--- title: What Does It Mean to Be Fit? A Broader Definition of Fitness description: Think you need to get in shape before starting yoga or fitness classes? Explore a broader definition of fitness and why you can begin right where you are. image: https://www.burningwheelyoga.com/hubfs/images/blog/Untitled%20design%20(7)-1.png --- [Skip to content](https://www.burningwheelyoga.com/yoga-insights-blog-burning-wheel-yoga-school/what-does-it-mean-to-be-fit-a-broader-definition-of-fitness#main-content) Close - [Our Method](https://www.burningwheelyoga.com/the-burning-wheel-method-8-limb-power-yoga-training-practice-system) - [Training Programs](https://www.burningwheelyoga.com/classes-pricing) - [Explore All Programs](https://www.burningwheelyoga.com/classes-pricing) - [Core Programs](https://www.burningwheelyoga.com/classes-pricing#core-training-programs) - [Strength & Conditioning](https://www.burningwheelyoga.com/classes-pricing#strength-and-conditioning) - [Yoga Flow](https://www.burningwheelyoga.com/classes-pricing#yoga-flow) - [Mindful Movement & Recovery](https://www.burningwheelyoga.com/classes-pricing#mindful-movement-recovery) - [Family Practice](https://www.burningwheelyoga.com/classes-pricing#family-practice) - 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[Teacher Training Schedule](https://www.burningwheelyoga.com/200-hour-yoga-teacher-training-certification-burning-wheel-yoga#calendar-schedule-details) - [Apply for YTT 2026](https://www.burningwheelyoga.com/200-hour-yoga-teacher-training-certification-burning-wheel-yoga#apply) - Private Sessions - [Private Yoga Sessions](https://www.burningwheelyoga.com/private-yoga-sessions) - [Astrology & Palmistry Sessions](https://www.burningwheelyoga.com/astrology-palmistry) - [Intuitive Healing Sessions](https://www.burningwheelyoga.com/intuitive-healing) - [About](https://www.burningwheelyoga.com/about-us) - [Blog](https://www.burningwheelyoga.com/yoga-insights-blog-burning-wheel-yoga-school) - [About Our Community](https://www.burningwheelyoga.com/about-us) - [Meet the Owner](https://www.burningwheelyoga.com/jordan-lashley) - [Meet our Instructors](https://www.burningwheelyoga.com/about-us#meet-our-instructors) - [Health & Safety Practices](https://www.burningwheelyoga.com/about-us#health-safety) - [Class Policies](https://www.burningwheelyoga.com/about-us#policy) - [Tutorial Videos](https://www.burningwheelyoga.com/about-us#burning-wheel-tutorials) - [FAQ](https://www.burningwheelyoga.com/faq) - [Contact Us](https://www.burningwheelyoga.com/contact-us) [Book a Class](https://www.burningwheelyoga.com/class-schedule) ![Untitled design (7)](https://www.burningwheelyoga.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/blog/Untitled%20design%20(7).png?width=575&name=Untitled%20design%20(7).png) [Jordan Lashley](https://www.burningwheelyoga.com/yoga-insights-blog-burning-wheel-yoga-school/author/jordan-lashley) Sep 24, 2026, 3:15:00 PM 8 min read # Think You’re Not Fit? You May Be Using the Wrong Definition of Fitness [Previous Post](https://www.burningwheelyoga.com/yoga-insights-blog-burning-wheel-yoga-school/hot-yoga-in-natick-ma-what-to-know-before-your-first-class) [See all blog posts](https://www.burningwheelyoga.com/yoga-insights-blog-burning-wheel-yoga-school) “*I’m not fit.*” People say this as though it describes something fundamental about who they are. Maybe you haven’t exercised in years. Maybe you can’t touch your toes. Maybe you get winded walking up a few flights of stairs. Maybe your body has changed with age, injury, work, children, or simply life. So you look at a yoga studio, gym, Pilates class, or fitness program and think: I should probably get in shape before I do that. But get in shape for what? *And what exactly does it mean to be fit?* ## We Have Made Fitness Too Small We tend to measure fitness physically: strength, endurance, flexibility, cardiovascular capacity, and body composition. These things matter. Your body is the vehicle through which you experience your entire life, and developing its capacity is worth doing. But physical fitness is only one dimension of being a fit human being. - You can run a marathon and be unable to sit quietly with yourself. - You can lift twice your body weight and fall apart when circumstances move beyond your control. - You can be incredibly flexible in your body and completely rigid in your thinking. - You can look remarkably fit and have relationships that are falling apart. So perhaps the question shouldn’t be: *How fit is your body?* The question we are asking is: *How fit are you for your life?