The P-E-A-C-H Paradigm

by John McCarthy


The five foundational benefits of regular exercise are: Performance (P); Experience (E); Appearance (A); Control (C); and Health (H).

Thus, the five letters, P-E-A-C-H, represent all of the major benefits of regular exercise, and, taken together, constitute the PEACH Paradigm.

The miracle of the principal product that clubs provide is that this one activity-i.e., regular exercise-can contribute so much to each of these important dimensions of life.

The converse is also true. The opposite of regular exercise-i.e., sedentary living-can do enormous damage to each of these components of a full and rewarding life. To be specific:

First, regular exercise improves performance: e.g., athletic performance, professional performance, academic performance, parental performance, interpersonal performance, intellectual performance, and emotional performance. Regular exercise gives us more strength, more stamina, more energy. It makes us more alert, promotes creativity, intensifies mental focus, relieves stress and anxiety, etc.

Second, regular exercise enhances experience: It negates anger and negativity. It elevates mood and spirit. It bolsters self-image and self-confidence. It helps one to think more clearly and constructively. And, by relieving stress, anxiety, and depression, it makes us more emotionally expansive and receptive to relationships with others.

Third, regular exercise improves appearance: Without the benefit of workouts, it's difficult to be lean and firm, or to look vibrant and strong. Exercise helps us to control our weight, our shape, our physique. And, by doing so, it adds to our energy, our vitality, and our self-confidence-all of which, themselves, are crucial to attractiveness. Fourth, regular exercise gives us more control over all of the fluctuating factors that affect our bodies and spirits. Physically, it helps us control our weight, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, insulin receptivity, etc. Emotionally, it helps us control stress, anger, moodiness, and depression.

Finally, there is that central and most important benefit of regular exercise: health-which, as it were, is the center leg of this five-legged table. Health is the foundation, a vital support, for the other four legs, for, without it, performance, experience, appearance, and control all suffer. But regular exercise also produces a host of specific, health-related benefits, reducing the risk of obesity, diabetes, stroke, heart disease, osteoporosis, many forms of cancer, hypertension, depression, anxiety disorders, insomnia, cognitive decline, and Alzheimer's disease, among others.

The five blessings conferred by regular exercise are the fuel that propels the health club industry. The future prospects and formidable promise of this industry are based on the fact that there are few people anywhere who don't want to elevate their performance, enhance their experience, improve their appearance, increase their control, and, of course, maintain their good health.


John McCarthy is former executive director of IHRSA.