What is a perfect body? Here is what #MyPerfectMe taught us

Today, we celebrate three different things. First and most immediate one: the new year. The time to recount all the things that happened during 2019, what we could've done better, and precisely what worked as we expected.

The New Year is always a time of quiet reflection

We look back at the year gone by, and we measure what went well and what was less favourable.

This contemplation about personal growth and new experiences is what allows us to improve.

This New Year also marks the beginning of a new decade

Ten years is a long time if you think about it. A lot has changed in the world and in the way we behave since 2010. Environment, body positivity, equality, all these topics occupy a place in our daily lives that wasn't so prominent ten years ago. Rightfully so, in a path for a more just world.

For us, 2019 was a year of self-growth and mindful changes due to that too. We believe a company can't ignore what is going on in the world. We are committed to improving, humbly recognising that there's still a long road ahead of us to meet people's demands. We promise to do that, bit by bit, every day.

In fact, we already started — and we want to share it with you. Holmes Place is now around Europe, with more than 80 clubs and over 300k members. As a leading chain of fitness clubs, our message was always around enjoyment and fulfilling dreams, but we realise gyms have an impact on the cult of the body and we'll take charge of that responsibility.

We want to help break free from those concepts of exercising for looks alone; we want to help stop the pressure to comply with stereotypes and unattainable ideals of perfection. We are proudly on the side of inclusion, self-acceptance and body positivity.

We want to make everyone feel welcome and included at Holmes Place

Fitness is not for athletes, models or famous people; fitness is for everyone. And we have the fitness recipe that fits you. Exercising two to three times a week is all it takes to keep the body active, a balanced mind, a de-stressed and happier you.

Those who already enjoy Holmes Place as part of their journeys know this to be true. But how can we prove this to everyone else?

We'll let our members do the talking for us! After all, who can offer a better perspective on what is a perfect body than those who know they are already perfect?

From familiar faces to less famous ones, the result of this debate among real Holmes Place members and ambassadors gave us the courage we needed to openly talk about perfection and of how we are ready to dismantle it. There are no perfect bodies. A perfect body is where a happy person lives.

Perfection cannot be an empty notion of beauty; Perfection is about health, strength, positivity, being stress-free and active;

Perfection is being able to enjoy every day, doing the things we love, with the people we love, in a healthy and balanced way. And above all: perfection isn't the same for everyone. We can build our own version of perfection, build our best selves. Want to know how? Here is what our members say:

We sincerely hope you feel as inspired as we did after these words.

Go with us behind the scenes and discover the preparation of this debate with real Holmes Place members and ambassadors. In this making-of video, you'll get to see the set-up of the interview we conducted with: 

Maria Cesaltina, the inspiring 89-year-old grandmother of 15, who started to exercise when she was only 78 years old;

Meet Pedro, the actor, that relies on fitness to be able to perform in his roles as well as in his passion for surf;

Get to know Mafalda, mother and jeweller that shares her journey of self-acceptance and body positivity;

Meet Camila, model and mother, and learn about her message of wellbeing and balance;

Meet Fernando, designer and teacher that knows it's always time to begin and collect the benefits of exercising;

Get to know Joana, travel agent that proves resilience and a strong mind are critical to a healing body;

and meet Hugo, an incredible Holmes Place personal trainer, that like all our teams, works every day to welcome everyone on this journey towards self-acceptance, empowerment and enjoyment.