Fitness training is regular, structured activity designed to promote health in human beings. There are many different definitions of what constitutes health, but appropriate weight, strength, and endurance for one's age, build, and gender are usually among the major goals addressed by fitness training. When combined with dieting and other light activities, this kind of exercise can drastically improve overall health. General fitness training often consists of aerobic exercise, strength training, and stretching. Most people approach fitness training with specific goals in mind, such as weight loss or increased strength, and therefore create training plans that work more toward these goals than others.
Many fitness training programs begin and end with stretching every day. A program that integrates fitness into the entire day rather than in a specific period of the day reserved for exercise might include stretching upon waking and before going to bed. Stretching may also be more than just a prelude to actual exercise, as is the case with certain types of yoga.
Strength training is commonly included in fitness programs, although it is not always specifically identified as increasing strength. While weight training directly addresses the issue of strength, tai chi improves strength in many areas without resistance. Improvements in strength often occur naturally as the result of increased activity. Even so, fitness training often aims to increase strength beyond what is required for certain activities by stressing muscles out of the context of those activities.
Aerobic training is a major part of most fitness programs because it is absolutely essential for weight loss and overall health. Many different aerobic activities may be included in fitness training, but running, biking, and swimming are all popular. This kind of fitness is often the hardest to maintain for people who have relatively inactive professions, such as working in an office. As such, gyms and fitness facilities often offer many different kinds of aerobic exercise classes.
People often turn to fitness programs in order to achieve a physique that conforms to a popular idea of physical beauty. While becoming fit often achieves this goal, regular exercise can also prevent certain diseases, keep a person from getting injured, and help reduce stress. There are also training regimens that can help a person recover from very specific illnesses or injuries and prevent them from happening again. Fitness training can be tailored to meet any goal, limited only by a person's ability to make time for and commit to the program.