But the initial reasons for performing exercise are purely physical. The initial purpose of recreation is mental health. And if exercise is performed properly in a clinically-controlled environment, then it is not fun. Exercise is not supposed to be fun. If it is fun, then you should suspect that something is wrong.
Recreation is supposed to be fun.
Fun is the first requirement of recreation. The mistake is that most of us attempt to condition ourselves through the recreational activity. As a result, more than 20-million injuries were sustained last year as a result of exercise, recreational, and fitness activities in this country. That is more casualties, if you will, sustained in one year than the United States has sustained in all wars to date. And if 20-million people were injured in this country as a result of some dread disease such as polio or tuberculosis or AIDS or as the result of some criminal element, we would organize and band together.