:

LEISURE, RECREATION,
AND WELLNESS
“Don’t drop out, drop in.
Don’t cop out, compete.
Don’t exit, excel.”

Pierre Elliott Trudeau

Leisure versus
Recreation
Leisure
 Leisure is defined as the productive, creative, or
contemplative use of free time.

 Free time that can be spent as you see fit

 Activities making up your unstructured free time

 Many different possibilities

 Not necessarily planned use of time,

but not necessarily wasted time

 Body’s chance to rejuvenate itself

 Leisure is:

“time when one is free to relax and do as one wishes.”

“freedom from time-consuming duties, responsibilities, or activities.”

“the time when you are not working or doing other duties.”

“time spent in or free for relaxation or enjoyment.”

Recreation
 The dictionary defines recreation as the process of giving
new life to something, of restoring something.

 Participation in an activity that you enjoy

 An activity that will improve us or restore us in some way

 E.g., playing sports, watching TV, downloading music, or

playing video games, cooking and baking, gardening
 Recreation is:

“the refreshment of one’s mind or body after work through activity that amuses or
stimulates.”

Recreation is “refreshment of the strength and spirits after toil; amusement;

diversion; sport; pastime.”

Recreation is “an activity that diverts or amuses or stimulates.”

 Kinds OF recreation

1. Active - these are activities that

requires significant physical and
mental energy.
ex. Hiking, jogging, aerobics, and
rock climbing
2. Passive- activities that don’t
exert much physical and mental
energy.
Ex. reading, playing, fishing, and listening to
music, gardening, playing computer games,
and watching television or movies.
 SPORTS- all forms of competitive physical
activity which through casual or organized
participation, aim to use, maintain or improve
physical fitness and provide entertainment to
participants.
-usually governed by a set of rules or
customs, which serve to ensure fair
competition
 TYPES OF SPORTS
 1. NON- COMPETITIVE- your competitor is
yourself. E.g. overcoming fear of heights-
bungee jumping
 2. COMPETITIVE – requires a winner
 E.x. boxing
 3. EXTREME- something risky
 Ex. Motorcross, sky-diving
Historical Development
of Recreation: A Brief
Overview
Renaissance Period
(1350–1600)
 Upper-class

 Painting, music, literature, science, and education

 Well-educated man could ride, fence, dance, and paint

 Great cultural movement in the arts and education

Reformation Period
(1500s–1600s)
 Protestant work ethic introduced to colonial America

 Recreation and leisure were earned through daily hard work

 “Work before play”

 Ample time for recreation and leisure = lazy and a loafer

Industrial Revolution
(1700–1900)
 Working-class
 No time or energy
 Few leisure opportunities
 Visiting the taverns or pubs

 Middle class
 Modeled upper class
 Playing the piano, singing, and
drama

 Upper class
 Enjoyed many forms of recreation
 Bird watching, fishing, cricket, polo,
and hunting
Roaring 20s
 People began to recognize the need to enjoy leisure time

 Hard work followed by deserved recreation and leisure

 Touring in the newly invented automobile
 The Charleston in illegal after-hours clubs
 Jazz
 Gambling
Depression Years
(1929–1945)
 Recreation became less formal

 People came together

 Played their musical instruments
 Had picnics at the local beaches
 Went swimming
 Conducted square dances
 Made ice cream were the norm

 Big bands and swing music were

popular

 Attending the movie theatres (with

sound)
Modern Era
(1950–Present)
 Fundamental changes in 1950s
 + Middle-class citizens had extra money for fun and leisure
 + Finish work each evening with leisure activities
 + Faster transportation = travel
 + Early retirement and enjoyment
 + Municipal multipurpose recreational facilities
 - Technological advancements took over for PA

 Present
 Although technology can provide hours of recreation, it does not
necessarily promote a healthy and active lifestyle
Recent Developments
 Shift in recreation priorities from working long hours

 Family recreational activities are on the rise

 More family time
 Adapted programs and facilities
 Parents spend time on children’s recreation

 Adult sports leagues, golf, skiing, and

fitness memberships

 Do we live to work or do we work to live?

