The term "wellness" is defined as: "An active process of becoming aware of and making choices toward a more successful existence."¹  "A more successful existence"—what a wonderful image that conjures up: health, wholeness, and physical well-being. Exercise and fitness are some of the key ingredients to achieving this vibrant state.  

This Center for Health and Wellness page will help answer the following questions:

1. What defines exercise and physical activity?
2. What are the benefits of exercise and physical activity?
3. What are the components of a successful physical fitness program?
4. How much exercise do we need?

What is Exercise and Physical Fitness?

Exercise is "planned, structured and repetitive physical activity done to improve or maintain one or more components of physical fitness."² Physical fitness is "a set of attributes that people have or achieve that relates to the ability to perform physical activity."³ According to the Centers for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, less than 50 percent of adults engage in the amount of exercise recommended for optimal health; 16 percent do not engage exercise at all; and almost half of 12 to 21 year olds are regularly inactive. What does it take to get more people interested in exercising?...