Re mastering Fitness Fundamentals: Essential Insights

Sometimes, in English, we use certain words so frequently that we forget their true meanings. We understand their relevance in our lives, but overlook their other definitions. Today, we’ll dive into the meaning of ‘fitness’ and see how it applies to our daily lives.

‘Fitness’ is essentially the state of being fit, which generally means being healthy due to regular physical exercise. But what does being ‘fit’ actually look and feel like? Here are a few things to consider:

1. Can being fit affect how you look?
2. Will you feel different if you’re fit?
3. How does fitness vary?

The short answer is both yes and no, because fitness has different facets: cardiovascular fitness, muscle endurance and strength, and flexibility. Someone might excel in one area but lack in another. For instance, a person might be able to run a marathon but struggle in a yoga class due to poor flexibility.

Cardiovascular fitness is perhaps the most commonly thought of when it comes to fitness. If you’re cardiovascularly fit, you can do activities such as running, swimming, or cycling with relative ease.

On the other hand, muscle strength and endurance are often associated with weightlifting. People strong in this area can lift heavier weights and perform more repetitions. Their bodies, especially the muscles they frequently work on, will appear more toned and defined. For instance, a male bodybuilder focusing on his arms will have well-developed biceps.

Flexibility allows a person to have a greater range of motion in their joints, enabling them to get into positions that less flexible people might find challenging. Yoga is a great way to improve flexibility as it gently stretches the muscles, making it easier over time to move further.

Interestingly, fitness enthusiasts who regularly lift weights and do cardiovascular workouts often hesitate to try yoga. They may think that their lack of ability to do complex poses like a headstand means they can’t do yoga at all. However, yoga is much more than just those advanced positions. Yoga instructors are trained to guide beginners into poses gradually, without pushing them beyond their limits.

Overall, fitness is a broad concept that encompasses more than just being able to walk up stairs without getting winded. The goal should be to achieve a balance across all forms of fitness, although it’s perfectly fine if that takes time.