What is fitness?
This question has received more attention from mainstream media of late than it ever has in recent memory. Fitness is most often associated with aesthetics, "it's what you look like" I can hear many of you thinking. "Ripped abs, defined arms, toned legs" are just some of the phrases that come to mine when someone asks earnestly what we really mean when we talk about fitness.
While in reality fitness has very little to do with what you look like and very much to do with what you can accomplish Physical fitness is defined as "a set of attributes that people have or achieve that relates to the ability to perform physical activity" (USDHHS, 1996)
These attributes are:
- cardiovascular capacity
- muscular endurance (ability of muscle to exert force over time)
- muscular strength (ability of muscle to exert force)
- flexibility (range of motion around a joint)
- body composition (percentage of lean mass to fat mass)
These five components have everything to do with what one can achieve with their body. Fitness, to me, is the ability to achieve whatever you need/want/desire with your body and to feel grounded, strong and empowered in your body while doing so.
I want to run faster, lift more, feel stronger and stay happy and injury free.
Not all fitness goals are aesthetic and not all aesthetic goals (i.e. toning your thighs) are fitness related.
For a realistic idea of fitness and the beautiful variety of athletic body types take a look at these Olympic athletes who challenge common held ideas of "fit bodies"
What does fitness mean to you? And how can I help you achieve your personal definition of fitness?
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