The Importance of Fitness

Physical fitness, otherwise referred to as a healthy body, is a condition of well being and overall health wherein you are able to do various parts of activities, occupations, and sports without any limitation. Physical fitness is normally achieved through physical activity, proper nutrition, adequate rest, and proper rest between workouts. The condition can also be attained through performing relaxation techniques like yoga and meditation. The importance of fitness varies from one person to another. As much as some people may consider it as a mere term, it actually refers to our physical and mental well being.

Generally, we are guided by our genes in terms of physical fitness. For those who were genetically endowed with an athletic spirit, it would be natural to desire to do things that will enhance your physical condition such as participating in athletics, doing aerobics, and doing resistance training. However, for those who were not born with the gene, it would be much easier to achieve your fitness goals. One of the best ways to improve your fitness level is to have regular aerobic exercises.

Aerobic fitness is defined as any physical activity that increases your heart rate, which in turn increases your oxygen intake and subsequently, improves your endurance or stamina. Engaging in regular exercise will enable you to increase your metabolic rate so that excess fats are burned off and consequently reduced. A regular exercise routine can significantly reduce the risk of developing obesity, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, type 2 diabetes, and many other chronic diseases. It can also reduce your blood pressure and cholesterol levels, reduce your body fat percentage and increase your muscle mass.

Wellness, or the psychological aspect of a person’s fitness, refers to the ability of a person to be healthy and stay fit. It has to do with our ability to deal positively with stress, anger, anxiety, fear and other negative emotions. A fit person is mentally fit and physically fit. To remain mentally fit, we need to have some good diet and a regular sleep-wake cycle. A good way to stay mentally fit is by doing regular physical activities like yoga, tai chi or Pilates. Engaging in sports or recreational activities like racquetball, baseball, softball or basketball will boost your mental fitness and keep you fit and strong mentally.

Flexibility is an important element of fitness because it enables us to move freely without being restricted. Flexibility involves the range of motion of joints and muscles. Regular physical exercises, like stretching, strengthen and improve your flexibility. There is a popular belief that physical exercises will increase our muscle mass. While it is true that muscles increase in size during rapid and repetitive exercise, muscle mass is unrelated to muscle strength or flexibility.

Physical fitness means different things to different people. For example, jogging may be seen as a good form of exercise for those who want to lose weight. Aerobic exercise should be an integral part of any healthy lifestyle. It is especially important for women to have a regular exercise program and consume a healthy diet to maintain good health.