Champion of her Cause

So this chick. Check her out. Bad ass, right?

Rasa von Werder started lifting in the sixties to stay in shape during her pregnancy, a practice that was highly frowned upon during the time, and something that her ob/gym strongly cautioned her against, going so far as to tell her that lifting weights would harm her unborn child and could cause birth defects. (shaking head … those men back then, #whatthefuck) During the nine months of carrying her child, Everts (or von Werder, as she was still known) found that lifting weights was a great way for her to keep the physique to which she’d become accustomed.

Fast forward a few years … von Werder started speaking out for the wonderful benefits that lifting weights can provide for women. The public, and the male dominated voices of the sport, tried their best to quell her message, as the female form was only seen as feminine if it was sans muscle and definition. In the seventies, von Werder began competing in NYC, all the while remaining incredibly vocal about the benefits of weight training. Slowly, some folks started to listen. But not many, and those who did, listened with cotton plugged ears. The world was not, and to some extent, still isn’t ready for strong women who lift with the boys and yet, still remain feminine. The male dominated patriarchy of weight lifting was not prepared to listen to or judge von Werder on her physical successes, and side-barred her efforts to truly compete by making a division within competition for ‘beauty and femininity’ but not overall muscle definition.

Dafuk? Look at this broad! She’s clearly worked her ass of for this muscle definition through a rigorous training program and careful attention to her diet … and this is post child, remember. However, the bodybuilding community of the time continued to ignore von Werder, so she did something unprecedented for the time – she turned to the media for the attention she felt the women of the sport deserve. Appearing in Esquire in the late seventies not only launched her career as a professional bodybuilder, but also poised the rest of the women (me included) who have come after her to enter the bodybuilding arena if not on par with the boys, then at least with enough presence to be noticed.

Not only is Rasa an example of what the human body is capable of doing, but she also provides a stellar example of a woman who just won’t quit. Doc tells her not to lift? Fuck off. Body building judges won’t critique for form? Fuck off. The world won’t listen? Fuck off. She became her loudest advocate, simply because that was what was needed.

In so many ways, we all need to be our own advocates – to speak up and out for what it is that drives and fuels us, that for which we are passionate, for the things that keep us up late and wake us early. For me, it’s lifting and writing. I guess over this month, I’ve been wrestling with whether or not this lifestyle is okay … that is, whether or not it is socially accepted enough for me to put my all in it. The more I read about Rasa, the more I realize I could fucking care less if anyone approves or understands of this lifestyle. As much as it’s a road to recovery for me, it’s also a choice that I make. Every. Single. Damn. Day.

Rasa von Werder is quickly becoming my hero – she championed a causes at a time when the world wasn’t ready or prepared to listen. She serves as inspiration and a reminder of the reasons I lift. And I lift heavy.

Off to lecture. Super pumped for Res today – great faculty lectures lined up and Workshop in the afternoon.  But is it too much to say as stoked as I am for lecture, I’m equally (if not more) pumped for my run and metcon work later?!