The Role of a Fitness Center in Your Health and Wellness Journey

Fitness centers don’t just play any role in your health and wellness journey—they’re one of the main characters in this story. 

From promoting physical health to elevating mental, emotional, and social wellness, these spaces are here to be your sanctuary that will inspire you to achieve various goals. 

Here at Edgemont Athletic, the leading fitness center in Calgary, we’re flipping through the pages of what it really means to attain health and wellness—and why a fitness center plays an instrumental role in this journey.

Table of Contents | The Role of a Fitness Center in Your Health and Wellness Journey  

1. What is Health and Wellness
2. The Six Dimensions of Health and Wellness 

• Physical Wellness
• Emotional Wellness
• Intellectual Wellness
• Social Wellness 
• Spiritual Wellness
• Occupational Wellness 

3. The Relationship Between Health and Wellness
4. How Going to A Fitness Center Supports Your Health and Wellness

• Professional Guidance and Support 
• A Comfortable Space to Exercise 
• Access to Top-Tier Equipment and Facilities
• Diverse Classes and Physical Fitness Programs
• A Supportive Community to Help You Stay Motivated and Accountable 
• Social Interaction 
• Stress Relief

5. The Leading Fitness Center in Calgary: Edgemont Athletics
6. Fitness Centers: A Main Character in Your Health and Wellness Story

What is Health and Wellness?

Whether it’s a social media post hyping up a new must-try salad recipe or your friends telling you to cut back on coffee, hit the gym, and finally fix your body clock, the importance of health and wellness pops up in our daily conversations pretty often. 

No matter where we look, health and wellness is strongly emphasized. And no matter how many times we try to shrug it off and go against the rules, in our core, we know it should be a priority.

But when was the last time you took a deep dive into the true meaning of health and wellness to ignite your passion to chase after it?  

Here’s the gist of it: despite being used interchangeably, health and wellness have two very different concepts. 

Health

The World Health Organization (WHO)’s definition of health is “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity (illness).” 

Health is often categorized into different types:

• Physical Health: The condition of the body
• Mental Health: The state of mental and emotional well-being
• Social Health: The ability to form positive interpersonal relationships

Wellness

On the other hand, the Global Wellness Institute defines wellness as “the active pursuit of activities, choices and lifestyles that lead to a state of holistic health.” According to them, wellness is “proactive, preventive, and driven by self-responsibility.“

The Six Dimensions of Wellness

Wellness encompasses various dimensions—including, physical, mental/intellectual, emotional, spiritual, social, and environmental wellness. Each of these elements is interconnected with the others. Ultimately, the goal is to find a good balance among them that fits with your personal values and lifestyle.

1. Physical Wellness

Physical wellness is all about maintaining a healthy body through regular exercise, proper nutrition, sleeping well, and avoiding harmful habits. 

Understanding your body’s unique needs is crucial in preventing chronic illnesses. At the same time, it also involves seeking the assistance of healthcare providers to treat conditions as needed.

So, the keywords you’ll want to keep in mind here are physical activity, a balanced diet, regular check-ups, and keeping your circadian rhythm in check. (Yes, that means turning the TV off when it’s time to sleep—and not telling yourself it’s the last episode for tonight—only to end up binge-watching another three episodes at 2 AM.) 

2. Mental/Intellectual Wellness

Mental wellness or intellectual wellness refers to nurturing your mind through lifelong learning, creativity, and critical thinking. It involves an ongoing desire to discover new concepts, improve skills, and seek challenges in pursuit of lifelong learning. This can include reading, problem-solving, and pursuing intellectual interests.

The goal here is to improve cognitive function and enhance overall brain health. So don’t be afraid to open your mind to new ideas and experiences that can be applied to personal decisions, group interaction, and community betterment.

What we mean is: complete that puzzle project that’s been collecting dust on your bookshelf. Join that painting workshop and let your creativity thrive. Enroll in that masterclass that will turn you into a certified expert. If it positively impacts your mental health, just go for it. 

3. Emotional Wellness

Emotional wellness encompasses the awareness, understanding, and acceptance of your feelings—and the ability to manage effectively through challenges and change. It includes coping with stress and expressing emotions appropriately, having a positive and optimistic approach to life, and enjoying life despite its occasional disappointments and frustrations.

Developing emotional intelligence and resilience is the key to enhancing emotional wellness.

4. Spiritual Wellness

If you’re having trouble finding meaning and purpose in life, maybe that’s a wake-up call to enhance your spiritual wellness to cultivate comfort, hope, and inner peace.

Whether you find purpose through spiritual practices of religion, meditation, or community involvement, spiritual wellness means having a set of guiding beliefs, principles, or values that give direction to your life. At the core of it all, you’ll find that it’s about a sense of connection to something greater than oneself, whether it be nature, religion, or a higher power. 

5. Social Wellness

Building and maintaining positive relationships with others helps us achieve better social wellness. It involves effective communication, empathy, and the ability to create a supportive social network. Social wellness can improve mental health, reduce feelings of loneliness, and enhance overall quality of life. Rather than just scrolling on social media for two hours—why not go out and connect with the important people in your life instead? 

