry a bag of essentials or medical supplies long distances. Being able to hold a door, or a shield, or a barricade against agitators if necessary. I consider myself a pacifist, but as it’s been said: If you claim to be a pacifist, but are not at least capable of violence, you’re just harmless. And we as a force of resistance cannot afford to be harmless.

And of course it’s not just about the implementation of fitness. Exercise for its own sake is well documented to help with things like stress, depression, and anxiety – all things I’m sure many people on the left are dealing with in the wake of Trumps reelection. Cardio especially helps with cortisol levels, it helps improve sleep quality, and it can just be a centering experience. We need every avenue for mental health we can get, especially if access to healthcare gets gutted and it becomes prohibitively expensive to see a therapist. Running is free.

Now, I don’t have any exercise routines for you. Like I said up top, I’m in pretty bad shape right now myself. I’m sure you can find TONS of good options for every level of experience, health, and theme. Heck, there’s a movement in NYC called “The Swole Left” that I’m sure isn’t the only gym out there catering toward political resistance.

At the end of the day, it’s about effectiveness. If we want to be an effective political force, we can’t be sedentary or weak. And the left purports to be a safe refuge for the disabled, the elderly, and those who may otherwise be unable to protect themselves. Anyone who CAN train their bodies to be part of that protection has a responsibility to do so.

Me included. I guess I’ll see you at the gym?

~Inchoate Clay