Natural Health September 2017

FITNESS & Weight Loss
How fit
are you for
your age?
It’s only human to work out what you’re good at –
then do that on repeat.
Take running 5km for example. You might be able
to do it without even breaking a sweat, but ask you
to hold pigeon pose for 60 seconds? Unbearable.
Too many of us focus on one type of exercise, such
as a weekly run or spin class, rather than having
a varied exercise routine that covers strength,
stamina and mobility.
5 components of physical
fitness
There are actually five components of physical
fitness: muscular strength (think power), muscular
endurance (think time), cardiovascular endurance
(think heart and oxygen pumping exercise over
time), body fat composition (think compared to
muscle) and finally flexibility (think mobility).
An effective fitness program will attempt to improve
all five components.
Exercise is important at any age but as we get
older exercise becomes even more important for
our mental and physical health,” says Associate
Professor Briony Dow, Director of the National
Ageing Research Institute.
But just how ‘fit’ should you be
at your age?
Sure push-ups and burpees are important, but
this list proves it takes more than just cardio to
be defined as ‘fit’. Here is the checklist for each
generation, as shared by Virgin Active fitness
expert Tim Wright with The Telegraph. How do
you rate?
44 Natural Health * September 2017 VOL 83