History Of The Gym
Some of us love them, some of us hate them, but (like everything else) gyms have a history. The history of the gym begins in a land far, far, away called Ancient Greece ...
During those ancient days, young men (gyms were only for men during that time) met at local facilities in order to train both their minds and their bodies. Ancient Greeks believed that in order for the mind to remain sharp, the body must follow suit, which is why many young men were forced to attend local gyms. The Greek word “gymnasium” literally means “place to be naked,” and this is precisely how young men arrived to swim, study, and fight. Though the history of the gym began in Ancient Greece, the Germans were the next culture to adopt the theory of a fit mind and body (though German gym members showed up fully clothed).
Throughout Germany, many gyms were set up in order for young men and women to practice gymnastics at designated areas called “Turnplatz.” Though the Germans followed the Ancient Greek philosophies regarding physical fitness, these gyms were outdoors. During the year 1852, the first German indoor gym was built by a man by the name of Adolph Spiess, and after Spiess struck gold with his first Turnplatz, many other German families began to erect gyms across Germany. Though America eventually caught up with the gym fad, it wasn’t until the year 1848 that the first gym was built within the United States.
The American history of the gym began with a family that knew their land quite well. The two first American gyms were constructed by the Turner family amidst cities filled with German immigrants ... the Turners knew that newly arrived Germans would be seeking to practice gymnastics somewhere, and they were right. What were the two cities of choice? Cincinnati, Ohio, received the first Turner gymnasium, and St. Louis, Missouri, was the chosen spot of the second Turner gym. Both gyms were wildly successful, and the Turner family quickly started to build other gyms across the nation.
Though the Turners tried to build their gyms quickly, the 1920s meant prosperity and gyms began to pop up everywhere. Today, gyms are a large part of most people’s lives ... whether or not gym memberships are kept for long periods of time.
The history of the gym stretches from Ancient Greece to Germany and across the globe to America. Gyms have come a long way from (clothing optional) physical and educational centers though they are still highly popular meeting places. Today, gyms are a large part of most people’s lives, and many people could not live without the modern gym.