For Farmers, Fitness Programs Can Improve Mental Health, Too

Civil Eats

Cynthia Flores was a farmer for twenty years, and despite doing intense physical labor every day, she never thought of herself as an athlete.

“It wasn’t until I got into strength training that there was a shift in my mindset,” she said. With a new perspective on farming, Flores began to prioritize self-care and be more mindful of her body. As her interest in fitness grew, she started competing in Strongman events, where athletes face off in Herculean challenges. (You can see her on Instagram pulling a horse trailer with nothing but some ropes and her own body weight.) Now a certified personal trainer and licensed massage therapist, Flores works with farmers and farmworkers across the country. “Are you farmers or athletes?” she often asks to kick off her workshops. “You’re athletes, just in overalls,” she answers.