Running head: [Support of The Fitness Community]

[Support of The Fitness community]

[Eli Cummings]

Arizona State University

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Abstract

[My research was to find how the people of the fitness community support each other. The

people in this community is anyone who is looking to improve their overall well being. In my

research i visited one location went to four events and interviewed one person.]

Keywords​: [Improve, support]

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[Title]

Section 1, Question Bank

Through my research i would like to learn more about who and what makes up the fitness

community. I want to learn what makes it a community. Why someone would be apart of this

community and how people support each other in this community.

“Central Research Question”

What make the fitness community a community?

“General Inquiry/Observation Questions”

“General Interview Questions”

1. Do you think there is such a thing as a fitness community?

2. Do you think there is a fitness community at ASU?

3. What do you think it is made up of?

4. Is the SDFC important to the fitness community here?

5. What kind of people are a part of this community?

“Interview Questions for Specific People”

Enrique Montoya:

What are some of the SDFC's goals?

Do you consider yourself as part of this community?

How do you contribute to this community in and out of your job?

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Section 2, Sites of Inquiry

Sites of Inquiry Contact / Location Dates / Times

Interview: The Downtown Enrique Montoya Position: 10/22/18 3:30 pm - 4:00 pm

SDFC (sundevil fitness Facility Supervisor
complex)

The Downtown SDFC 330 1st Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85003 10/16-18/18 1:00 pm- 3:pm

Hardcore abs class The ​Downtown SDFC 10/15/18 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Yoga class The ​Downtown SDFC 10/9/18 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Spin class The ​Downtown SDFC 10/9/18 7:00 pm - 7:30 pm

The Olympia 2018 Las Vegas convention center 9/14-15/18 10:00 am - 3:00
pm
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Section 3, Inquiring into Objects /Artifacts

You will conduct a hands-on investigation of objects and artifacts to discover their significance
to the group. Their value may be functional, symbolic, or otherwise. This section might include
prepared questions and selected responses, descriptive observation notes, and a reflection on how
the objects that you’ve observed represent the community you are studying.

Part 1, Summarize the experience, including responses and notes (~200 words):

At the olympia there were many booth handing out free stuff. Many of these items would

be considered objects that are important to the community. Some of these objects were athletic

clothing items, blender bottles, and supplements. Everyone there had some sort of fitness apparel

on. At the SDFC almost everyone has earbuds in to listen to music the people listening to music

all listen to different types of music but they listen to it in order to get hyped up. There were lots

of people walking around the gym with blender bottles or gallon water jugs. Everyone was

wearing Athletic clothing. At the yoga class and the hardcore abs class used yoga mats that were

essential to the class. The spin class and the hardcore abs class both used dumbbells which are

also used in the gym almost everyone uses a dumbell for fitness in some type of way. There is a

lot of equipment at the gym and all of it gets used. Free weights are usually used by young

people trying to get stronger or put on muscle. Exercise machines are usually used by older

people or those who have injuries. Then the cardio equipment is used by everyone for a variety

of reasons.
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Part 2, Principle Quotes or Observations with an explanation of value:

1. “I’m always carrying my water jug” ~ Tanner Acone. This reveals how important a water

bottle is to someone in the fitness community they don't just have them in the gym they

carry them everywhere.

Part 3, Reflect on the process, occurrences, and results of this research, including inferences
about the significance of your observations and interview responses. (~300 words):

I started by immersing myself in the community to observe what happens and who is a part of it.

Unlike religion you don't typically associate artifacts or objects with fitness. When you start to

dive into the community you realise how many objects are actually associated with it. I was very

surprised. Not only are these objects associated with the community but they have meaning

behind them. They also allow you to identify someone who is in the community even if you are

not in a location associated with someone in that community. One object with meaning is

earbuds or headphones these are used to listen to music that motivates people during their lift the

meaning can go even deeper than that tho. When someone has both earbuds in they probably

don't want to be disturbed but if they have one in they may be more open to you coming up and

talking to them. I saw this a lot when observing lifting partners they would have both headphone

in when performing a lift but afterwards they would take one out to talk with their partner some

would even perform the lift with only one in to continue a conversation. Two objects you can use

to identify people in the community outside of the gym are water bottles specifically blender

bottles and gallon water jugs. The other is by their clothing not only do they wear specific types

of clothing they wear specific brands like Gymshark.

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Section 4, Inquiring into Place

You will conduct an on-site investigation of a location to discover its significance to the group.
This value may be functional, symbolic, or otherwise. This section might include prepared
questions and selected responses, descriptive observation notes, and a reflection on how the
objects that you’ve observed represent the community you are studying.

Part 1, Summarize the observation, including responses and notes (~200 words):

I went to the Downtown SDFC Which is one of the main places in downtown phoenix for
the ASU fitness community and some of my observations were how loud it was, whether it was
people talking, weights dropping, or the music blasting. The SDCF is a huge place with many
floors the first floor is full of exercise equipment the second floor has lots of classrooms to teach
group exercise classes in the third floor has basketball court and a track to run on the fourth floor
has more classrooms and a pool. No matter what aspect of fitness you are involved in the SDFC
has something for you.

Part 2, Principle Quotes or Observations with an explanation of value:

2. “The SDFC is extremely important to the fitness community.” ~ Enrique Montoya.