* ## Fitness Is *Capacity* At its simplest, fitness is the capacity to meet a demand, along with the discernment to know which demands are yours to meet. Life places demands on us constantly. Some are physical: - Carry the groceries - Climb the stairs - Recover from illness - Move something heavy Others are harder to measure. Something goes wrong at work, or someone you love becomes upset with you. A relationship changes, you fail, or you succeed in ways that ask you to become someone new. You lose someone, become responsible for someone else, or watch your plans fall apart. You have to learn something unfamiliar, adapt to circumstances you didn’t choose, or begin again when you would rather remain where you are. All of these situations ask something of us. > Fitness is our capacity to respond. And sometimes fitness means recognizing that a demand isn’t ours to meet. Knowing what to carry, what to repair, what to release, and what must remain with someone else is also part of being fit for life. That kind of discernment doesn’t appear all at once; it can only be developed through practice. ## Fitness Can Be Trained This is the part I wish more people understood: fitness isn’t a category of people; it is capacity, and capacity can be developed. - If your body isn’t strong, strength can be trained - If your attention wanders constantly, attention can be trained - If you struggle to recover after stress, recovery can be trained - If difficult emotions overwhelm you, your capacity to experience them can grow - If relationships repeatedly expose the same patterns, those patterns can become places of practice You don’t need to already possess these capacities before you begin developing them. You don’t get fit so you can begin. You begin so you can become more fit. ## Fit for Your Life At Burning Wheel Yoga & Fitness, this is what we mean when we use the word *fitness.* Yes, we are interested in your physical fitness. - We want you stronger - We want you more mobile - We want you more capable - We want you more confident in your body But we are interested in the rest of you too! - Your heart and mind - Your nervous system - Your relationships - Your ability to adapt, recover, learn, connect, and respond skillfully to the circumstances of your life Over the next several articles, we’re going to explore each of these as a form of fitness. Because the goal isn’t simply to become fit for a workout. The goal is to become increasingly fit for the life you’re actually living. ### Start Where You Are You don’t need to get fit before you begin. Come practice with us at Burning Wheel Yoga & Fitness, wherever you are today. [Explore our classes](https://www.burningwheelyoga.com/class-schedule)and find a place to start. [Explore Our Classes](https://momence.com/u/burning-wheel-yoga-school-5C9WuE) ![avatar](https://www.burningwheelyoga.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/headshots/jordan/Jordan%20(1).png?width=290&name=Jordan%20(1).png) #### [Jordan Lashley](https://www.burningwheelyoga.com/yoga-insights-blog-burning-wheel-yoga-school/author/jordan-lashley) Owner of Burning Wheel Yoga School, Lead Instructor, Stained Glass Artist: Jordan Lashley is a seasoned yoga instructor with over 18 years of experience. Certified in Baptiste, Jivamukti, and Yin Yoga, he brings a deep understanding of yoga philosophy to his classes. Known for his dynamic flows, he combines physical rigor with spiritual teachings, encouraging students to find balance in all areas of life. Jordan is also a dedicated mentor to newer teachers, guiding them on their own paths in yoga. [mailto:jordan@burningwheelyoga.com](mailto:jordan@burningwheelyoga.com) ## RELATED ARTICLES Button Title - [View Schedule](https://www.burningwheelyoga.com/class-schedule) - [Explore the Method](https://www.burningwheelyoga.com/the-burning-wheel-method-8-limb-power-yoga-training-practice-system) - [Contact](https://www.burningwheelyoga.com/contact-us) - [Leave Us A Review!](https://g.page/r/CR4YaL6H54E3EAI/review) ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "Organization", "address" : { "@type" : "PostalAddress", "addressCountry" : "United States", "addressLocality" : "Natick", "addressRegion" : "MA", "postalCode" : "01760", "streetAddress" : "12 Washington St" }, "email" : "hello@power.com", "knowsLanguage" : "en", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://40088438.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/40088438/branding-logo-fles/1-1.png" }, "name" : "Burning Wheel Yoga & Fitness", "telephone" : "+49 (0) 89 123 456", "url" : "https://www.burningwheelyoga.com/yoga-insights-blog-burning-wheel-yoga-school/what-does-it-mean-to-be-fit-a-broader-definition-of-fitness" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "abstract" : "Think you need to get in shape before starting yoga or fitness classes? Explore a broader definition of fitness and why you can begin right where you are.", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Jordan Lashley" }, "dateModified" : "September 28, 2026 5 PM", "datePublished" : "September 24, 2026 7 PM", "headline" : "Think You’re Not Fit? You May Be Using the Wrong Definition of Fitness", "image" : "https://40088438.