Recreational

• The Classical View of Leisure

  The classical view regarded leisure as a “state of being in which activity is performed for his own sake”

  • The most critical aspect of this view is a “state of mind” and that this state is brought about through activities engaged in for their own sake.
• Leisure as a Symbol of Social Class

  This view of leisure is traced back to Thorstein Veblen’s Theory of the Leisure Class (1899) which both described the conditions that brought about this view as well as helped to establish

  this meaning of the term.

  • Leisure here becomes the prerogative of an elite class that uses it to establish and maintain its position through such means of consumption.
• Leisure as a form of Activity

  According to this view, leisure is a non-work activity in which people engage during their free time

  • This leisure activity may serve specific functions such as relaxation, entertainment, or personal development.
• Recreation is difficult to separate from the general concept of play, which is usually the term for children's

  recreational activity.
• Ancient Egypt

  The Egyptian culture was a rich and diversified one.

  They engage in many sports as part of education and recreation including wrestling, gymnastic exercises, lifting, swimming, weights, and ball games.

  • Bullfighting was a popular spectacle and was religiously motivated
  • Music, drama, and dance were forms of religious worship as well as social entertainment.
  • Groups of female performers were attached to temples and the royal houses had troupes of entertainers who performed on sacred or social occasions.
  • Complex orchestras that included various stringed and instruments
• Ancient Greek

  • Athens, during the so-called Golden Age took great interest in arts, learning athletics.
  • the art of music, theater, gymnastics, and athletic competition were combined in these sacred competitions.
  • Musical events were also present offering contests on the harp and flute, poetry, and theatrical presentations.
  • Young children enjoyed toys, dolls, carps, kites, and seesaws. When boys, reached the age of seven, they were enrolled in schools in which gymnastics and music were primary elements.
  • They were instructed in running and leaping, wrestling, boxing, swimming, and ball games.
• Recreation and Parks in the Early 19th Century

  • Municipal parks became well established
  • New forest preserves, historic and scientific sites and wildlife protected areas were included in federal park systems.
  • Playgrounds, parks, public beaches, and picnic ground appealed to young people
  • Commercial recreation such as theme parks and casinos as well as wellness related facilities such as spas became popular.
• PRACTICE THEORY was propounded by Karl Groos in his two works 'The Play of Animals' and' The Play of Man'. He observed that play is a sort of preparation for adulthood. The child anticipates his future activities, and he prepares himself to meet the problems of life in anticipation.
• Self-Expression - Physical educators Elmer Mitchell & Bernard Mason saw play as the result of the need for self-expression.
• Play as a Social Necessity - is a biological, psychological, and social necessity that is fundamental to the healthy growth, development and well-being of individuals and communities.
• Physical Motivators:

  • Promoting Physical Health

  • Body Image

  • Disease Management

  • Weight Management
• Promoting Physical Health - Engaging in leisure and recreational activities can contribute significantly to maintaining and improving physical health. Regular participation in activities such as sports, exercise, or outdoor adventures can enhance cardiovascular fitness, strengthen muscles, and promote overall physical well-being.
• Body Image - For many individuals, leisure and recreation serve as a means to achieve or maintain a desired body image. Activities like fitness classes, sports, or outdoor pursuits can help individuals feel more confident and satisfied with their physical appearance.
• Weight Management - Engaging in physical activities through leisure and recreation can contribute to weight management goals. Activities that burn calories, such as hiking, cycling, or team sports, can aid in maintaining a healthy weight or achieving weight loss objectives.
• Social Motivators:

  • Being with Others and Reducing Loneliness

  • Social Norms and Growth

  • Social Status
• Being with Others and Reducing Loneliness - Leisure and recreational activities often provide opportunities for social interaction and connection. Participating in group activities, such as sports teams, clubs, or community events, can help individuals build relationships, reduce feelings of loneliness, and foster a sense of belonging
• Social Norms and Growth - Engaging in leisure and recreation activities exposes individuals to various social norms, roles, and relationships within different groups or programs. This exposure can contribute to personal growth and the development of social skills, as individuals learn to navigate and contribute to these social environments.
• Social Status - Historically, leisure and recreation activities have been associated with social status. In some societies, certain activities were reserved for specific social classes or ranks, reflecting the individual's position within the social hierarchy.
• Psychological Motivators:

  • Sense of Adventure, Excitement, and Challenge

  • Stress Management

  • Relaxation and Escape

  • Health Balance of Work and Play
• Sense of Adventure, Excitement, and Challenge - Many individuals seek leisure and recreational activities that provide a sense of adventure, excitement, and challenge. Activities like rock climbing, skydiving, or extreme sports can offer an adrenaline rush and a chance to push personal boundaries.
• Stress Management - Leisure and recreation can serve as a valuable outlet for stress relief and relaxation. Engaging in activities that promote mindfulness, such as yoga, meditation, or nature walks, can help individuals manage stress and achieve a better work-life balance.
• Relaxation and Escape - Many individuals turn to leisure and recreational activities as a means of escaping the demands and pressures of daily life. Activities like reading, watching movies, or taking a vacation can provide a temporary respite and allow individuals to recharge and rejuvenate.
• Health balance of work and play - The health balance of work and play serves as a pivotal psychological motivator in recreation, offering individuals a means to alleviate stress, enhance mood, and maintain overall well-being. By engaging in leisure activities, individuals can effectively recharge from the demands of work, leading to reduced burnout and improved mental health.
• Emotional Motivators:

  • Happiness and Well-being

  • Intellectual Outcomes

  • Spiritual Values and Outcomes
• Happiness and Well-being - Leisure and recreational activities can contribute significantly to an individual's overall happiness and emotional well-being. Engaging in enjoyable pursuits can foster positive emotions, improve mood, and promote a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction.
• Intellectual Outcomes - Certain leisure and recreational activities, such as reading, attending cultural events, or participating in educational programs, can stimulate intellectual growth and development. These activities can expand knowledge, enhance critical thinking skills, and promote personal enrichment.
• Spiritual Values and Outcomes - For some individuals, leisure and recreation serve as a means to explore and nurture their spiritual values and beliefs. Activities like meditation, yoga, or nature-based pursuits can provide opportunities for self-reflection, inner peace, and a deeper connection with oneself or a higher power.
• Benefits of Recreation:

  • Personal Benefits

  • Social Benefits

  • Economic Benefits

  • Environmental Benefits
• Personal Benefits - Leisure and recreational activities offer numerous personal benefits, including improved physical fitness, development of motor skills, increased self-confidence, a more positive outlook on life, stress reduction, enhanced self-image, opportunities to learn new skills, spiritual growth, improved problem-solving abilities, and the ability to set short-term and long-term goals.
• Social Benefits - Engaging in leisure and recreation can foster social benefits, such as opportunities to develop friendships, improved social skills, reduced feelings of alienation, exposure to new learning environments, promotion of sharing and understanding others, strengthening of family ties, promotion of cultural harmony, and group development.
• Barriers to leisure and recreation pursuits:

  • Economic Factors

  • Perceived Lack of Skills

  • Time Constraints

  • Other Constraints
• Perceived Lack of

  Skills - Some individuals may feel hesitant to engage in certain leisure and recreational activities due to a perceived lack of necessary physical or social skills, which can hinder their

  participation.
• Time Constraints - Work and family commitments can|

  often limit the available time for leisure and recreational pursuits, making it challenging for individuals to

  find opportunities to engage in these activities.
• Other Constraints - Additional barriers may include lack of motivation, poor self-image, age or gender-related limitations, lack of facilities or participants, lack of available resources, physical or mental | challenges, user fees, overcrowding, and location-related issues.