Enrique not only works at the SDFC but is an avid member of the fitness community and

believes the that members of the community are always trying to better themselves and

the SDFC is the place to do it.

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Part 3, Reflect on the process, occurrences, and results of this research, including inferences
about the significance of your observations and interview responses. (~300 words):

The SDFC is a very loud place a big part of this comes from the music that is playing.

Music has a significant role in the fitness community. It is used to motivate people. The fact that

the SDFC plays music is significant because the community is based on support and by playing

music the SDFC is supporting its members and motivating them to achieve their goals. Another

way the SDFC supports the community by having something for everyone. Because people in

the fitness community can be so different they strive to achieve their goals in different ways

whether ts lifting weights playing basketball or swimming the SDFC gives its members the

opportunity to do everything.

Section 5, Inquiring into Activities/Events

You will conduct an on-site observation of an event or activity to discover its significance to the
group. Their value may be functional, symbolic, or otherwise. This section might include
prepared questions and selected responses, descriptive observation notes, and a reflection on how
the objects that you’ve observed represent the community you are studying.

Part 1, Summarize the observation, including responses and notes (~200 words):

I went to three different group exercise classes at the Downtown SDFC. Each class had different
populations of people. Some of the same people attended each class. Some people attended the
classes by themselves while others went in groups. The yoga class and the hardcore abs class
both used yoga mats. The spin class and the hardcore abs class both used dumbbells. Another
event i went to was the 2018 Olympia which is a fitness expo/physique competition. I was
shocked by the number of people who attended. Thousands of people in the Vegas Convention
Center, which is over a million square feet, was filled with the fitness community. There were
companies with booths there that I had never heard of and one that I talked to said this was
actually there debu as a company. There were all sorts of people there from huge bodybuilders to
those just trying to show of their new company which would benefit the fitness community.
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Part 2, Principle Quotes or Observations with an explanation of value:

3.

Part 3, Reflect on the process, occurrences, and results of this research, including inferences
about the significance of your observations and interview responses. (~300 words):

There are many different fitness classes offered by the SDFC. This is significant because

it shows the support the SDFC offers to its members. There is something for everyone that way

no one is left out or excluded in this diverse community. The significance of the Olympia is that

it shows not only how huge the community is but how its still getting bigger. The Las Vegas

conventions center is one of the largest in the world at it was packed full of people in the fitness

community from all walks of life. Different states different countries people speaking different

languages united by one community. There was a company that i talked to that was just starting

up they used this event to debu their product. This is significant because it shows that this

community is growing becoming more and more popular.

Section 6, Inquiring into People/Person

You will conduct an interview and/or survey of people representative of the group you are
researching. Their value may be functional, symbolic, or otherwise. This section might include
prepared questions and selected responses, descriptive observation notes, and a reflection on how
the objects that you’ve observed represent the community you are studying.
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Part 1, Summarize the observation, including responses and notes (~200 words):

I interviewed Enrique Montoya who is a Facility supervisor at the Downtown SDFC. He is not

only a member of the community because of his job but also in his personal life because he

comes to the gym and puts in the hard work to improve is health. An important question i asked

him was “What kind of people make up the fitness community?” When he answered he talked

about how its made up of so many different kinds of people who have one thing in common

“they want to improve their fitness.”

I also interviewed Tanner Acone an avid member of the fitness community who like many of us

freshmen don't know anyone when they came to ASU but he made friends when he went to the

gym cause the people he met also had a desire and the motivations to go out and improve their

health.
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Part 2, Principle Quotes or Observations with an explanation of value:

Part 3, Reflect on the process, occurrences, and results of this research, including inferences
about the significance of your observations and interview responses. (~300 words):

I interviewed a member of the fitness community and facility coordinator at the SDFC

Enrique Montoya. Some of his key points were that everyone in the has at least one thing in

common “they want to improve their fitness.” this is very significant because for a community to

be a community they have to have something connecting them. Another thing of significance he

stressed is the support in the community. People learn from each other share their knowledge and

motivate each other this makes the fitness community very special.

When interviewing Tanner Acone he talked about how he made friends at the SDFC. The

significance of this is that's it again stress the fact that this community connects people no matter

where they come from.

Section 7, Soundscape Links

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Convert your Apple Memo (m4a) into MP3

https://support.apple.com/guide/itunes/convert-music-file-formats-itns2972/mac

Sound

Section 8, WP3 Proposal

There are a few common outcomes from the research above. One such outcome is that

the fitness community is meant for everyone anyone can be apart of it all they have to do is have

a willingness to improve their fitness. Another is that what actually makes this a community. It's

that everyone is connected by their desire to improve their health. Making it easy for people to

connect to each other in this community whether it's through friendship or sharing knowledge.

The last insight is what makes this community special. The incredible support for the people in

it. Everyone helps each other even places of importance do the utmost to support the community.

This research lead to the core question what kind of support is in the fitness community?

I came to this question after my interview with Enrique Montoya. A lot of his answers to my

questions revolved around how the people in the the community support each other. After that

interview i saw support in every aspect of the community i researched.

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The fitness community is a happy and positive community and by learning more about

the support that community has we can share that positivity and lead happier lives.

Given my research, I propose an essay that will inform its audience about the role of

support in the fitness community.

References

[Supply bibliographic citations for any secondary sources consulted during your primary

research]

Acone, T. (2018, October 24). Personal interview.

Montoya, E (2018, October 22). Personal interview.