On a warm Sunday morning, AAJA-LA members and partners gathered at Brookside Park in Pasadena for a unique interactive event.
The “Health Story Walk” on Aug. 23 combined a roughly 1-mile walk through the park with discussions with experts along the way. At three pit stops, attendees explored fitness, inequities in access to fitness and wellness resources, and how journalists can cover fitness while being aware of inequities in health and research.
The conversations were led by Halee Mosley, a personal trainer, coach and broadcast journalist; Dr. Joyce Javier, a community pediatrician and physician scientist who is a leader on Filipino health disparities research; and Hallie Jose, a strength and performance coach dedicated to fostering holistic empowerment.
From left, Halee Mosley, Dr. Joyce Javier and Hallie Jose.
“Fitness shouldn’t be a luxury,” Jose said early on. “It should be free for all.” She insisted that people don’t have to pay for expensive gym memberships in order to exercise and maintain good health.
In addressing how working out can sometimes be a drag, Mosley encouraged participants to “find ways to move your body that you enjoy.” Jose built on that point by telling walkers to “gamify” their workouts by adding some playfulness to their routines, even adding in movement “snacks,” such as standing up from a work desk and doing knee bends for five minutes. Javier advised finding a community to work out with to stay motivated.
The experts also shared what they feel journalists often get wrong in stories about fitness. Jose warned of the dangers of glamorizing social media trends, such as the Ozempic and cold plunge crazes and the myth that all carbs are bad. Mosley also urged not giving undue attention to quick fixes. And Javier spoke of the importance of having trustworthy information on vaccines, peptides and intermittent fasting. She pointed out that while nearly 20% of doctors in the United States are Asian American or Pacific Islander, less than 1% of clinical research focuses on AAPI communities.
The event concluded with a fitness demonstration by Jose on how to use strength bands, which attendees were able to take home to help keep movement top of mind in their everyday lives. The exercises were followed by a yummy lunch of sandwiches and salads, during which participants had the opportunity to network and discuss the morning’s lessons.
Jin Ding, AAJA’s president-elect for the 2027-28 term, participated in the walk, as did one of the founders of AAJA, Bill Sing.
Jin Ding, left, and Bill Sing.
This event was organized by Maneeza Iqbal, AAJA-LA’s vice president of career development, and Gita Amar, an AAJA-LA advisory board member. It was made possible thanks to a grant from the California Endowment.
— Rubaina Azhar, AAJA-LA general board member, and Maneeza Iqbal, AAJA-LA vice president of career development
Photo credits: Rubaina Azhar and Zayd Andre