I felt like changing things up last week, and did a HIIT workout from a random channel I found on YouTube.

My son was napping and my daughter was next to me, waiting patiently for me to finish my workout so we could go out front and play.

I pressed play – and immediately noticed how my daughter locked in on the screen.

The instructor (who was gorgeous, strong, and very fit) was wearing a teeny tiny sports bra and teeny tiny shorts.

My daughter walked up to the screen, stared at the instructor, listened to her words and then said, “Mommy, where is her shirt?”

Now, please don’t get me wrong, I have no problem with people exercising in sports bras, wearing swimsuits, and being proud of their bodies. In fact, I LOVE when women are confident, connected to and proud of their bodies!

But at the same time, I didn’t really want my daughter to watch.

I turned the screen away from her, and asked her to go play on the other side of the room. I turned the volume down as low as possible so she wouldn’t hear the instructor telling me to “work hard to work off last night’s dinner!”

These things matter.

I care what she sees and what messages she internalizes.

I am intentional about not my body as a marketing tool because I want you to exercise for the way it makes you feel, not because of the way I look.

I know I could have a bigger Instagram following, get more likes and have more YouTube subscribers if I used sexy photos showing chiseled abs and skimpy clothes. But I’m not in this for followers and the likes.

I’m in this to create a movement of change and a tribe of women who are paving the way for our younger generation.

I want you to use my videos with your kids in the room playing beside you (or perhaps more realistically, right on top of you).

I don’t want you to spend your time on the mat comparing your body to mine, or anybody else’s.

I don’t want you or your kids to hear messages like “you have to work hard to work off last night’s dinner” while you’re exercising at home.

I want you to know that when I’m filming my videos, I pay attention to these things.

I choose my clothes intentionally.

I choose my words wisely so the little ones in the room are hearing positive messages about exercise, self-care and their body.

I choose words that encourage, uplift and inspire a healthy love for movement (rather than words that make exercise about vanity, punishment or unrealistic expectations).

I care about these things.

Do you?