Fitness has many levels. Do we address them all with each training session? With our entire movement practice? The mainstream fitness industry address many sides of fitness, and at Epic, we’re interested in going even deeper. Let’s briefly look at the Four Faces, or Perspectives, of physical fitness.

First Face of Fitness

We are motivated by feelings, emotions, self image and enthusiasm. Any physical activity we practice serves to bring you enjoyment, emotions, and experiences ranging from brutal or challenging to refreshing and wonderful. Relative to this perspective, why do you exercise?

Second Face of Fitness

We are motivated by the science and story of how our body’s biology, chemistry, function, strength, power, and capacity. We think about muscles, fat, weight, range of motion, and other external factors. Relative to this perspective, why do you exercise?

Third Face of Fitness

We are motivated by the interplay between the body’s systems, or the relationships between, for example, two fighters, members of a team, teams in competition, and so on. The rules of the game, the systems we follow, the protocols we experiment with and results we achieve are all very important. Relative to this perspective, why do you exercise?

Fourth Face of Fitness

We are motivated by the commaraderie of teamwork, the thrill of competition, the shared community of a yoga class. How the relationships feel and the meaning they provide are crucial to us.Relative to this perspective, why do you exercise?

Now that you’ve looked into the faces of fitness and gained a new understanding that there is more to exercise than exercise, what will you do next?