It seems to be that most of the commenters here are less than 25yrs old, if that old.
Recreation, leisure and hobbies is and was always part of Avodas Hashem. Music from the time of the LEVIIM, running and jogging from Naftali and his tribe and boating, sailing from Zevulun crowd. Seriously our many gedolim were music composers, artists and poets. Isnt that leisure and recreation? As one who spend a few summers in camp bais yakov in ferndale, new york in the late 1970s (I know your grandparents werent even married then..LOL), the fierce daily and weekly RACKET BALL games that Rav Nisson Alpert ztk”L played against other Rabbonim (most still alive & physically fit)was super amazing, enjoyable and competitive. They all owned a good pair of sneakers and T shirts.
In Eretz Yisroel it is frequent for Rabbanim, Talmedei Chochamin to partake in heavy-duty tiyulim, with climbing, jumping and ending in a swim. In Slabodka and Europe, swimming was the most enjoyed sport and CHESS was played daily among talmidim and teachers. Have you see the pics of all the REBBE’s playing violin at hadlakos neiros? Woodworkcrafts (building shtenders, seferim shelves), silver smiths, and designing artistic windows for shuls was a hobby and parnassa. Horsebackriding, carriage treks were a knowledge of most. The interests (carpentry, silver designs, chess, swimming, horseriding) change with the times. Now it is basketball, tennis, keyboards & drums, jogging marathons, suduki, crossword puzzles & riddles, Settler & Card games.
Stop fooling yourselves and rewriting history into 24/7 sitting and shteiging. Its a new phenomenom, created just recently. There are yichidim who are dedicated to 24/7 schedule and they should be admired BUT not copied by others. Hashem gave us life, health, happiness and tremendous opportunities to find avenues to be an Aved Hashem through the physical, spiritual, emotional and artistic avenues. Find yours and excel.