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enquiry
January 2009 
what is integral fitness?
Posted on Feb 27th, 2008
by 
Uli
Uli
I am introducing a power plate in my pilates studio and finally launching a website (pilatesintheberkshires.com) and it all made me think about what integral fitness really means, meaning fitness in all four quadrants, inner outer, individual and collective (see Wilber AQAL).
A few things come to mind right away: The relationship between thought (inner) and what the body can do (outer) - and also in reverse - what should being in great shape mean about the inner attitude (see interview with Frank Zane in What Is Enlightenment magazine 39, he is very impressive!)
When is it time to push and when is it time to 'let things happen'?
How do the collective aspects fit into this? We are part of a culture and the way we move/ work out/ are healthy or not affects a lot of people. But what about the inner aspect, teh bottom left quadrant - does anyone have thoughts here?
Lots to keep going with...
A few things come to mind right away: The relationship between thought (inner) and what the body can do (outer) - and also in reverse - what should being in great shape mean about the inner attitude (see interview with Frank Zane in What Is Enlightenment magazine 39, he is very impressive!)
When is it time to push and when is it time to 'let things happen'?
How do the collective aspects fit into this? We are part of a culture and the way we move/ work out/ are healthy or not affects a lot of people. But what about the inner aspect, teh bottom left quadrant - does anyone have thoughts here?
Lots to keep going with...
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That is the external community quadrant I believe, well I think this is impacted strongly by individuals actions impacting externally on the whole.. Examples are the pollution in the air we breathe, the drugs and other chemicals medicating our drinking water, the loss of childhood innocence so early, nuclear power more than doubling a childs risk of leukaemia if they live within 5 miles, chemicals entering / polluting, our homes in the things we buy eg fire proofing chemicals and cleaning materials. Harmful chemicals in non organic food and the ready meal / drinks industry. So individuals are failing to tink of the impact their actions have on others, or at least playing God and kidding themselves some harm is acceptable for short term benefits and failing to eamine the long term accumulative results.
Thank you Zephyr for commenting! I agree, integral fitness in the outer collective would have to include systems to make sure the air, food, water and infrastructure are clean, it's probably no coincidence that the fitness and the environmental movement have developed alongside each other - just occurred to me….once you work out, you want to eat well to and then…a lot follows.(not for body builders necessarily, I guess)
btw - the powerplate turns out to be really effective and fantastic- a great way to get poeple hooked on exercise actually, since it takes so little time and feels so good!