The Purpose of Fitness
How aerobic, anaerobic, and HIIT training mirror the way we should live
Fitness is about more than health, sports and my body - it’s a teacher. As a boy in the 70’s the only exercise available was playing sports and running around the neighborhood. Jogging was so new that people thought it might be ‘unhealthy’ and advertisers touted the benefits of smoking on TV, radio and print.
Fast forward 40 years, and I was all-in to boutique fitness: I bought a Peloton, was CEO of a 600-unit barre-based franchise, owned a rowing studio, practiced yoga and lifted weights. I wasn’t alone: fitness had become a $838 billion global business (with gyms about $46B of that), with new wellness concepts opening weekly. What I have seen is that aerobic, anaerobic, and HIIT exercise – the core ways we work out today - don’t just build the body, they connect mind and body, and offer lessons on how to live with greater purpose.
Lesson 1: The Mind-Body Connection
Working out is never just about the body. The weights, the sweat, the exertion on my Peloton bike, the flow of a yoga class – they are all physical, yes, but something much deeper is happening too. The mind and body are in constant dialogue, and exercise is the language they share.
When you step into a workout, you feel the stress of the world loosen its grip. Breath steadies. Muscles fire. Your focus narrows down to the moment – the next rep, the next pose, the next beat. That presence is powerful. It’s mindfulness without sitting still, meditation in motion. And when your body responds, the mind follows. You leave not only stronger but calmer, more centered, better equipped to handle the drama of life.
Science backs this up with endorphins, dopamine, lowered cortisol – but I think of it more simply: movement clears the fog. The body works, the mind wakes. It’s why so many of us walk into a gym, or onto a trail, heavy and walk out light. Fitness can become a daily practice of aligning what’s physical and what’s mental, reminding us that they’re never truly separate.
Lesson on Purpose: When you move your body, you move your mind. Exercise isn’t only about strength or endurance – it’s about clarity, resilience, and balance. The next time life feels heavy, remember that the path forward might start with a single step, a deep breath, or one rep.
Leson 2: Endurance Wins (Aerobic Exercise)
Aerobic exercise — running, biking, swimming, a brisk walk — is about sustained effort. You can tell you’re in the aerobic zone when your heart rate rises but your breathing stays steady enough to hold a conversation. It’s not easy, but it’s manageable. Over time, your body adapts to use oxygen more efficiently, building endurance.
Your maximum heart rate is calculated by taking 220 minus your age. As a 60 year old, my max heart rate is 160 beats per minute bpm. The aerobic rage is 50-85% of max, for me that is 80-136 bpm.
Lesson on Purpose: Success is often about showing up consistently. Just as steady breathing carries you through miles, consistent effort carries you through life’s longer journeys. I do my best to start each day by moving my body – it can be stretch, or 20-minute yoga practice, but these habits put me in position for long-term health and endurance.
Lesson 3: Strength Comes From the Burn (Anaerobic Exercise)
Anaerobic exercise — heavy lifting, sprinting, cycling uphill at full effort — is a different story. Here your heart rate spikes high, and your breathing becomes too labored for full sentences. Muscles burn because your body can’t deliver oxygen quickly enough to your muscles, so it switches to short-term energy stores. The process, known as anaerobic glycolysis, converts glucose to lactate. It’s uncomfortable as lactic acid contributes tot muscle fatigue, but that discomfort is the signal that strength and power are being built.
Lesson on Purpose: Growth comes when you lean into intensity. Life’s sprints — crises, deadlines, bold opportunities — will leave you breathless, but they also build resilience. When we push through the burn, strength lies on the other side of discomfort.
Lesson 4: Balance Is the Secret (HIIT)
HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) combines both worlds, and my favorite way to workout — short bursts at near-anaerobic effort, followed by recovery that lets your heart rate and breath settle before the next push. The most expansive fitness gyms in the US are HIIT focused (Orange Theory, F45, Pure Barre); they are fun, instill community and are very effective. You can’t sprint forever, and you can’t coast forever either. The rhythm of exertion and rest is where real gains happen.
Lesson on Purpose: Real life is interval training. There are seasons of hustle and seasons of recovery. Purposeful living means embracing both — pushing hard when it counts and resting enough to go again.
The Purpose Behind It All
Fitness reminds us that endurance, intensity, and balance aren’t just workout strategies — they are life strategies. The mind / body connection is real. Show up consistently, push through discomfort, and honor the rhythm of work and rest. That’s how you build not only a stronger body, but a stronger, more purposeful life.