Jedi and Phyiscal Fitness

I was wondering if staying in good physical shape was mandatory or optional ? for a Jedi Knight or Master in either the Old order of New.

From the looks of most Jedi they do seem in pretty good shape but never know if you could use the force to help you not gain any weight.

 

I would imagine that it's encouraged, although the force probably doesn't play an active role in that. They lead a pretty spartan life, which probably helps that.

 

I'm not sure, but I think Yoda said something about that in ESB novelization.

 

In the Old Order, they probably kept fit through a combination of

1) Regular exercise (most missions involved them doing fairly physical stuff)
2) Spartan living (I can't see them eating big meals)


New Order, same reasons, but they have more of an opportunity to pig out* as they all don't bunk down in a temple.

* Especially the wealthy ones, like the Skywalkers and Solos.

EDIT: There have, however, been Jedi that have been a little..."festively plump".

Micah Giett was certainly stacking on the pounds, and he was a member of the Council. (Until he died of a non-food related incident, and was succeeded by the fitter Ki-Adi-Mundi).

 

Check out Luke and Winter's conversation in chapter 4 of Dark Force Rising.

 

Jedi were expected to keep in good physical shape, becuase they needed to be in tune with their bodies as well as the Force.

 

Yeah, it's like Mara's lessons to Anakin on Dantooine. Hell yeah, you can use the Force to do everything if you want, you could pick yourself up like a puppet and then you might never have to move again. But what the frell are you going to do when you need it? I think the OJO also viewed overuse of the Force very sternly.

"Master Obi-Wan would be very grumpy if he caught me doing this." - Anakin