Fitness is a way of Life
Fitness the wa
‘Run for Life’, was the ceaseless motto of the human race that emerged around 10,000 BC. With the purpose to survive in the harsh environment the early man had to move about to create natural and defensive tools from rocks and limbs of trees, escape the enemies either human or wildlife while search and hunt for food. The early men were compelled to take the natural road that led to them being physically fit and strong.
Getting through the savage surroundings was a pretty laborious task. They did not only run, besides they also perceived the art of balancing, carrying, catch things, crawling, climbing, fight, jump, lift, and walk. Squatting was one of the most used movements when the hunt was on. They also engaged in creative and playful activities like performing many dance forms to express their unity with their tribe.
Being physically fit is as old as 10,000 BC. This is how a human body is meant and expected to be by nature. Movement and activity by the body is the most basal and elemental aspect of human life. Movement is not just exercise, it is something more than that. It does not demand vigorous efforts but actions. It does not only mean hitting the gym or perform cardio. Taking your pet for a walk, or maybe walking or cycling up to a nearby grocery store to buy veggies, or probably meeting up a friend, or maybe dance on your favourite track, etc. is all movement.
Today’s culture and way of life is nurturing a very sedentary lifestyle. The advancements and the sole dependence upon science and technology has is contributing to us becoming couch potatoes. A click gets you essentials from the store at your doorstep, one can conveniently report to work while sipping tea in their living room, Zomato and Swiggy can serve you with whatever you relish, etc. “The less active we become, the more challenged we are in dealing with day to day Stress”. The lack of Physical activities can be considered the primary reason for unmanageable stress, feeling depression, growing anxiety, etc.
By engaging in regular exercise one can always get deep quality sleep, stay active, becomes more self-dependent, the joints of the body tend to function properly. Physical movements are good for promoting and boosting mental health as well as fitness. Movements and exercise release happy hormone endorphins. Endorphins are the neurochemicals produced by the brain when the body comes under stress or experiences physical discomfort. Endorphins make one happy and feel good. They are natural painkillers as they activate opioid receptors in the brain that help minimize the discomfort of one day to day stress.
Regular physical movement contributes to mental and physical fitness and wellness.
‘WHAT HURTS TODAY MAKES YOU STRONGER TOMORROW’- JAY CUTLER
A little inclination towards being fit today might make you stronger and a better person tomorrow.
Some of the growing and most popular Fitness Activities that has millions of people around the world practicing and forming like-minded communities are
CrossFit, is an extensive form of interval training. It integrates movements from Weightlifting, Gymnastics, Cardio, and Swimming to create interesting full-body movements.
Movements like squatting, push-ups, weight lifting, and pull-ups happen to be the parts of CrossFit. This is a conditioning and a strengthening workout that helps in muscle building and growing one's endurance. CrossFit is growing momentum across the world and is one of the fastest-growing sports of all time.
Cycling is an excellent cardio workout. Cycling long distances have created strong communities across the globe. There are many health-related benefits of cycling as well as the benefits of its mental wellbeing. Cyclists feel a great sense of euphoria and have greater self-confidence after completing their goals of cycling hundreds of kilometers. It strengthens the lower body-the glutes, legs, and hips. Cycling also helps in coping up with diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol, and heart diseases. Riding a cycle for
60 minutes per day burns approximately, 400 -1000 calories depending on the intensity of the rider and their physical structure.
HIIT involves rapid and vigorous exercises while following shorter recovery intervals. Such a training technique helps in burning more fat in minimum time with a raised heart rate. It increases the metabolism for a sustained period of time. Today one can do many different types of HIIT workouts in the comfort of one’s Home with many workouts available online. Crunches, lunges, sit-ups, jumping jacks are some HIIT exercises.
Mixed Martial Arts is an entire body training that mainly focuses on the body’s strength and endurance. Sports like judo, karate, and wrestling fall under MMA. It promotes balance and coordination, enhances self-esteem, increases flexibility as well as trains a person to defend himself.
Mr. Joseph Pilate, the founder of the Pilate workout introduced it in the 1920s. Pilates are the exercises that are repetitively performed on a mat. The body gets to develop with a lot of muscular effort and stretching. Majorly, the lower back, the hips, the abs, the glutes, and the pelvic floor are targeted while performing Pilates. It enhances balance, refines movements, and body strength. Pilates is usually deep breathing while stretching gently. Leg lifts, toe taps, side leg lifts, and roll downs are some exercises carried out on a matt.
Who doesn’t want to be with Nature and try to defy all odds that nature presents to us. Rock climbing is one such sport where people climb up natural rock formations. They attempt to reach their summit without falling off. Today there are indoor bouldering walls available to encourage this sport. This is a full-body workout that strengthens your hand grip, forearms, shoulders, back, glutes, and legs. The forearms, biceps, legs, fingers, deltoids are strongly worked upon in rock climbing while enhancing the grip strength.
Running forms the part of aerobic exercises. Usually, people start their running practice by walking then progressing to jogging, and then advance into Running at a certain pace or speed. Running has a cult-like following across the Globe where runners prepare for years to take part in long-distance marathons. Running makes people not only physically strong but also trains their minds to be strong and fearless of the physical pain of long-distance running. It improves the health of the person both
physically and mentally. It improves mood, fights depression, and enhances strength and endurance besides promoting cardiovascular health. People can choose to run indoors on a treadmill or outdoors in nature.
Swimming is a prominent workout as it moves the body against water resistance. It’s a team sport or individual participation. Swimming is mostly practiced in the swimming pool while there are others who do long-distance swimming in lakes and sea.
Competitive swimming is a very popular sport. Swimming can be really therapeutic, unification with one of the elements of earth, water is not only fun but also calming and beneficial for the mind.
Not only is swimming physically challenging and an excellent full-body workout. It is also a great stress reliever as the strokes involved require a breathing rhythm that activates the nervous system that makes one feel more relaxed and calmed down.
10,000 steps or Manpo-Kei in Japanese, is what the people of Japan follow to stay fit. WHO, the World Health Organisation states that in Japan more than 98% of students walk to school, that is why the Japanese are much more fit, healthy and have longer lives in comparison to the rest.
3minutes each day. Walking helps to maintain a healthy weight, improves heart health, and prevents us from many diseases. It improves balance, makes the bones stronger, and makes us happy. People of all ages should
practice walking regularly in order to stay fit and healthy.
Yoga was fathered by Lord Shiva, 15,000 years ago. In the course of the Indus-Sarasvati Civilisation, yoga came into being 5,000 years ago in Northern India. With the evolving time, Yoga has become a natural progression. Meditation and breathing practices in yoga help in the physical as well as the mental improvement of an individual while it calms the mind, polishes up attention and concentration, alleviates stress besides aiding chronic ailments. Kundalini, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Power, Restorative are some of the various forms of yoga.
