There are many words today associated with fitness. Many of those terms are new to readers, and some of the terms are interchangeable between fitness, wellness, and health. So let us take a minute to explain some of the terms you may see from time to time.
Fitness is defined differently by different sources, but the overall meaning of fitness is our ability to function with vigor and alertness throughout the course of our day-to-day responsibilities.
Fitness refers to the condition of our physical body and mental fitness would of course be addressing our mental state. Often, we will join and participate in fitness centers that provide personal trainers, and stationary fitness equipment. There are numerous pieces of equipment available that perform many different exercises to address specific areas of the body. The best time to learn about this equipment is during the orientation session of the fitness center you have chosen.
Meditation, an exercise recommended for everyone, but especially those of use with hectic, stressful lifestyles, is defined as an engagement in contemplation, especially of a spiritual or devotional nature. Meditation has been shown to be an effective method of lowering blood pressure, relieving stress, and promoting overall good health, by simply reflecting upon our day, and finding happiness within ourselves.
Your nutritional needs refer to the physical supplements of vitamins, minerals, and calories needed in order for you to sustain optimum physical health. Much discussion is centered on this topic right now because our nation faces obesity problems of epidemic proportions.
Alternative therapies refer to alternative medicine options such as chiropractic care, acupuncture, herbal cures, and holistic medicine. Of the examples given here, chiropractic and acupuncture are becoming more widely accepted as complements to the traditional form of western medicine. Studies are conducted often that support the evidence that chiropractic care and acupuncture are effective forms of medicine.
Herbal cleansing and healing are terms used by many natural healers to describe what ingestion of certain herbal combinations can provide for the body in the effort to bring it back to optimal health or to sustain optimal health.
Exercise covers a lot of ground. There are so many forms of exercise that we can only try to cover some of the more popular and well-defined programs. There are aerobic programs that focus on heart rate and cardio health. There is water aerobics that again focuses on your heart health. Weight training and free weights are used for building muscle mass and sculpting the body.
Walking is one of the best exercises available, as it does not jar our bodies, but uses all parts for toning and building heart rate. Running, swimming, jogging, and skiing are all forms of exercise but are not recommended for the novice.
Today fitness is used not only in conjunction with health and wellness, but also fitness of the mind, body, and spirit. There is an ever-increasing movement among the health-conscious citizens, that fitness should include not only our physical being but our mental and spiritual fitness.