6. Environmental Wellness

Just like how you’d protect your home from danger, don’t you think the Earth deserves the same amount of care from you? After all, it is your home planet. 

That’s where environmental wellness comes in to round things up. 

Environmental well-being includes trying to live in harmony with the Earth by understanding the impact of your interaction with nature and your personal environment—and taking action to protect the world around you.

The Relationship Between Health and Wellness

Health and wellness are entirely different and yet tightly interconnected. Health is a part of wellness, but it’s only one component of the whole picture. 

Here’s how that works: Someone might be considered physically healthy in a clinical sense but may be mentally stressed or socially isolated at the same time. On the other hand, there could be an individual who’s battling an illness and would therefore not be classified as “healthy.” But if they maintain positive relationships with family & friends, connect with nature, and still pursue intellectual interests, they would be considered to have a high level of wellness. 

You’ll quickly realize that health & wellness is a two-way street. Health often lays the foundation for wellness. Without basic health, it can be challenging to pursue wellness effectively. On the other hand, striving for wellness can lead to an improved overall health status. 

How Going to A Fitness Center Supports Your Health and Wellness

Now that you have a better understanding of health and wellness, where’s your inner compass pointing toward?

Could it be nudging you in the direction of a top fitness center in Calgary?

Beyond promoting physical wellness, it’s also a space where you can strengthen your mental health as you expand your fitness knowledge, elevate your social wellness as you connect with like-minded individuals, and boost your emotional wellness as you navigate the various triumphs and challenges involved in achieving better fitness. 

Overall, a fitness center is a one-stop source for keeping various dimensions of health and wellness in check. 

1. Professional Guidance and Support

Most fitness centers employ certified trainers who can provide professional guidance. From crafting personalized workout plans and ensuring proper form to prevent injuries to providing motivation & support, their expertise will be instrumental in helping you reach elevated physical wellness. 

As a leading fitness center in Calgary, you’ll find that Edgemont Athletic’s personal training plans are just the thing you need to fuel your further in your health and wellness journey. 

2. A Comfortable Space to Exercise

The best gyms in Calgary or the best fitness centers tend to be more accessible than other forms of physical activity, offering a safe and controlled environment that is less dependent on weather conditions and outdoor environments. Even if you have to cancel your jogging session because of heavy rains, you can still hit your physical wellness goals for the day by dropping by your gym in Calgary. (No excuses this time!)  

3. Access to Top-Tier Equipment and Facilities

It’s difficult not to feel inspired to achieve physical wellness when you’re surrounded by top-tier fitness equipment and facilities. 

Most of the gyms in Calgary are stocked with a wide range of exercise machines. This access allows individuals to perform a variety of workouts that can target different body parts and cater to various fitness levels.

From cardio machines like treadmills and ellipticals to strength training equipment such as free weights and resistance machines, a fitness center provides you with all the tools you need to create a well-rounded workout routine. Physical wellness, here we come! 

4. Diverse Fitness Classes and Physical Fitness Programs

Many fitness centers and gyms in Calgary also offer group classes and other specialized programs to help diversify your routine. As a result, it’s not just your physical wellness that thrives because of this. Learning the various skills that each class or program has to offer is bound to give your mental wellness a nice boost as well. 

5. A Supportive Community to Help You Stay Motivated and Accountable

There’s nothing quite like surrounding yourself with others who share similar goals to help you stay motivated, accountable, and inspired to push yourself further. Whether you’re participating in group yoga or cycling fitness classes, exchanging workout tips with fellow gym-goers, or seeking advice from a personal trainer, the sense of community at a fitness center can be a powerful motivator in helping you achieve your health and wellness goals.

6. Social Interaction

Just as you read earlier in this blog—social wellness is a major component in this health and wellness journey. 

And when you step into a fitness center, you kill two birds with one stone. You get to check off your physical wellness goals for the day while meeting new people who share a similar passion for fitness. The next time you find yourself torn between working out or socializing during your two hours of free time, you already know what to do. *wink*  

7. Stress Relief 

When stress starts to take its toll on your health and wellness, it’s time to unplug, step back, and enter a space where you can relax and recenter. 

Regular physical activity is known to be a powerful stress reliever. Fitness centers can serve as your sanctuary where you can take a break from the stresses of daily life. 

The Leading Fitness Center in Calgary: Edgemont Athletics

At the end of the day, you’re looking for more than just a gym in Calgary. A fitness center that features various top-tier classes and amenities will make your health and wellness journey all the more inspiring. 

Enhance, sustain, and attain improved health and wellness within a supportive community. Experience luxury fitness at its finest right here at Edgemont Athetlic. 

Fitness Centers: A Main Character in Your Health and Wellness Story 

Health and wellness shouldn’t have to be put on your waiting list. 

As the leading fitness center in Calgary, we’ll be your valuable ally in bringing you to the top of your health and wellness game.

Start your journey today. View our membership plans or contact us today to learn more.

Take a look at our other guides:

• Comparing Gym Membership: Experience Luxury Fitness at Edgemont Athletic
• A Guide to Yoga Classes and Their Benefits at Edgemont Athletic 
• Calgary Personal Trainer: The Benefits of One-On-One Training 
• Experience Indoor Tennis Excellence at Edgemont Athletic