How it Began
Back in the fall of 2008 Mark Rogers read an article in Runners World magazine about a woman who started an organization on the east coast that uses running to help the homeless. That sparked an idea. Why not create a fitness program that empowers women who have been affected by domestic violence to build self-esteem, develop supportive relationships, and improve their physical wellness. It started out as just a book project, but then over the course of the next year developed into a full-fledged program that officially began on March 1, 2010 in San Francisco at St Vincent de Paul's Wellness Center.
Now you are asking yourself, "Why did this guy want to create a fitness program to empower women who've been affected by violence?".
First, Mark is extremely passionate about fitness and has many years of experience where he has seen how fitness can positively impact women. Second, Mark has personally seen and experienced how domestic violence has affected both his life and the lives of many friends and family members. Lastly, he wanted to use his and others talents and abilities to help women who are in need of a way to reduce stress, improve their self-esteem and find new supportive communities to associate with while redirecting their lives.
First, Mark is extremely passionate about fitness and has many years of experience where he has seen how fitness can positively impact women. Second, Mark has personally seen and experienced how domestic violence has affected both his life and the lives of many friends and family members. Lastly, he wanted to use his and others talents and abilities to help women who are in need of a way to reduce stress, improve their self-esteem and find new supportive communities to associate with while redirecting their lives.
Mission, Vision and Values
Our mission is to empower women who have been affected by domestic violence to create lives filled with hope, happiness and opportunity by involving them in supportive communities that engage them in unique, fun and effective workouts and encouraging conversations that build self-esteem, character and strength.
Our vision is one of a supportive community that engages in fun, unique and effective fitness workouts that help the women involved build the qualities needed to make positive and permanent life changes. This is a community whose words and actions display a can do attitude based upon commitment and integrity. It is one that communicates a message of fitness based upon overall well being that extends beyond merely the physical. This community seeks to lift up others up as a starting point for lifting up society. As the lives of those involved change for the better they will begin to influence those around them in a way that will have a far reaching positive impact on society. Ultimately we envision a society that works together to prevent domestic violence while empowering those who have been directly affected by domestic violence to take the actions necessary to heal and create lives filled with hope, happiness and opportunity.
Our core values are Commitment, Attitude and Integrity.
Commitment
Doing what is necessary even when you don't feel like it and no one asks you to.
Attitude
Having a can do mindset that consists of realistic optimism guided by respect for self and others.
Integrity
Doing what you say and saying what you do even when nobody is watching.
How does fitness help?
Fitness is a metaphor for life, it is a journey that involves deciding where one wants to end up and then choosing behaviors that move one closer to one's goal. Along the way one must develop qualities such as discipline, confidence, integrity and so forth if the desired results are to be achieved. This journey, whether it be in life or fitness, is most successfully taken when done together. LUL helps women affected by domestic violence by providing a supportive community, that will engage them in fun workouts and encouraging conversations, within which they can better themselves both physically and mentally while beginning their journey toward a new life that is filled with hope, happiness, and opportunity.
Exercise Helps in Addiction Treatment
Reduces Depression and Anxiety - Mayo Clinic
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Exercise Helps in Addiction Treatment
Reduces Depression and Anxiety - Mayo Clinic
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