Physical Fitness Definition- Optimal Living

In one sense an individual possesses physical fitness when he can successfully cope with all demands of living and stresses of all kinds, mental, emotional, and physical. This can be called "Optimal Living," which is spoken of much by many of our educators today. Any attempt to cover this subject from this viewpoint would be a certain failure.

We are specifically concerned with the condition of the physical body and its capacity to successfully cope with all the stresses the demands of living may make upon it. This is the specific base upon which all phases of fitness must rest. We may state it simply thus: An individual is in good physical condition when his body is mechanically good and functionally strong.

By mechanically good, we mean that all organs and joints are maintained in a relatively good functional position with no unnecessary mechanical handicaps to their function. By functionally strong, we mean that all functions of the body are more than adequate to meet the demands of each day with enough for work to meet any reasonable or more than reasonable demands that may be made upon them in the future.

One of our foremost leaders in physical education today, Dr. H. Harrison Clarke of the University of Oregon gives this as his definition of physical fitness: "The development and maintenance of a sound physique and of soundly functioning organs, to the end that the individual realizes to an optimum measure his capacity for physical activity, as well as for mental accomplishments, unhampered by organic drains or physical defects or by a body lacking in physical strength and vitality. The physically fit person, therefore is able to carry out the essentials of his job without undue fatigue and will still have an ample reserve of energy to enjoy leisure and to meet unforeseen emergencies."

Controlled Exercise for Physical Fitness

Fitness is a relative thing. We may say that all bodies that have life have some degree of fitness. The ability to stay alive indicates a certain minimum degree of fitness. A body that has reached a point where it is reasonably certain to live beyond the immediate future has an additional degree of fitness. The one that is able to be ambulatory is still more fit.

In like manner we can consider additional degrees as the ability to meet the demands of each day, even though with difficulty. The ability to meet them with no difficulty or with relative ease. The ability to meet the demands of the day and to have energy and capacities beyond that on up to maximum physical efficiency and capacities.

The individual in the hospital suffering from or recovering from some disability may look on the man or woman on the street and say: "I would like to be as well as he is!" The man on the street may look at the athlete and say: "I wish I were as capable as he is!." Certainly there are just as many degrees of fitness or good health as there are of sickness or ill health. The level of fitness to maintain life is neither great nor adequate. The element of fitness to be a competing athlete is wonderful but not a required objective. Each individual is fit when his capacities are developed and maintained at a level near his individual capacities for the demands that are most likely to be made upon him in the future.

The degree of physical fitness an individual possesses is measured by his capacity for effort! The ability of individual muscles to maintain good mechanics in the body and the ability of organic or physiological processes to meet their requirements.

Fitness means different things to different people. The sports enthusiast feels that no one is in good condition unless he can compete well in a chosen sport. A boxer is not in good condition unless he can box his ten or fifteen rounds. A distance runner is not in good condition if he cannot run the mile at a speed near what his competition requires of him.

The football player is not in good condition unless he can play the full game as well as his fellow players. The handball player is not in good condition unless he can play three games of singles at his top speed. All sports require their own conditioning for first class performances.

Some people feel they are in good condition if they can live each day without discomfort of some kind, and others are not satisfied unless they have further ability to participate or enjoy activities beyond the day's immediate requirements.

What is Physical Fitness?

It is our hope that more people will realize that minimal physical fitness is not enough! The ability to meet the demands of today may be totally inadequate to meet the demands of tomorrow. We need the additional margin of safety given us by the ability to be able to meet much more than we may be called upon to meet tomorrow!

In addition to the added margin of safety the further benefits of added energy, freedom from fatigue, and pure enjoyment of living are priceless!

We are not concerned with physical fitness for athletics. We are concerned with the physical condition of our people for the requirements of living not only for the enjoyment of sports and activities but for the enjoyment of living with freedom from discomfort and limitations of our activities for as long as we shall live.

For more in depth fitness, read my article: Which Exercise Burns the Most Fat?

If you want a lower impact workout, you should read about Fitness through Yoga