It¡¯s no secret that staying in shape can be difficult. Stats from the United States suggest as many as 65% of gym memberships go unused after an initial burst of enthusiasm. And it isn¡¯t really hard to see why: For people unfamiliar with the gym, it can be a maze of oddly named activities and tortuous machines.
However, for Menya Hinga, founder of , the solution to the difficulties of maintaining fitness was simple ¡ª a community that encourages and supports each other in their fitness journeys.
¡°People think fitness is hard because it¡¯s not enjoyable,¡± says Hinga, 36, who moved to Japan from the U.S. ¡°It¡¯s hard to commit to anything when you don¡¯t enjoy it. Short-lived diets, gym bursts ¡ª all of these things don¡¯t last because they¡¯re not fun. But they¡¯re still advertised as the ¡®best¡¯ way to get into shape ¡ª and that¡¯s simply not the case.¡±
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