Why Is Fitness So Important?

Exploring the Importance of Physical Fitness

For many, physical fitness is all about looking good in the mirror and to others. While a positive body image is a nice perk of being fit, it pales compared to the health benefits. To be truly healthy, you also need to be physically fit. This rule applies to every age group: kids, teens, adults, and seniors. If you develop solid fitness habits early in life, it will be easier to maintain them as you get older.  

At Spare Time Sports Clubs, we emphasize the importance of physical fitness to our club members in the Sacramento, CA area. We make it easy for members to not only improve their physical appearance but to attain true fitness. Because physical fitness is crucial to overall health, we offer a variety of programs and classes to keep you and the entire family physically fit. If you’re ready to start living a healthier lifestyle, don’t hesitate to reach out to us about membership. We’d love to take a closer look at the importance of physical fitness in your life and help you make any necessary adjustments. 

What Is Physical Fitness? How Is It Measured? 

Before we can understand the importance of physical fitness, we must first define it. This can be tricky, as there are so many different body types and ways to measure fitness. Physical fitness generally refers to your ability to carry out daily physical tasks without getting tired. It can be measured by muscle strength, speed, balance, flexibility, neuromuscular compatibility, coordination, body composition, agility, cardio endurance, and more. In addition, fitness isn’t just about doing the right types of exercises. It’s also about eating right and living a healthy lifestyle. 

Physical fitness has less to do with your body type and more to do with the conditioning of your body. For instance, even a slim person may get winded climbing a flight of stairs, which is a good indicator their cardio health isn’t where it should be.

No matter your body type, you need to place a high priority on total physical fitness if you want to be healthy. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to physical fitness. What may constitute physical fitness for you may not fit another’s needs. However, the one thing that cannot be disputed is physical fitness and health go hand-in-hand. 

What Are Some of the Benefits of Physical Activity? 

The benefits of physical activity are numerous and far-reaching, affecting much more than just your physical health. Being physically active stimulates your body, mind, and spirit to improve your overall quality of life. Did you know that living a sedentary lifestyle has been linked to many chronic and terminal illnesses? A prolonged lack of physical activity has also been associated with an increased risk of mental health issues and cancer. Here are but a few of the many benefits of physical activity: 

• Increases Life Expectancy – You can lower the risk of chronic and terminal illnesses by maintaining an active, physically fit lifestyle. Doing so may even increase your life expectancy.  

• Builds Strong Muscles & Bones – Physical fitness promotes stronger muscles and bones. As you can imagine, stronger muscles make you more physically capable of completing tasks. Having stronger bones can help you decrease your risk of injury. 
• Reduces Risk of Injury – Maintaining an active lifestyle lowers your risk of injury and developing severe health conditions. While some conditions and injuries simply can’t be avoided, staying active and physically fit will give you a better shot of avoiding lengthy hospital stays due to an injury or illness. 
• Improves Cardiovascular Health – Countless studies have proven that regular cardio exercise can reduce your risk of a heart attack, stroke, or developing a serious heart condition. Staying physically fit can also reduce your risk of developing high blood pressure. Even if you already have high blood pressure, regular exercise can help lower it. 
• Reduces Risk of Diabetes – Millions of Americans have diabetes. However, a recent study found that walking just half an hour a day in conjunction with a low-fat diet reduced the risk of type 2 diabetes by 58%. 
• Improves Mental Health – Numerous studies have shown that physical activity helps to reduce anxiety and depression and improves cognitive function. There’s also an undeniable boost in self-esteem when you reach your fitness goals, whether alone or with a personal trainer. 

• Improves Sleep – It has been shown that physical activity helps to regulate our circadian rhythms. Being physically active will also raise your body temperature, which can help calm the mind when it’s time to sleep. Despite all the brain-related effects physical activity has on your sleep, getting your body good and tired will simply make it easier for you to fall asleep at night. 
• Creates New Brain Cells – There have been studies proving that physical exercise not only makes your muscles bigger, but it can also boost your brain muscle. Both animal and human studies found that exercise helps the brain generate new brain cells. 
• Stalls Cognitive Decline – Similar studies on physical fitness found that regular exercise can help prevent or slow cognitive decline as we age. In addition to strengthening muscles, exercise also strengthens the hippocampus – the part of our brain that regulates learning capability and memory. 
• Improves Mobility – As we age, our bodies naturally start to decline. However, you can drastically improve your mobility later in life by maintaining physical fitness when you’re younger. Focusing on balance and flexibility through activities like yoga and Pilates is a great way to strengthen your joints and avoid injuries that may cause mobility issues as you age. 
• Boosts Self-Esteem – Sports and other forms of exercise can be a valuable outlet for personal expression for many young people. Engaging in regular physical activity or youth sports programs can also improve a child’s confidence and affirm their sense of self. Even for adults, staying physically fit by playing sports or committing to a regular exercise regimen can improve discipline and confidence in other areas of life. 

Contact Spare Time Sports Clubs to Inquire About Membership 

What’s more important than your health and fitness? You can meet all your physical fitness goals at Spare Time Sports Clubs. Our state-of-the-art sports and fitness clubs in the Sacramento, CA area offer a wide array of sports, exercise and training equipment, and classes suitable for every age group. We emphasize making physical fitness fun and sustainable for our members. You can work one-on-one with our nationally certified personal trainers or in a group setting in one of our many fitness classes. When you’re ready to start taking your health and physical fitness into your own hands, we’re always here to help. Contact us about membership at the club location nearest you today!