Physical fitness is a general state of health and well-being and, more specifically, the ability to perform aspects of sports, occupations and daily activities. Physical fitness is a general concept and is defined in many ways by different scientists. Physical fitness is discussed here in two major categories: health-related. Understanding the Different Types of Fitness Centers and Which One is Best for You - There are several different types of fitness centers, and the fitness center that you decide to join should be the one that best provides the amenities you are seeking, offers a comfortable atmosphere, is ideally located, and is within your price range. Prior to choosing a fitness center, you should give some thought to determining the types of amenities required to facilitate your specific fitness goals. More specifically, your decision in a fitness center should be based on the types of physical activities you plan on incorporating into your fitness routine. Spend some time determining which physical activities you enjoy the most. Once you have determined the types of amenities that are required to support your personal fitness goals, evaluate each fitness center against this criteria. By doing so, you will find that it is easier to maintain your motivation, and the likelihood that you stick with your fitness routine will increase as well. The following will define several types of fitness centers and the typical amenities that they offer. Aerobic Centers. Aerobic centers typically feature activities designed to focus on cardiovascular health and well- being. Aerobic centers generally offer a wide variety of classes associated with cardiovascular health, muscle toning and flexibility. This type of fitness center typically provides a wide variety of aerobic activities, with classes including traditional, step, dance, strength training and martial arts (kick boxing) styles.
In addition, many aerobic centers facilitate the use of several types of cardiovascular equipment (stationary bikes, treadmills, stair climbers and ellipticals). For a better understanding of the various types of aerobic activities and their associated health benefits, please visit the Cardiovascular section of our website. Once you have determined the types of aerobic activities that you will incorporate into your fitness routine, it is time to determine which aerobic center offers those types of classes. Visit the aerobic center and discuss with one of the sales individuals the times that the specific classes are offered, the typical class sizes, the qualifications of the instructors, the days/hours of operation and the cost of the membership. Aerobic centers may be a good choice for women that feel more comfortable exercising in a predominantly female environment. Yoga Centers. Yoga centers and studios offer classes conducted by trained instructors and focus on techniques associated with deep breathing, mental and physical relaxation, and movements that are designed to increase flexibility and elongation of muscle tissue, ligaments and tendons. In addition, there are several types and styles of yoga that focus on developing overall body toning and structural strength. One of the primary benefits of regularly performing a yoga class is to center, focus, and calm the mind. For this reason, many members of this type of fitness center partake in the practice of yoga solely for the benefits related to the mental aspects of relaxation and stress- relief that yoga provides. Many yoga centers offer classes in the morning, afternoon and evening, so choosing a time to participate in a class is convenient and can be tailored to meet your specific needs. For example, individuals with a high level of stress at the workplace may find it beneficial to regularly perform a yoga class immediately after completing work. On the other hand, others may find it beneficial to perform a yoga class before work to better focus their mind on the workday that lies ahead. There are several different types and styles of yoga, and each of them are slightly different in their approach to mental and physical health and well- being. In order to appropriately discuss the differences in the various types and styles of yoga, we have dedicated an entire section of our website to discussions solely focused on yoga. It is recommended that anyone interested in beginning a yoga class take the time to review the different types and styles of yoga before determining which yoga center offers classes that fit their personal fitness goals. Dance Centers. Dance centers offer a variety of dance classes designed to teach the individual how to perform specific styles of dance. Dance allows the individual will improve their cardiovascular health, flexibility, structural strength, balance and coordination. Many dance types require a partner. For individuals that already have a spouse or a friend that is interested participating with you at a dance center, this may be an excellent avenue. For those who do not have a dance partner, fear not, as there are instructors and other members with whom you can partner. A dance center membership may be an excellent addition to an individual's overall fitness routine. Many dance routines are very precise and require that the individual focus on the correct posture, movements and timing associated with the specific type of dance. For many individuals, the mastery of a specific dance type is very motivating and provides a unique sense of accomplishment. For the individual that wishes to take their proficiency in dance to the next level, competitive dance is worth considering. This being said, individuals that wish to enter dance competitions may first compete at the local level. Thereafter, the winners of a local dance competition can continue on and compete at the regional, national and even international levels. This is due in part to the fact that Pilates is an excellent form of exercise that not only focuses on the physical aspects of good health, but the mental aspects as well. There are seven main principles associated with the practice of Pilates: Proper Alignment. Centering. Concentration. Control. Precision. Breathing. Flowing movement. Pilates is an excellent form of exercise that can be practiced at varying levels of difficulty, thus allowing virtually anyone the ability to regularly participate in a class. While it's true that Pilates has increased in popularity over the last several years, it may be difficult to locate a Pilates center in smaller cities and rural areas. If this is the case, and an individual is specifically seeking to add Pilates to their fitness routine, they can purchase the necessary Pilates equipment and instructional DVDs and perform the exercises at home. For individuals that would like to learn more about Pilates, the associated health benefits, and the necessary equipment needed to perform Pilates, please visit our Pilates section under the Yoga and Meditation category. Gyms. Gyms typically focus on weight lifting and strength