Training Democracy Muscles for All

Because democracy thrives when we train it together

GERMANY – The Democracy Fitness movement is growing, and soon, even more people across Germany will be able to train their democracy muscles in a way that is practical, accessible, fun, and just 30 minutes per muscle. Today, Democracy Fitness Global (DFG), Mehr Demokratie e.V., and Bildungswerk Mehr Demokratie announced their plans to scale Democracy Fitness across Germany at a press conference.

This expansion introduces four new German-speaking instructors – Alexander Trennheuser, Andrea Adamopoulos, Katrin Tober, and Corinna Wermke who are now certified to train new trainers in Germany. Additionally, three more instructors from Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung NRW, another German country partner of the global movement, will join the effort.

Democracy in Action

The core philosophy of Democracy Fitness is simple: Democracy is a skill, and like any skill, it requires practice. So far, under the leadership of Kathrine Krone Laurent from Democracy Fitness Global, around 400 trainers have been certified in Germany. The new trainers from Bildungswerk Mehr Demokratie alone have already reached thousands of people with Democracy Muscle workouts.

The methodology is designed to be engaging and effective:

• Everyday relevance: Workouts fit seamlessly into daily life.
• Low barrier to entry: No prior experience is needed—just a willingness to participate.
• Fun and energizing: Participants leave feeling inspired and empowered.
• 30-minute sessions: Each of the 10 Democracy Muscles (e.g., Empathy, Disagreement, Compromise) gets its own focused workout.

A New Era for Democracy Fitness in Germany

In 2027, eight additional Trainer Camps are planned across Germany. Over two days, participants will:

• Learn the background and philosophy of Democracy Fitness.
• Explore the 10 Democracy Muscles and their practical applications.
• Train themselves while gaining the skills to lead their own workouts.

More details on training dates will be available soon at: democracyfitness.org

A Global Movement with Local Impact

This expansion is made possible thanks to the generous support of the Robert Bosch Stiftung. A special thank you to Eva Roth, Sylvia Hirsch, and others for their continuous dedication to strengthening democracy through action.

About Democracy Fitness Global

Democracy Fitness Global is a non-profit association based in Copenhagen, supporting a global network of partners to bring Democracy Fitness to local communities. Our mission: To make democracy tangible, trainable, and fun for everyone, everywhere.

As the Democracy Fitness Manifesto states:
“Democracy is all of us, all the time. You are enough, and there is as much room for you as for anyone else. Let’s train.”

Together, we make democracy FIT – one muscle at a time.