Just like diet, when it comes to fitness & exercise there are as many gurus, experts, & opinions as there are people on the planet. So, let’s get the most basic purpose behind fitness & exercise clear:
“A proper exercise or fitness regimen, at its core, optimizes oxygen utilization & waste removal within the body while maximizing neural connectivity throughout the body.”
An out of shape person starting a workout, will notice that his/her body quickly steps up to the challenge and as the sessions go on, the workout gets easier. That’s when the intensity & duration of the sessions is increased. This entire process is the sign that the body getting better at oxygen processing. Additionally, the individual will feel more centered, alive, and healthy which is a sign of neural connectivity.
The longer this process continues, the more prevalent and pervasive its benefits become. Every cell, organ, and system within the body strives to maximize its usage of resources while equally ridding itself of waste products. The process at its most fundamental level is called ‘Cellular Respiration.’
As is often the case in nature, designs tend to replicate themselves. Just as we are social creatures, & ‘no man is an island’, within the body, the cells, organs, and systems must work in balance and harmony with each other. The fastest and the best mode of communication found throughout the body is via the neural network. The binding of this neural network happens at the synaptic junctions. So, it is no surprise that the optimization of this connectivity comes at its core from synaptogenesis (synapse creation) & synaptic pruning (synapse fine tuning). This process is called ‘Synaptic Regulation.’
Together, enhancement of these 2, Cellular Respiration & Synaptic Regulation, are the end result of any healthy fitness or exercise routine! So for our purposes, any whole body activity that optimizes these factors is considered a good exercise, & is guaranteed to result in overall fitness of an individual….
If you are interested in feeling capable, strong, centered, alive, & healthy, follow us as we dive deeper to learn ‘Fitness Basics!’