Your Regularly Scheduled Shitpost (Workouts and Physical Culture Across Religions)
The other day for shits and giggles I looked up the attitudes of the three Abrahamic religions re physical fitness, since I've been working out and my autistic noggin likes to have this sort of thing ready to infodump about at a moment's notice. (I've been refraining from talking about it to my fiancé unless and until it comes up organically in conversation. I could start infodumping apropos of nothing, but I'm learning that it's better to wait until it's relevant to the topic at hand.) We're going to take the Grand Tour backwards. Bring your favorite beverage.
Islam: As the hadith says, "A strong believer is more beloved of Allah than a weak believer." Following in the steps of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) may include walking, running, swimming, archery, and horseback riding. In theory this goes for both men and women; in practice this may be somewhat hampered by cultural preferences and concerns about modesty.
Christianity: The only one of the Big Three to openly qualify an interest in strong healthy bodies in service to the Lord with "But of course we can't have an excessive focus on physical strength because vanity, so we must emphasize instead the life of the spirit and of the mind". The funniest part is that this ignores a lot of early doctrine as well as the so-called Muscular Christianity movement in the 19th century. Women's physical fitness in Christianity is hampered by oversexualization of their bodies due to chin-wagging about temptation and sin, concerns about modesty tying back into said oversexualization, and cultural preferences (women should be soft, squishy, and breakable).
Judaism: Ah, my home turf. Orthodox thinking says that being in shape is frivolous, vain, a waste of time, immodest (gym gear is often skimpy!). Conservative and Reform thinking says that guarding your body, the soul's vessel, is a mitzvah. Torah says to "guard yourself and guard your soul". You can even refer back to Maimonides, who said that those who only ate a decent diet without recourse to exercise would still be weaker and of poorer constitution than those who practiced both. For the very frum among us, concerns about modesty and separation of genders hamper regular visits to the gym. Likewise cultural preferences may get in the way of women's physical fitness (women should be soft!). Many sages and prophets, meantime, have done their best thinking while out on a walk. I personally cast my vote in favor of the sages and prophets, Maimonides, *and* Torah.
The constants across the board are as follows: Modesty and separation of genders are problems specifically dogging women who want to participate in fitness culture and also observe their faith. Women should be soft and squishy (I assume because documented instances of femme strength in every faith fly in the face of the preference for women who are breakable and not physically up to par). But, but, BUT a strong and healthy body is better able to shoulder what G-d demands of said body.
I'll be over here pumping iron, practicing barre, and learning tai chi in my loose and comfy gear if anyone needs me. (Actually today is my rest and recuperation day, so all of that is moot at present.)