Transforming Personal Fitness to Improve the World Around Us

Unfortunately, a majority of fitness centers around the country continue to focus singularly on the physical aspects of fitness. Many gyms limited promotion of the physical fitness segment of health, while others incorporate nutritional coaching, but neglect the mental, emotional, and spiritual components of "total person fitness." Ultimately, fitness does not occur within a vacuum. Each piece of the puzzle emerges intricately interwoven, constantly interacting with the others. Adopting a comprehensive strategy will maximize personal health, while pervasively affecting all phases of daily life, including attitude, outlook and appearance. Even fewer centers approach fitness beyond the trained individual. Inevitably, each of us exists as stewards within larger systems, such as family, neighborhood, community, nation, and planet. My sincere hope remains for others to integrate a systems approach to fitness; together we will transform our lives and the world we live within.

Seeing the Systems at Work
Recognizing the inherent interaction of personal and collaborative systems in daily life will establish the foundations for adopting a more comprehensive fitness strategy. Neglecting one segment of the fitness spectrum may subsequently sabotage good-intentioned efforts exerted elsewhere. Dangerous levels of stress, inadequate sleep, and poor nutrition remain the most common culprits of fitness interference, frustratingly hindering us from achieving our health and performance goals. To illustrate, our bodies release hormones to combat stress. As a fight-or-flight response, these hormones consequently trigger our bodies to store food as fat, typically (and dangerously) around our midsections. Developing methods to reduce and eliminate sources of stress will increase metabolic function and maximize nutrition. Other advantageous nutrition strategies are to eat during periods of low stress, incorporate "slow-eating," and limit food intake prior to bedtime. Ultimately, integrating a moderate systems approach remains overwhelmingly more beneficial (and enjoyable) to a narrow, all-or-nothing fitness approach.

Beyond Personal Fitness
Inevitably, human health and action remain intricately linked to the health of the natural world. An energized outlook, attitude, and systems approach can powerfully transform the lives of others. Group fitness classes, competitive and recreational sports, service projects, and various "green" organizations offer limitless possibilities to transcend fitness beyond the personal level. Shared experiences remain the most powerful opportunities for personal growth, while simultaneously extending collaborative influence, in a positive, inspiring manner. Rather than the present passive approach to nature and the environment, one would expect the fitness industry to serve as the catalyst for "green" initiatives. In the future, the fitness industry must significantly expand efforts to improve the health of the planet, rather than neglecting the greater systems all humans live, work, and interact within.