Kidnapping survivor Elizabeth Smart has publicly embraced weightlifting, culminating in a first-place finish at a bodybuilding competition, which has inspired other trauma survivors to explore the therapeutic benefits of strength training. Smart, who was abducted at age 14 and held for a year, has become a child safety activist and now advocates for weightlifting as a tool for healing.
Smart, 38, shared on Instagram that her body has carried her through immense challenges, and she refuses to be ashamed of it. Her bodybuilding success was a personal triumph, pushing her and demonstrating her resilience. Her journey has resonated with hundreds of thousands of followers, many of whom are fellow survivors, who have praised her courage and determination.
One such individual is Taylor Ann Pappas, a South Florida coach and yoga instructor. Pappas, who is a survivor of sexual assault, described herself as having been "meek" and disliking her body for much of her life. She explained that for years, she felt her body was not her own, but rather "for the consumption or for the pleasure of someone else."
Inspired by Smart, Pappas began weightlifting after a broken engagement, seeking to feel her emotions rather than disassociate. She found the act of lifting heavy weights cathartic, leading to a "hollowed lightness" and a newfound connection with her body. "There's something really symbolic about choosing to lift a weight and then put it back down," Pappas stated. "It begs the question of 'well, what else are you holding on to? You put the dumbbell down, what else can you put down?'"
This process extended beyond the gym, enabling Pappas to set boundaries, state her needs, and respond rather than react in her daily life. She pursued certification in Trauma-Informed Weightlifting (TIWL) in 2023 and now trains other survivors.
Experts note that while traditional trauma treatments include therapy, weightlifting is an underutilized method that can activate the parasympathetic nervous system, lower cortisol, and send a message of presence and capability to the brain, potentially improving symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Candace Liger, director of TIWL, explained that for survivors, muscle can symbolize endurance and overcoming hardship. Witnessing physical strength development can reshape beliefs about helplessness, allowing safety and agency to be felt in the body.
Research indicates that a significant percentage of U.S. adults have experienced a traumatic event, which is linked to various health conditions. Liger emphasized that trauma is stored in the body, making physical processing through weightlifting revolutionary. The structured environment of strength training, with its physiological demands like elevated heart rate and muscular strain, can be beneficial when combined with choice, support, and recovery.
Liger also noted that for women, minorities, and marginalized groups who have historically been conditioned to feel powerless, strength training can serve as an act of defiance. It challenges notions of who is considered strong and combats narratives of helplessness. Over time, this training helps survivors navigate intense emotions without collapsing or dissociating.
Pappas views weightlifting as a way to bridge the mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of healing, encouraging clients to embrace a full spectrum of emotions, including anger. She stresses the importance of learning to "take up space" and believes the cultural narrative that discourages women from lifting heavy weights is a form of diminishment. "If we're not strong, we're shrunken; if we're not strong, we're quiet; if we're not strong, we are easier to control," she said. Pappas expressed gratitude for her past experiences, recognizing that they led her to a path of helping others feel connected and empowered in their bodies.