Module I
INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL EDUCATION, HEALTH AND
WELLNESS
• Definition, aim, objectives and importance of physical education.
• Definition and Importance of Health.
• Meaning and concept of wellness.
Physical education is an essential and integral part of the total education
program and makes significant contributions toward the achievement of
desirable education and health outcomes through the medium of physical
activity. Physical Education is the process by which changes in the individual
are bought about through movements’ experiences. Physical Education aims not
only at physical development but is also concerned with education of the whole
person through physical activities.
Physical education classes teach the health benefits of regular exercise and
healthy food choices along with the risks of inactivity and poor diet. Students of
all ages might be asked to dedicate themselves to making a few small
improvements in diet and exercise.
Physical education also helps students develop social skills. For example, team
sports help them learn to respect others, contribute to a team goal, and socialize
as a productive member of a team.
Charles A. Bucher defines physical education, an integral part of total education
process, is a field of endeavour which has as its aim the development of
physically, mentally, emotionally and socially fit citizens through the medium
of physical activities which have been selected with a view to realizing these
outcomes.”
PHYSICAL EDUCATION DEFINITIONS
• Physical education, an integral part of total education process, is a field of
endeavour which has as its aim the development of physically, mentally,
emotionally and socially fit citizens through the medium of physical
activities which have been selected with a view to realizing these outcomes.”
: - Charles A Bucher
• Central Advisory Board of physical Education and Recreation defines
“Physical education as an education through physical activities for the
development of total personality of the child to its fullness and perfection in
body, mind and spirit”.
• Jackson R. Sharman points out that physical education is that part of
education which takes place through activities, which involves the motor
mechanism of human body which results in an individual’s formulating
behaviour patterns.
All the above definitions differ significantly with regard to emphasis on
different aspects but still have many common elements as noted below ;
• Physical education is a phase of total educational process
• It is a sum of total experiences and their related responses.
• Experiences and its responses developed out of participation in big
muscular activities.
• All round development of individual – physical, mental, social and
moral
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Aim of physical education, like general education, is to develop human
personality in its totality well planned activity programs. In another words,
physical education aim at the all-round development of the personality of an
individual or wholesome development of human personality and it includes
physical, mental, social, emotional and moral aspects to make an individual a
good citizen who is able to make contribution in process of nation in one’s own
way. Thus physical education means at making an individual physical fit,
mentally alert, emotionally balanced, socially well adjusted, morally true and
spiritually uplifted.
➢ According to J. E Williams the aim of physical education is to provide
skilled leadership, adequate facilities and ample time for the individual
and the groups to participate in activities that are physically wholesome,
mentally stimulating and socially sound.
➢ According to National Plan of Physical Education and Recreation, “the
aim of Physical Education must, be to make every child physically,
mentally and emotionally fit and also to develop in him such personal and
social qualities as will help him to live happily with others and build him
up as a good citizen.”
To summarise, the aim of physical education must be to make every child
physically, mentally and emotionally fit and also to live happily with others and
build him up as a good citizen
OBJECTIVES OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Objectives are certain definite steps which lead towards aim. The term
objectives are in general sense used to describe aims, purpose and outcomes that
are desired from participating in the physical education programme.
The American Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation stated
five major objectives;
1. To help children move in a skilful and effective manner in all the selected
activities in which they engage, in the physical education programme.
2. To develop an understanding and appreciation of movement in children
and youth so that their lives will become more meaningful propulsive and
productive.
3. To develop an understanding and appreciation of certain scientific
principles concerned with movement that relate to such factors as time,
space, force and mass energy relationship
4. To develop through the medium of games and sports better interpersonal
relationship
5. To develop various organic systems of the body, so they will respond in
healthy way to increased demands placed on them.
J. B. Nash listed four objectives of physical education they are;
1. Organic development: by organic development it is meant that the end
results of training process that achieved physical power for the individual
through varieties big muscular activities the normal functions of the body
are developed and improved and organic development is achieved.
2. Neuro-muscular development: it refers to the individual’s physical
characteristics having body control, efficient movements and co-
coordinative abilities. The individual’s motor mechanism will be very
smooth and efficient so that no energy is wasted due to wrong and
unwanted movements and the individual possess good control over his
movements and skills.
