"If we could give every individual the right amount of nourishment and exercise, not too little and not too much, we would have found the safest way to health"  Hippocrates

The term ‘fitness’ is a relatively new term coined during the twentieth century. The origins of physical activity, however, date back to the beginnings of human existence. Daily activities such as searching for food and water, hunting and building shelters combined actions such as walking, running, jumping, climbing, reaching and lifting. These ‘functional’ actions required skills of speed, endurance, strength, power, flexibility, agility and balance, each of which form part of the ‘components of fitness’ commonly accepted by today’s fitness professionals.

Many publicly available studies evidence the positive effect that physical activity has on numerous aspects related to our well-being. Findings reveal that in relation to active individuals, inactive persons are more prone to exhibit a lower muscle mass to adipose tissue (body fat) ratio, limited strength and agility, less balance and co-ordination and a slower basal metabolic rate (the rate at which our bodies burn energy whilst at rest). Sedentary people are also more likely to be overweight and face an increased risk of developing serious health conditions and a decline in mental abilities in later years of life. The importance of engaging in physical activity on a regular basis is commonly understood by most; a physically active lifestyle promotes better health whereas an inactive lifestyle promotes ill-health. Those who engage in physical exercise on an ongoing basis reap the many benefits associated with good health, one of which is that it makes us feel good!

The ‘feel good’ effect that fitness training evokes is thought to be partly attributed to the release of endorphins and dopamine (chemicals that enhance our feeling of well-being and pleasure) into our bloodstream and brain. This elated effect may be due to the notion that physical activity diminishes the level of cortisol (a natural stress hormone) in our bodies, therefore reducing anxiety and promoting a relaxed state of being. As chemicals that contribute to our personal sense of wellness are released our over-stimulated and frantic minds are often steadied; we become more focused on the here and now and our ability to live life in the moment is positively affected. Often, when our mental state is directed and quietened we also make room for new thoughts and ideas; creative thinking patterns emerge as our minds are free to wander, unattached to the many stressors of daily life.

Guidelines suggest that engaging in regular exercise not only improves our physical well-being but also enhances cognitive functioning by stimulating the release of chemicals that may assist with the growth of new blood vessels in the brain, increase the number and survival of neurons and help maintain the overall health of brain cells. A growing body of evidence shows that in comparison to individuals who exhibit low levels of cardiovascular fitness those with a high level of cardiovascular fitness have a larger Hippocampus (the region of the brain that is said to control learning, memory, spatial navigation and emotions) containing a greater volume of cerebral blood. It can therefore be claimed that exercise may indeed improve cognitive abilities, especially in people aged 55 years and older. Studies conducted on school children and university students also indicate that many mental and physical tasks are more successfully performed by those with a higher level of fitness.

“Even more exciting is the finding that engaging in a program of regular exercise of moderate intensity over six months or a year is associated with an increase in the volume of selected brain regions,” Dr. Scott McGinnis (Neurologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital and Teaching Affiliate at Harvard Medical School)

In addition to the emotional and cognitive modifications that exercise promotes, several anatomical changes also take place. Whilst we move our bodies to and fro our muscles work harder, requiring the stored potential energy in our bodies to be converted into fuel so that physical movements can be performed. This process occurs via three different systems (anaerobic, glycolytic and aerobic) that, by chemical processes, convert stored energy into a molecule called Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP). ATP is the only energy source that enables us to engage in physical activity by facilitating metabolism in the human body. In simple terms, the more our bodies require ATP (energy), the more our bodies consume potential energy (carbohydrates, fats and proteins) so that ATP can be produced.

Engaging in physical activity is fundamental to maintaining a healthy body, mind and spirit. In this technological age in which increasing numbers of individuals work in seated positions, an array of outdoor activities have been replaced with indoor entertainment and many household chores are assigned to electrical appliances, a large proportion of the population are simply not engaging in enough exercise. There are numerous benefits to leading a physically active lifestyle and it would be a great shame (and disservice to ourselves and our community) to dismiss the need to participate in regular physical activity on an ongoing basis.