Governor Ducey is making a huge mistake by prolonging the agonizing closure of health clubs, fitness centers, and gyms in Arizona.
This order is causing irreparable harm to the health, wellbeing, and fitness of tens of thousands of people who have been proactively engaged in promoting their own wellbeing. We know that being fit equates to being healthier.
Those who are fit require far less medical attention and procedures than those who are deconditioned and unfit. This has been well established by the medical and research community and is recognized by the insurance industry and those who self-insure.
Throughout my career in the health and fitness industry, I have never been so shocked and dumbfounded by the inane, ignorant orders given by our governor, forcing the shut-down of quality of life enhancing, health benefit producing health clubs, fitness centers and gyms.
This is tantamount to genocide to certain segments of our population. Trying to promote fitness to the masses has been a major goal of our nation since President John Kennedy introduced fitness programs into the educational systems in the 1960s.
Motivating our nation into fitness has been a major objective of every administration since then.
For over 42 years, I have been a leader, visionary, owner, operator, trainer and consultant in the health and fitness industry. I was a pioneer involved in the ignition of the modern fitness boom in Los Angeles with my Nautilus clubs in the 1970s.
In 2012, I was inducted into the National Fitness Hall of Fame for my life’s work in this industry. I served as the NFHOF Chairman of the board for several years and worked with two U.S. Surgeons Generals regarding national fitness and exercise programs.
In 2019, I received the REC Arthur Jones Lifetime Achievement Award and my facility in Scottsdale was voted Best Place to Exercise and Best Personal Trainer.
Not long after I became involved in fitness, I came to the conclusion that there are two types of people in the world. Those who are fit and those who are not.
They are completely different animals with an entirely different set of values. Those who are not fit cannot comprehend the value of fitness. In some cases, they are prejudice against those who are fit.
It has become clear to me that our governor and the bureaucrats he surrounds himself with do not possess the mental capacity to appreciate the value of fitness and how important it is to all people, especially those who are engaged in fitness in state of Arizona.
I have clients who are locked out of my facility. Many are in their geriatric years and are declining rapidly, losing their mobility.
Disuse atrophy, which is a result of no exercise, begins to set in within 48 hours of no physical activity. I have people calling me, begging me to allow them to come in for cardiovascular exercise, strength training, balance training, pain relief, stress management, and to boost their immune system, which is the best defense against the coronavirus.
Governor Ducey’s actions against this segment of the population is not only selective enforcement, but criminal.
Owners and operators of these centers have proven they are capable of safely operating their facilities in a clean and safe environment for their members, clients and employees.
Governor Ducey open our gyms NOW!
Editor’s Note: Bill Crawford is a Scottsdale resident, owner of Basic Training MedX Fitness and Strength Training Center and a National Fitness Hall of Fame Inductee.