training. All gyms offer an extensive set of free weights, dumbbells and weight machines that are specifically designed to exercise, develop and strengthen the muscles. Although many gyms provide cardiovascular equipment and sometimes offer aerobic classes, the primary focus is on weight training. For individuals that are primarily interested in weight lifting and strength training, a gym may be the ideal choice, as most of the members will be solely focused on weight training as well. This being said, most gyms have personal trainers and members that are very knowledgeable in the field of weight training and can provide guidance for the beginner. Personal trainers and members can provide the beginner with information related to workout programs, dietary requirements and nutritional supplementation. In addition, there can be a large difference among the personal trainers in terms of their overall fitness knowledge. For this reason, it will be important to determine the level of each personal trainer before choosing one to work with. Gyms typically attract more male members when compared to the various types of fitness centers. Hence, it is important to determine if this type of environment is appropriate for you. For additional information on weight and strength training, please visit the Weight Training section of our website. Fitness Centers. Fitness centers attempt to incorporate several types of workout facilities into a single location. For instance, most fitness centers offer their members a free weight area (gym), weight machines (gym), cardiovascular equipment (aerobic and gym), aerobic classes (aerobic), yoga classes (yoga), swimming pool, jacuzzis, saunas, tanning beds and child daycare centers. It should be noted some fitness centers do not offer all of the amenities listed above, while others offer all of the amenities listed above and more. Fitness centers provide a wide range of health, fitness, and exercise options, and tend to attract a diverse array of members. The ratio of men to women, young to old, single to married and heavy to thin will be very broad and balanced. This type of environment provides a level of comfort for most individuals and works well across a large percentage of the population. In addition, virtually all fitness centers employ personal trainers. Personal trainers educate members on how to utilize the equipment, design fitness routines with their personal fitness goals in mind, and discuss the nutritional aspects associated with good health and/or weight loss. It is important to question the qualifications of each of the personal trainers. Some personal trainers only have a fair knowledge of health and fitness. Many other personal trainers have completed personal trainer courses provided by the fitness center itself, while some personal trainers are certified by universities and other third party institutions. In general, certified personal trainers will be the most knowledgeable regarding health and fitness, and will be able to provide the greatest amount of detailed information to the member. Athletic Clubs. Athletic centers or clubs provide a place for individuals to participate in virtually all of the amenities of a fitness center along with the ability to compete in a sport. Three Basic Types of Physical Fitness . To improve your fitness in these areas, you'll need to create different workouts by varying the intensities at which you perform your exercises, such as using more resistance to build strength, and working at higher speeds for short durations to build speed. For many people, basic fitness includes your ability to perform physical activity with a sound cardio, strength and endurance base. Types of Fitness. To exercise, work, do daily chores and play sports, you’ll need varying levels of cardiorespiratory capacity and stamina, muscle strength and endurance, footwork skills and speed. Training for one type of fitness often requires different types of exercises than training for another type of fitness. For example, strength training uses heavy weights and slower muscle movements than sprint training, which is performed with little resistance and high- speed muscle movements. These different types of fitness workouts recruit different muscle fibers and burn different amounts of fat and glycogen. It's best to focus on strength and endurance exercise during a sport off- season, and work on speed and recovery during the preseason and in season. Cardio Fitness. To get in top physical shape, you’ll need to work on three different areas of cardiorespiratory fitness. Capacity is the amount of work you can do, such as how fast you can perform a sprint or dash. Stamina refers to how long you can exercise. For example, a sprinter is faster than a marathon runner, but probably can’t run as long or as far as the marathoner. Anaerobic conditioning helps you work at very high intensities and helps you recover more quickly afterward. For example, many basketball players have no problem making fast breaks down the court, but afterward, you see them grabbing their knees, gasping for breath as they try to recover. Interval training consists of many high- intensity bursts of activity, each followed by a recovery period. These recovery periods, which occur many times during an interval workout, help you improve your ability to catch your breath after a point or play and recover for the start of the next one. Strength. Strength refers to the ability of your muscles to perform work at one time, such as lifting a heavy barbell. You build strength by putting enough resistance against your muscles that you cause damage to them. When your muscles repair themselves in response to this damage, they grow bigger. Since your heart and lungs are muscles, some people refer to your cardio capacity as cardio strength. Endurance. Endurance is your ability to perform physical activity over time. You might be able to serve aces and hit winning forehands and backhands, but if your muscles cramp or you run out of energy after a few games, you won’t win any matches. You build endurance by exercising for longer periods without stopping, working at a slower speed than when you interval train. This type of exercise is usually aerobic, calling on your slow- twitch muscle fibers and burning more fat than glycogen, depending on the speed you work. The slower you work, the higher percentage of your calories burned comes from fat. About the Author. Sam Ashe- Edmunds has been writing and lecturing for decades. He has worked in the corporate and nonprofit arenas as a C- Suite executive, serving on several nonprofit boards. He is an internationally traveled sport science writer and lecturer. He has been published in print publications such as Entrepreneur, Tennis, SI for Kids, Chicago Tribune, Sacramento Bee, and on websites such Smart- Healthy- Living. Smarty. Cents and Youthletic. Edmunds has a bachelor's degree in journalism. Photo Credits. Jupiterimages/Goodshoot/Getty Images.
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