Why Acknowledging Country in the Fitness Industry Matters – And How to Do It Right
You know how sometimes you walk into a gym or yoga studio, and right at the start, the instructor does an Acknowledgement of Country? Not every time, not everywhere. But when it happens—I feel it. I’m not even Australian, and yet something about that moment connects me to the land and to the people who have cared for it long before us.
I’ve been thinking a lot about that lately. Why don’t we hear it more often in fitness spaces? What’s stopping instructors from doing it? Is it fear of saying the wrong thing? A lack of confidence? Not knowing if it’s their place.
So, I called in an expert: Dr. Davina Woods.
Meet Dr. Davina Woods
Davina is a PhD, author, speaker, and educator who brings both lived and academic knowledge to this space. She has ancestral ties to Far North Queensland and was given permission from Elders in Victoria to perform Acknowledgements on their Country. She also happens to be the perfect person to break things down for our industry in a way that’s inclusive, respectful, and practical.
Her key message? Acknowledgement is not just about people—it’s about land.
The Why Behind Acknowledgement
Davina explained that Acknowledgement of Country stems from an ancient practice—like border control. Before crossing into another mob’s land, you’d signal with smoke and wait to be welcomed. This wasn’t just about politeness; it was about trust. Trust that you would respect the people, and importantly, the land you were entering.
Today, when we do an Acknowledgement, it’s a continuation of that tradition. It’s saying: “I see you. I respect this Country and its Traditional Custodians.”
But Can I Say It?
Here’s where many instructors get stuck. You’re not Indigenous. You don’t want to say the wrong thing. You don’t want to offend. So instead, you stay silent.
Davina was clear: If you’re the instructor, the person leading the space—then you are in a position of responsibility. That means you can and should offer an Acknowledgement. You’re effectively the host of the space in that moment. It’s not about hierarchy in a corporate sense, but it is about recognising who holds the mic.
What Do I Say?
You don’t need to overcomplicate it or sound like you’re reading off a government memo.
Here’s a simple version Davina shared:
“I’d like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet today, the [insert correct name here, e.g. Wurundjeri Woiwurrung] people of the Kulin Nation, and pay my respects to Elders past and present. I honour their ongoing connection to Country, land, and culture.”
You can make it your own. You can link it to your movement practice. You might say:
“As we ground our feet and connect with our bodies, let’s take a moment to acknowledge the land beneath us—land that has been cared for by the Traditional Owners for tens of thousands of years.”
The key? Thoughtfulness. Don’t rush it. Don’t mumble it out while adjusting your mic pack. Say it like it matters—because it does.
Fitness Has a Role to Play
As an industry, we pride ourselves on connection—connection to body, to breath, to movement. Why wouldn’t we include connection to land?
If you’re already grounding your clients at the start of class, this is one small, powerful layer to add. And no, you don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be willing.
Davina also encouraged instructors to explore local language. Want to add some deeper meaning to your meditation or yoga classes? There are Indigenous words for deep listening and stillness—like Dadirri—that align beautifully with mindful movement practices. But don’t just plonk them in for effect. Learn what they mean. Honour where they come from.
Final Words
We talked about the difference between Welcome to Country (done by Traditional Owners) and Acknowledgement (which you can do). We talked about land as kin. About women’s business and the real roots of feminism in First Nations culture. And Davina shared something that hit me in the chest:
“When someone acknowledges Country, I feel warm. I smile. It tells me they care for this Country as much as I do.”
Let’s do more of that.
Not because it ticks a box. But because it brings us into right relationship—with place, with people, with purpose.