Factors Promoting the Growth of
Recreation

 The following are the factors that help bring

about the growth of recreation:

 Increase in discretionary time

 Influences of technology
 Public interest in health and fitness
 Commodification of leisure
 Therapeutic recreation service
 New leisure roles for women
 1. Increase in discretionary time
A key factor underlying the growth of recreation has been the growth of
free or discretionary time in 20th century. Due to advanced mechanical
equipment and automated processes in factories, agriculture and the
service fields, productive capacity increased remarkably during the second
half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century

In addition, more holidays and longer vacations are now enjoyed by more
employees, because of improved Social Security benefits and pension plan
as well as medical advances which lead to a longer life, many employees
can now avail of fifteen or more years of full time leisure after retirement

Another reason is that labor saving devices such as automatic washing

machines, lawnmowers, microwave oven, and vacuum cleaners have
greatly simplified the demands of life.
2. Influences of Technology
 Sophisticated technology has provided new forms of
recreation for the people. Outdoor recreation uses complex
and expensive devices in activities such as skydiving, hang
gliding, scuba diving, boating, roller blading, skiing, and
now boarding.
 Computer dating provides a new form of social contacts for
single adults. Video games offer interactive competition or
exposure to new varieties of play settings and “virtual
realities”.
 The internet has become an important part of travel and
tourism by providing information and facilitates
reservations and vacations choices. Home-based recreation
has become dependent on varied forms of electronic
entertainment
3. Public interest in health and fitness

 A key trend in the 20th century is the growth of

public interest in exercise and physical fitness
programs.
 Many people are now concerned about
improving their health, vitality, and appearance
through diet and exercise. Those who exercise
regularly look and feel better. Research showed
that the most successful fitness programs were
those that provided recreational interest and
satisfaction.
4. Commodification of leisure

 Various forms of recreation are being developed by

profit seeking businesses. Giant corporations have
taken control of music, television, movie businesses,
sports stadiums, cruise ships, theme parks and other
leisure operations.
 Many elaborate new facilities which offer varied
forms of recreation are being developed as part of
the trend toward commodification. In big cities,
huge public fitness centers which includes pools,
aerobics, dance rooms, and facilities for family play
are being built and often charge membership fees
that cost several hundred dollars a year.
5. Therapeutic recreation service

 An important aspect of the growth of recreation has been the

increased awareness of the recreation needs of persons with
physical, mental or social disabilities. In recent years there has
been an increased recognition of the need to provide
recreational programs for special populations such as the
mentally retarded, mentally ill, and physically challenged.
Theses programs use therapeutic recreation as a form of
treatment
 One of the sports programs for people with disabilities that has
received much attention in recent years is the Special
Olympics, an international program of physical fitness, sports
training, and athletic competition for children, and adults with
mental retarded.
 6. New leisure roles for women

 At present, there is a strong drive for women to play a more

equal role in recreational opportunities.
 In the past, women were barred from a variety of athletic,
outdoor recreation, cultural, and social involvements.
 Women were treated as second-class citizens in leisure
opportunities with the emergence of a strong feminist
movement, this inequality was corrected.
 There is now growing interest in women’s tennis, gold,
gymnastic, track and field, and similar events in every level of
competition. Outstanding women athletes have helped create a
new image of feminine strength, determination, and self-
confidence.
Trends
 An increase in all fitness activities
 A surge in travel and tourism
 In addition to a continuation of traditional
recreation and leisure activities, special
programs targeted toward at-risk youth
and children are also being developed
 Several additional products in the
commercial sector
 Additional learning and adventure
opportunities for the elderly, such as
Elderhostel
 Forms of Recreation/Leisure Activities
1. Going to Resort Areas
Resort Areas
-are geographic areas that have become well
known regionally, nationally, or internationally, as
centers for some recreational activities.

