Ask ten people what ‘fitness’ means, and you’ll get ten different answers. For one person, it’s running a marathon. For another, it’s picking up their grandchild without pain.
Fitness isn’t one-size-fits-all; it’s deeply personal.
The dictionary defines fitness as “the quality or state of being fit” which doesn’t help a whole lot. To each person, it means something different, and being a personal trainer has given me some insight into what it means to different age groups. And what I have found is very fascinating.
Fitness in Youth: Aesthetics and Belonging
Young people often chase aesthetics, comparing themselves to influencers on social media. Sometimes this drives healthy habits; other times, it creates unhealthy pressure.
While wanting to look a certain way can motivate you to get started on your journey, the feeling that comes after you have done the hard work is what keeps you going back for more. For young people, being active also provides a sense of community; you meet other people who are chasing goals just like you are. This is very important for all age groups, but especially important in the early years of someone’s life, when they are looking to fit in.
Fitness in Adulthood: Strength, Balance, and Mental Health
While the desire to look good never fully disappears, it gradually shifts into something deeper: wanting to feel good, move well, and stay capable in daily life.
This may mean being able to get down onto the ground without knee pain to play with your children. Or wanting to keep your strength, so you can still do projects around the house. Even something as simple as lifting your own luggage into the overhead bin can be a powerful reason to stay fit.
Many of my clients use fitness as an escape. Even 15 minutes of movement can reset your mindset. Whether you decide to exercise for the physical benefits or the mental benefits, either way is important as we age. It is a healthy way to release stress and do something for yourself.
So, next time you are thinking about skipping your yoga session, workout, or even your walk for the day, remember that it can be the difference between feeling stressed out about the world or being proud of yourself for finding even a small amount of time to do something for yourself.
Fitness in Retirement: Longevity and Quality of Life
In retirement, fitness often shifts toward longevity and quality of life.
A client of mine that I have been training for almost 3 years now told me that “exercise is life or death” to him. He is 82 years old, and he is a huge inspiration to me. No matter what goes on in life, he always shows up with a smile on his face and works his butt off until the session is over. His goals are to be able to play pickleball and continue to do house projects. And he amazes me every time I hear about how he just painted another room or changed out another faucet.
The fascinating thing about fitness is that it means something different to every single person on the planet. There’s no universal definition of fitness. The only one that matters is yours. So define it, pursue it, and let it carry you into the life you want to live.
