Redemptive Gym

As some people know, the YMCA was founded on biblical principles. The Y was created to allow a place where people can focus on their healthful living while being in a Christian atmosphere. I personally think this is a great idea because ones faith should be carried over into all aspects of life. Fitness can become extremely secular and lead people to become prideful. By having a gym that has Christian morals, can help alleviate some of this. However, I have noticed a trend that a lot of people do not know that the Y is centered around Biblical principles. Now I cannot say this for all YMCA’s, but it does appear that there may be a distancing from the principles they were founded on. A tough part of redemptive entrepreneurship can be sticking to the beliefs you founded your business on. Too many times when success comes, redemptive businesses get carried away with success that they forget to enforce what they truly stand for. I hope this is not the case for the YMCA because I feel the premise behind what they do is certainly needed in the fitness industry. Another reason it is so important to have a biblical foundation in this business sector is both mental and physical health. Many gym goers often struggle with things such as body image or anxiety. They use the gym as an outlet for there problems. It is good to have an outlet for your issues but that outlet would always be God. Lifting or running may make you feel better in the short term but not in the long run because those issues are just going to keep coming back. Having a gym that keeps your eyes focused on faith is something that 99% of gyms miss. I think there is an opportunity for other entrepreneurs to follow the YMCA but expand upon it.