Ex. Boracay, Dakak, Mactan Is.(Cebu)-known

as beach resort areas.
 2.Visiting Theme Parks

-best known and most interesting modern

entertainment center.
-it refers to a tract of land on which a developer has created
a series of exhibits, rides, and other elements (f & b outlets,
stores, souvenir shops, accommodation)that tend to be
designed around some unifying idea.

Ex. Disneyland Hongkong

-uses the cartoons characters created by Walt Disney.
 3. Gaming

-Another term for Casino Gambling

-is probably the fastest growing and most

powerful force today in tourism.

-is found on the water as well as in land-based

location.
Kinds of Water-based Gambling
a. Riverboat Gambling
-gambling conducted on a boat

b. Barges Gambling
-gambling conducted on a barge that are
permanently moored and
have no engines or other means of
locomotion.
c. Casino Cruise
-gaming conducted in a ship.
Best known Centers for Gaming Activity

a. Las Vegas, Nevada

b. Laughlin, Nevada

-this two are most popular for Casino Hotel

c. Reno, Nevada

d. Atlantic City, New Jersey

4. Attending to Performances

-Millions of people travel regularly to the

thousands of performances that take place all
over the world.

Ex. Watch plays-London

-see musical / opera houses-New York

-watch acrobats, magicians, jugglers, circuses

5.Witnessing Events-Important
Activities(Parades, ceremonies, competitions)
Ex. Independence Day Celebration
World Youth Day Religious Ceremony
Ms. Universe/ Ms. World/ Ms. International
Contests

6.Engaging in Hobbies (Special interests)

Ex. Fishing and boating- Island Cove Resort in
Cavite
 7.Going on Cruises

Cruising
-an important attraction
-often sold as packages with airfare, transfers, and
the actual cruise.
 Appealing Features of Cruising

a. Large quantities of excellent food (breakfast,

lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, midnight buffet suffer)

b. Activities and Entertainment

(exercise / swimming in pool, activities

includes cards, bingo, dance lessons, sports,
- and movies, gambling).
c. Weather
-voyages take place in the warm climates of
Mediterranean, Caribbean, or along the Mexican
Coast.

d. Elegance and Comport

-some with luxury resort hotels
facilities are theaters, nightclubs, casinos,
saunas exercise room, beauty and barber
shops, and activities.
 8. Watching Sports
-also great tourism builders

Ex. Olympics games

-increase tourism and economic activity in the place
where the game is held.
-Summer Olympics
-Winter Olympics
-Boxing Championships
9. Visiting National, Regional, and
Local Parks
10. Engaging in Outdoor Activities
11. Attending Fairs and Festivals
-another class of entertaining activities that tend to
increase tourism all parts of the world.
Trade Fairs
-an exhibition at which businesses in a particular industry
promote their products and services.
Festivals
an organized series of concerts, plays, or movies,
typically one held annually in the same place.

Ex. Manila Film Festival

Ati-atihan Festival
Pahiyas Festival
12.Camping
3 Kinds of Camping
1.Primitive Camping
associated with public lands-forests and
large national parks.

the areas set aside are normally unimproved

and appeal only to dedicated backpackers
who are willing make the best of it for a few
nights.
2.Transient Camping

for people who intend to remain for no more than a

few nights.

areas are somewhat improved with

-

electricity, bathing facilities and toilets.

3. Vacation Camping
-for people who plan to spend a greater number
of nights at a single site-4 nights to several
weeks.

with electricity, bathing facilities.

-some provide cabins, stores and recreational

facilities for such activities as baseball, volleyball,
swimming, boating and water skiing.
13.Taking tours to see Landmarks, sights,museum

-every nation of the world has its own special

collection of unique sights for tourists to see.
14. Shopping at malls or Discount Outlets
-has long been a favored pastime
Malls-are enclosed structures designed to
accommodate many stores and common walkways
under one roof, making shopping possible in any
weather.
-with hundreds of retail shops, department stores
and varied enterprises as banks, restaurant, food
markets, theaters, childcare facilities, arcade.
Discount Outlet Centers

-collection of retail stores specializing in the name-

brand merchandise at discount prices.