What am I getting at exactly? Well, they are all a part of the history of fitness.
Fitness for Americans per se, became popular in the 1950's, when Eisenhower was president. In sum, an exercise fitness test was conducted on American children to then be compared to similar tests completed in European countries. It was the Cold War so competition was everything!
Unfortunately, we did not fare so well. Subsequently, President Eisenhower took the first steps toward gaining national attention for the failing fitness levels of our country. Later it was President Kennedy, another big proponent of fitness, who put it very succinctly when he stated, "Physical fitness is the basis for all other forms of excellence."
Fast Forward Half a Century...
Today the fitness industry is flooded with gyms, gizmos, gadgets, diets and other ways to do everything bigger, better and faster. Diet and Fitness became a mutlibillion dollar industry producing such memorable products as the "Thigh Master" and "Sweating to the Oldies" DVDs and such wonderful mantras as, "Stop the insanity!" There is a quick fix product and diet for everyone imaginable - a marketing bombshell with no end of takers in site.
Fitness became much more about the vanity of the person than the wellness of the individual. It was no longer about fitness being the basis for all forms of excellence. Society became obsessed with thin & pretty vs. healthy and well. After all, thin and pretty sells.
Now for some positive news
The well being of the whole individual seems to be refocusing. There is a new welcomed spotlight on the whole individual's needs vs. just the pretty exterior.
More and more information is making it's way to the front line showcasing the direct connection between one's mind an one's body. There is much more publicity directed at addressing not only the issues associated with sedentary lifestyles and being overweight but the mental and emotional influences contributing to the situation.
A good majority of fitness professionals - me included - are evolving to meet these new insights and have redirected from just training the body to training the individual as an individual.
As always, a new slew of celebrities and famous individuals, touting the wonders of healthy lifestyle for mind, body and soul have come to the forefront. It is no doubt that the products marketers are moving fast to catch the new wellness wave as well. However, as a person and as a wellness professional, it is always best to keep things simple.
Remember, fitness without a mind/emotional connection is really just going through a motion. A chore, if you will, with no long term connection. Fitness is a task but wellness is a lifestyle. So,
start within first to determine why you are even looking to go down the path.As always, be well -
Alicia
No comments:
Post a Comment