proposition & feasibility report with research paper
Proposition
Design Analysis:
The Humming Puppy Sydney, Austr alia
The Humming Puppy provides ‘a yoga experience evolved from traditional practices offered in an intentional space that resonates with a gentle hum. More than just the physical practice of yoga we aim to support you throughout your yoga journey and encourage you to leave the outside world behind and immerse yourself in good vibes.’ 7 The yoga studio provides sessions for all abilities. The ‘hum’ from the name comes from the sounds played throughout the space. ERUP engineers have created frequencies which play into what people from The Humming Puppy call ‘shala’ (a.k.a. yoga space), which has been designed to enhance and deepen the experience. Sounds that are 7.83hz are the same as the earth’s frequency - the ‘Schumann Resonance’ - and this is used to ground people during the practice. 40hz sound is additionally used has been related to Gamma brainwave activity.8 Their tag line ‘yoga that resonates’ links well to this emphasis on sound during the experience.
[7] Karen Abernethy is the architect of The Humming Puppy in Sydney, Australia. It is situated across two floors in a converted warehouse and she wanted the yoga studio to offer clients a sensory experience, and to feel a definite change from when you come from the outside to the inside. As you walk in, you enter in to a neutral feeling space which means the person can reset themselves from the outside world before they proceed further. Zoning is created between the changing room and the lounge space using angled screens which have been made with a dichroic filter which looks different colours from different angles. The concept behind the design was light and reflections which are closely linked to spirituality. 9 The buildings original structure has been respected and enhanced. For example, the choice of neutral colour throughout the scheme contrasts the industrial structure of the wooden beams. The soft furnishings create a friendly space and somewhere people would enjoy spending time.
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The Humming Puppy
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Research paper
Chapter 1: Perceptions of body image.
The body type determines participation - body appearance as function. People who choose to take part in exercise classes all have different motivations. Of course, some people choose to take part in exercise to improve their physical appearance and the typical body type imagery aims to provide a goal for these people to work towards. However, this does not address the other factors of people taking part in the gym such as the social and mental health aspects. This can lead to groups of people whose main motivations are these factors to feel excluded. Equally ‘gymtimidation’ is a factor which is enforced more using body type imagery in fitness centres. ‘Gymtimidation’ is a word which describes the fear of exercising in front of others. The use of aspirational body type imagery could potentially have an adverse effect, making people feel like they will not fit in if they attend a fitness class and that all the people who attend the class are physically able already. Additionally, the gymtimidation could come from not understanding the class and fear of being thrown in at the deep end rather than being aware of what to expect from the class. Creating this feeling for the person taking part in the exercise classes can lead to them not attending.
“I knew that the gym I currently go to was there and I never thought to go in because I assumed it was full of very fit people.” Quote from interviewee A about their experience with ‘gymtimidation’
Whilst our perceptions of body image change between one person and the next from the context of the fitness and health sector, body types (or somatotypes) can typically be broken down into three subgroups: ectomorph, endomorph, and mesomorph. Somatotype is a term which was coined by William Herbert Sheldon in the 1940’s which categorized people’s body types in to three categories dependent on inherited bone, muscle, and fat ratios. 2
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Chapter 1: Perceptions of body image.
Ectomorph: This body type is typically long and lean and many would describe people of this body type as being slim or ‘skinny.’ An ectomorph finds it harder retaining weight including muscle mass. Mesomorph: The body type of a mesomorph has a higher percentage of muscle to fat, and they naturally can retain muscle mass. Endomorph: A typical endomorph body type has a higher percentage of fat to muscle, and they are likely to be overweight if they do not maintain exercise and eat healthily.
Ectomorph
Mesomorph
Endomorph
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Of course, some people do not fit straight in to one category of the main somatotypes and so they may be left feeling at a loss of being unrepresented in the body imagery used in the promotion of different classes and get hit with the feeling of ‘gymtimidation.’
“I feel like it makes it come across quite intimidating and then like it also doesn't give a good indication of the type of people that are there because from that title alone: ‘girls who lift’ It is like, well, I have never done weightlifting before. Is this class suitable for me? Am I going to be able to do it? Is it going be too difficult or is it the type of thing that welcomes beginners but they never really say those kinds of things.” Quote from interviewee B about their experience with ‘gymtimidation’
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