3. Interpretive development: this aspect indicates that activities or training
will help the individuals to make judgements and interpret situations
correctly. The individual gain the capacity to analyse the situation and
make proper decisions which will result in the best results.
4. Emotional development: it refers to the individual’s emotional stability
and capacity to keep his nerves in all situations. The individual goes
through emotional responses that he meets challenges and enjoys success
and have confidence in his capabilities.
IMPORTANCE AND SCOPE OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Physical education which is commonly a part of the curriculum includes
training and maintaining ones physical body through educational means.
Physical education is also about sharpening overall cognitive abilities and motor
skills via, athletics, exercise and various other physical activities.
Physical education considered the child as united whole of mental, social, moral
and physical qualities and provides for the optimum development of all these
through the physical activities. Here are some of the benefits that highlight the
importance of physical education.
Physical growth and development- physical activity must be learned; hence
there is a need for thinking on the part of the intellectual mechanism, with a
resulting acquisition of knowledge.
Intellectual development- physical activities are essential for the development
of child’s scientific insight, intelligence and superior type of reflective thinking.
Emotional development- physical education provides opportunities to control
emotions. The give and take of games and sports offer scope for both emotional
release and the controlling of the emotion.
Social adjustment- physical activities provide opportunities of interaction
between participants and others in varied situation enabling them to learn social
qualities like sportsmanship, co-operation , honesty, friendship, courtesy, self-
discipline and respect for authority which promote social adjustment of an
individual
Personal adjustment- physical education gives a full and worth – while
experience to the individual which help him to realize fullest self-expression
and highest satisfaction from the results of his action and there by facilitate his
personal adjustment in life.
Character development – group effort loyalty to the teams and strong ties is
present in play and physical activities. They provide a valuble contribution to
the development of good moral character
Physical fitness – physical education through exercises and knowledge about
one’s body and its requirements contribute immensely to physical fitness.
Regular exercise improves our physical efficiency, sense of well-being and
appearance.
Mental development- the learning of skills, game, rules, technique and
strategies, and judgement make equipped an individual to interpret new
situation effectively. Physical education programme also make an individual
aware regarding the importance of sanitation, health and hygiene, prevention of
disease, balanced diet and health habits there by improving the mental
development.
Worthy use of leisure time- it develops among the individuals wholesome
attitudes towards play and physical activities and cultivates recreational
activities and hobbies which help them to use the leisure time in worthwhile
way.
DEFINITIONS AND IMPORTANCE OF HEALTH.
• The World Health Organisation (WHO) has defined health as: “a state of
complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the
absence of disease or illness or infirmity”
• Health is the body's functional and metabolic efficiency, and its ability to
adapt to the physical, mental, and social changes that it is exposed to.
• Health is the factor that helps a person performs his daily life tasks in a
correct and right way.
A person's physical health means that the body does not have any diseases in all
parts of his body, and the safety of all its membranes. While mental and social
health is represented by the ability of a person to accomplish social tasks
entrusted to him without defect or error.
Health has an important role in feeling happy, as there are many people who
suffer from diseases, but the health enables them to fight diseases, as a result,
they achieve physical fitness and feel comfortable or enjoy life like any normal
person.
The importance of good health in a person’s life is undoubtedly great. In this
article, we will highlight some important points that fully define the importance
of health in our lives.
➤A healthy person is a person who is able to serve himself, his nation and his
community. An unhealthy person who suffers from illness sees him weak and
meager, unable to properly carry out the duties and responsibilities incumbent
on him.
When the disease develops, the person becomes dependent on other people and
cannot meet his different needs in life, which affects his psyche as well due to
his sense of helplessness and weakness.
Society is also affected by the presence of the disease among its members, as
the productivity of these patients weakens and they become dependent on
society.
As for the presence of healthy individuals in society, this means the presence of
productive individuals who possess the power and the ability to give and serve.
➤The importance of health for a person is that it saves him the costs of
treatment and the hassle of going to hospitals.
A healthy person who is far from the disease sees him saving money that he
would have spent on the disease if he neglected his health, so it is always said
that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure".
You see many governments that are exposed to the spread of epidemics and
diseases among their members spend a large part of the money to buy
medications to treat these cases.
You also see governments and societies that are concerned with the safety of
their people focusing on aspects of prevention and health guidance.
➤Psychologically healthy people feel comfortable and happy in their lives and
enjoy life well.