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/40088438/images/blog/Untitled%20design%20%287%29-1.png", "inLanguage" : "en", "keywords" : "[Yoga Insights, Practice Off the Mat]", "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@type" : "WebPage" }, "name" : "Think You’re Not Fit? You May Be Using the Wrong Definition of Fitness", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://40088438.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/40088438/branding-logo-fles/1-1.png" }, "name" : "Burning Wheel Yoga & Fitness" }, "text" : "“I’m not fit.” People say this as though it describes something fundamental about who they are. Maybe you haven’t exercised in years. Maybe you can’t touch your toes. Maybe you get winded walking up a few flights of stairs. Maybe your body has changed with age, injury, work, children, or simply life. So you look at a yoga studio, gym, Pilates class, or fitness program and think: I should probably get in shape before I do that. But get in shape for what? And what exactly does it mean to be fit? We Have Made Fitness Too Small We tend to measure fitness physically: strength, endurance, flexibility, cardiovascular capacity, and body composition. These things matter. Your body is the vehicle through which you experience your entire life, and developing its capacity is worth doing. But physical fitness is only one dimension of being a fit human being. You can run a marathon and be unable to sit quietly with yourself. You can lift twice your body weight and fall apart when circumstances move beyond your control. You can be incredibly flexible in your body and completely rigid in your thinking. You can look remarkably fit and have relationships that are falling apart. So perhaps the question shouldn’t be: How fit is your body? The question we are asking is: How fit are you for your life? Fitness Is Capacity At its simplest, fitness is the capacity to meet a demand, along with the discernment to know which demands are yours to meet. Life places demands on us constantly. Some are physical: Carry the groceries Climb the stairs Recover from illness Move something heavy Others are harder to measure. Something goes wrong at work, or someone you love becomes upset with you. A relationship changes, you fail, or you succeed in ways that ask you to become someone new. You lose someone, become responsible for someone else, or watch your plans fall apart. You have to learn something unfamiliar, adapt to circumstances you didn’t choose, or begin again when you would rather remain where you are. All of these situations ask something of us. Fitness is our capacity to respond. And sometimes fitness means recognizing that a demand isn’t ours to meet. Knowing what to carry, what to repair, what to release, and what must remain with someone else is also part of being fit for life. That kind of discernment doesn’t appear all at once; it can only be developed through practice. Fitness Can Be Trained This is the part I wish more people understood: fitness isn’t a category of people; it is capacity, and capacity can be developed. If your body isn’t strong, strength can be trained If your attention wanders constantly, attention can be trained If you struggle to recover after stress, recovery can be trained If difficult emotions overwhelm you, your capacity to experience them can grow If relationships repeatedly expose the same patterns, those patterns can become places of practice You don’t need to already possess these capacities before you begin developing them. You don’t get fit so you can begin. You begin so you can become more fit. Fit for Your Life At Burning Wheel Yoga & Fitness, this is what we mean when we use the word fitness. Yes, we are interested in your physical fitness. We want you stronger We want you more mobile We want you more capable We want you more confident in your body But we are interested in the rest of you too! Your heart and mind Your nervous system Your relationships Your ability to adapt, recover, learn, connect, and respond skillfully to the circumstances of your life Over the next several articles, we’re going to explore each of these as a form of fitness. Because the goal isn’t simply to become fit for a workout. The goal is to become increasingly fit for the life you’re actually living. Start Where You Are You don’t need to get fit before you begin. Come practice with us at Burning Wheel Yoga & Fitness, wherever you are today. Explore our classes and find a place to start. 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