FITNESS : NOW & THEN

WHAT IS FITNESS? 

Fitness is a state of health & well being as well as ability to perform daily activities, maintain emotional and mental balance. Proper nutrition, exercise and sufficient rest helps to achieve fitness. 

The definition of fitness has changed many times according to the health and the development of technology as both are inversely proportional. It means the growth of technology has reduced the quality of health. 

HISTORY OF FITNESS 

Before 90's the fitness was described as the person can carry out its day to day activities without any fatigue. It is because at that time there was no or limited use of technology and people are engaged in their work most of the time and stays healthy and live longer. There were no washing machines, dish washer etc and people use to do all the work by hand and stays physically fit. 

There were no calculators or solving software so people solve by themselves all the calculations, maintain accounts manually and do other brain boosting activities which make them mentally fit. 

There were no television, mobiles, computers etc which make people lazy and engages them on technology. Instead of that people spend their quality time with the family and stays emotionally and socially fit. 

With the wave of industrial revolution, the need and demand of technology rise frequently which replaced the workers with machines. After the World War II, the growth of technology has taken its speed along with the speed of the decrease in quality of health and life. 

The challenge in marketing of industries introduced packed products which tastes good but has poor effects. The consumption of packed goods has given rise to many hypo kinetic diseases and make the word 'fitness' famous. 

MODERN FITNESS 

The modern definition of fitness is considered as the ability of the body to function efficiently and effectively in work and leisure activities. It also includes mental, social and emotional health in overall fitness. Now, the rare diseases are common and can occur at any age or gender. 

We can improve our health just by doing your household activities manually with eating pure and having balance diet and avoiding the use of machines. But that is next to impossible in this modern era and made the fitness programs necessary and the need of an hour. 

Keeping in mind the specific functions (aerobic or anaerobic) that body should performs to prevent hypo kinetic and chronic health conditions, a well-rounded fitness program is built according to the person to improve the endurance or strength. 

COMPONENTS OF FITNESS 

The components of fitness are vitally important to perform the daily activities and the fitness programs should be designed to improve the each of the five components. 

1. Cardiovascular Endurance 

2. Muscular Strength 

3. Muscular Endurance 

4. Flexibility 

5. Body composition 

FITNESS PROGRAM & ITS BENEFITS

Fitness program is a combination of exercises along with the adequate nutrition and setting individual’s personal goals and implementing the plan. A well-rounded fitness program focus on improving individual in all aspects like shape, endurance, flexibility, cardio, respiratory, etc. and involves all types of exercises rather than focusing on one area or any particular exercise. Further, the good nutrition plan gives more beneficial and quick results as it focuses on the individual’s need and schedule. 

FITNESS PROGRAM = ADEQUATE NUTRITION + EXERCISES 

 

Fitness program can be tailored according to an individual which focuses their area of improvement, skills, age and health. Doing physical movement can remove your fatigue and make you active, exercising and working out which involves the contraction of muscles releases myokines which repairs the damage tissues and promote the growth of new tissues and various anti-inflammatory functions. Working out helps in better sleep, improves mood disorders, hormonal imbalances, respiratory and heart diseases. 

Doing adequate exercise maintains your sugar level, blood pressure and reduces stress. Developing research has illustrated and proved many benefits of exercise including increasing the inner strength and freshness of the body. 

Fitness is the way how you get fit, how you stay healthy, how efficiently you perform your work and how you handle the situations. Exercising has now taken face of many physical activities which helps in weight or strength management, reducing diseases, stress etc and increasing the flexibility of the body and making you more efficient , making you more WORTHY. 

TYPES OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES 

  

- Physical Activities involves Aerobics exercise and Anaerobic exercise. 

- Aerobics exercise is involves movement that increases the heart rate to improve the body's oxygen consumption. Examples: Jogging, Elliptical training, walking, treadmill training, Swimming, cycling, sprinting, Zumba, Dance etc. 

- Anaerobic exercise is a short duration-high intensity activity used to promote strength, speed and power. Example: Sprinting, Strength training (body weight exercise, weight training). 

- Exercise has increased its roots with fitness programs and performance i.e. Calisthenics, Circuit training, Cross-training, Interval-training, Outdoor fitness, Physical therapy, Stretching, Yoga, Pilates, Combat, Tabata, Resistance training, BRX training etc.