An array of fitness plans have spiked in popularity over the years, leaving many confused about the fundamentals of exercise. To get to the core of assessing and improving your overall health, read on to understand the five major components of cardiovascular endurance and fitness.
- Cardiovascular Fitness
Also referred to as cardio-respiratory endurance, cardiovascular fitness is the cornerstone of achieving a healthy body. The cardiovascular system is comprised of your heart and lungs, and is responsible for transporting oxygen and fuel to all of your muscles. In short, the stronger your cardiovascular fitness is, the more efficiently the system functions. To improve your body’s internal engine and the foundation for all of your fitness achievements, prioritizing your cardiovascular fitness is key.
Cardio exercises entail a broad range of activities, including cycling, rowing, and running, as well as martial arts. Although self-defense is generally regarded as a series of specific techniques, systems such as Krav Maga emphasize full-body workouts that not only support self-defense, but give you a strong cardio workout. Additionally, it can make exercise less repetitive and more engaging.
- Muscular Strength
Muscular strength is the amount of force or resistance a particular muscle or muscle group can sustain. The main types of equipment used for building muscular strength are presses: leg press, bench press, shoulder press, and bicep curls. While building muscular strength is important, to achieve a balance in the body, one must strengthen all five components of fitness.
As a side note, muscular strength is always bolstered by mental strength. Since willpower is the drive that keeps you moving forward in strenuous exercises, it is crucial to keep a positive attitude and strong-minded thinking. Although exercise stimulates the brain to produce serotonin, your body’s natural hormones greatly contribute to your energy levels. Wellness centers, like The Hall Center cater towards fostering a healthy balance between mind and body, and can benefit your workouts in significant ways.
- Muscular Endurance
Endurance is the muscle’s ability to sustain weight or repeat weight lifts. The longer you can hold a weight, the more endurance that particular muscle group builds. To increase endurance, it’s best to do high-repetition exercises like pushups and situps. Repetitive, low-impact exercises are also ideal, such as swimming and running.
Emphasizing muscular endurance also allows you to exercise for longer periods of time, ensuring that your workout is thorough and sufficiently balanced.
- Flexibility
Flexibility—the most underrated aspect of personal fitness—includes the range of motion of joint groups and ligaments. High flexibility is not only important for daily tasks, but is also the best way to prevent chronic pain and back soreness. Concentration on flexibility can increase one’s quality of life by preventing regular aches and pains.
- Body Composition
Body composition is a measure of the percentage of fat in your body in comparison to lean body mass, which includes bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and organs. This is a great way to get an overall idea of your body’s fitness potential. The higher percentage of fat your body has, the more at risk you are for injuries and disorders. However, the four aforementioned components of fitness combine to improve your body composition.
Attaining a comprehensive level of fitness is more involved than simply lifting weights or keeping lean by practicing endurance exercises. It involves a wide array of activities to help your cardiovascular and muscular endurance, all while fortifying your flexibility and strength. The result is a strong body composition that amounts to better health and a higher standard of living.
To complete a full cardiovascular workout, you can try bettering your body composition while establishing its core component. In this way, it is possible to efficiently achieve your fitness goals, all while bettering your physical and mental being.