A person who suffers from mental illnesses always sees him as a gloomy and
pessimist and does not feel happy in his life and in his relationships with people.
While you see a healthy person enjoying happiness in his life, establishing his
relationships with people and showing love, kindness, and intimacy.
Finally, a person must consider many matters and behaviors in life in order to
avoid diseases that interfere with his life and to know that illness may be part of
the many trials that a person is exposed to.
How can You Achieve Good Health and Well Being?
The following ways can help you achieve good health and well-being:
Eat healthy meals:
What you eat is closely related to your health. Eating a healthy diet can help
boost your immune systems, help you maintain a healthy weight and can
improve your overall health.
Add more fruits and vegetables to your diet:
Include fruits, vegetables, grain products, leafy greens, salmon, etc. in your
diet. Adding fruits and vegetables is an ideal basis to start a healthy routine.
Drink a lot of water:
Drinking a lot of water keeps muscles and joints working, increases the amount
of water in your blood, promotes healthy skin and cardiovascular health and
helps cleanse toxins from your body.
You can save a lot of money and improve your health by drinking water all day.
Get regular exercise:
Do a moderate workout for at least 30 minutes a day, as exercise can help
prevent heart disease, stroke, colon cancer, and diabetes.
Lose your extra weight:
Lose weight if you are overweight. If you want to lose extra weight, you have to
reduce the number of calories you consume, so you have to become a good
record-keeper.
If you are obese, losing weight can mean "less heart disease, less cancer and less
diabetes.
Wash your hands before eating a meal:
Hand washing before eating is a good habit and an effective way to prevent
infection.
If you eat something without washing your hands, it is possible that the bacteria
and germs that remain on your fingers and palms can be moved into your
mouth.
This can affect your overall health and cause diseases and infections.
Protect your skin:
Your skin is the first layer of defense in the body, and you need to protect it. In
summer, a lot of sunlight is very harmful to your skin cells because UV rays
damage or even kill your skin cells.
In winter, fluctuations, redness, allergies and irritation are common skin
diseases among many of us.
Cold temperatures and low humidity levels create dry air that pulls moisture
away from the skin. Therefore, protect your skin in both seasons.
Get enough sleep:
Sleep plays an important role in good health and well-being throughout your life
because it enables the body to repair and be fit and ready for another day.
Getting enough sleep at the right times may help prevent physical health
problems such as excess weight gain, heart disease, protect your mental health
issues and improve your quality of life and safety.
Prevent substance abuse:
Avoid smoking, tobacco, alcohol, caffeine and sugary drinks. Smoking, alcohol,
and tobacco consumption are harmful to your health, so avoid such things as
soon as possible.
When you quit, you will greatly reduce the risk of death from lung cancer and
other life-threatening diseases such as heart disease, stroke, emphysema,
chronic bronchitis, etc.
Make your lifestyle choices better:
You can understand what you should do to enjoy a healthy, happy life.
Poor lifestyle choices contribute significantly to the development and
progression of preventable chronic diseases.
Improve your lifestyle, adopt healthy lifestyle choices and create good and
healthy habits so that you can make healthy changes in your life.
Carve out time to exercise and find a way to ratchet down stress and depression.
WELLNESS
Wellness is the act of practicing healthy habits on a daily basis to attain better
physical and mental health outcomes, so that instead of just surviving, you're
thriving. Maintaining an optimal level of wellness is absolutely crucial to live a
higher quality life. Wellness matters because everything we do and every
emotion we feel relates to our well-being. In turn, our well-being directly affects
our actions and emotions. It’s an on-going circle. Therefore, it is important for
everyone to achieve optimal wellness in order to subdue stress, reduce the risk
of illness and ensure positive interactions.
Creating balance in our lives is an important part of wellness. A balanced life
can mean many things, depending on culture, circumstances, resources, and
other factors. Balance means making sure we have time to do the things that
make us feel happy and fulfilled. This includes working, having fun, spending
time with family and friends, participating in the community, being physically
active, praying, relaxing and sleeping. Wellness is much more than merely
physical health, exercise or nutrition. It is the full integration of physical,
mental, and spiritual well-being.
In understanding the difference between health and wellness, in short, health is
a state of being, whereas wellness is the state of living a healthy lifestyle (3).
Health refers to physical, mental, and social well-being; wellness aims to
enhance well-being.
