The 10-Main Components Of Fitness
Are you fit?
What does it really mean to be fit, and what does it take to get there? Many assume fitness comes down to a six-pack or a low body fat percentage — but true fitness is far more layered than appearance alone.
To answer this properly, the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) established national standards for physical training, outlining 10 components of fitness that define what "being fit" truly means — divided into health-related and skill-related categories. Together, these components form a complete picture of physical capability: not just how you look, but how well your body performs, moves, and holds up over time.
This is the foundation the BodyWisdom System is built on. Rather than isolating one component — like cardio or strength — in a vacuum, the System addresses fitness as a whole, integrating all 10 components into a sustainable, age-appropriate approach designed specifically for adults 50+. The goal isn't a temporary transformation; it's building a body that stays strong, capable, and resilient for the decades ahead.
Health-Related Components
The five key components of fitness are vital for maintaining overall health and well-being, and it's important for everyone to focus on them to ensure our bodies function as efficiently as possible.
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Body Composition: This refers to the ratio of lean body mass (including muscle, bone, and organs) to fat mass.
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Cardiorespiratory Endurance: This is the capacity of the heart, lungs, and blood vessels to deliver oxygen to the body during prolonged physical activity.
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Muscular Strength: This indicates the maximum force that a muscle can exert in a single effort.
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Muscular Endurance: This is the ability of a muscle to perform repeated contractions over an extended period.
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Flexibility: This represents the range of motion available around a joint.
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Skill-Related Components of Fitness
These components are often associated with athletic performance:
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Balance: The ability to maintain equilibrium.
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Agility: The ability to change direction quickly.
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Coordination: The ability to perform movements smoothly and accurately.
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Speed: The ability to move quickly.
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Power: The ability to exert maximum force in a minimum amount of time.
While these components are typically discussed separately, they often work together. A well-rounded fitness routine should include exercises that improve all of them.
While the secondary components are skill-related and often trained just by athletes or sports enthusiasts, they are as important as the primary components, and you should make them part of your fitness program.
