11 Components Of Fitness​

We all aspire to be fit or in shape, but what does that really mean? Do you have to be an athlete to achieve fitness? How can you get there, and how much time should you invest doing it?

To answer these questions, the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) has developed national standards for physical training. These standards outline 11 components of fitness that help define what it means to be fit.

Regardless of age, the first five are health-related components crucial for our well-being. The next six are athletic components, often trained by athletes or sports enthusiasts. However, they are equally important for everyone, especially balance and coordination, which tend to decline with age. It's essential to regain and maintain these components in our golden years to prevent the risk of falls.

1. Body Composition: The relative percentage of body fat compared to lean body mass (muscle, bone, water, etc.).

2. Cardiovascular Fitness: The circulatory system’s ability (heart and blood vessels) to supply oxygen to working muscles during exercise.

3. Flexibility: The range of movement possible at various joints.

4. Muscular Strength: The amount of force that can be produced by a single contraction of a muscle.

5. Muscular Endurance: The ability of a muscle group to continue muscle movement over a length of time.

6. Balance: The ability to maintain an upright posture while still or moving.

7. Coordination: The ability to use your senses, like vision and hearing, along with your limbs, to perform tasks smoothly and controlled.

8. Speed: The ability to move quickly from one point to another in a straight line.

9. Agility: The ability of the body to change direction quickly.

10. Reaction Time: The amount of time it takes to get you moving.

11. Power: The ability to perform strength work at an explosive pace.