The word gym is derived from the ancient Greek word “gymno’ which means “naked” and the word gymnasium literally means “a place to be naked”. In Ancient Greece, the gymnasium was a place where young men were offered education instruction and physical training. Since physical education was an essential part of their curriculum, all men were given compulsory training.
There were well-stocked libraries in the gymnasium so that the men could study after physical training.
A German gymnastics instructor named Fredric Jahn is well known as the father of gymnasiums. He joined forces with the Turners (a 19th century political movement) to promote gymnasiums in Germany. In 1852, Adolph Spiess built the first indoor gymnasium in Hesse. The famous American baseball player Lou Gehrig, also known as “The Iron Horse”, was a frequent visitor to the Turner gym in New York City. In 1820, the first college gymnasium was built at Harvard University specifically for its students. It was well equipped with all sorts of gymnasium apparatus. The gymnasium was upgraded in 1860 by adding two bowling alleys and dressing rooms. During the same period, The United States Military Academy at West Point and other colleges in the US all started constructing gyms.
The YMCA or the Young Men’s Christian Association has played a very significant role in the rising popularity of gyms all over the world. The aim of the YMCA was to build a healthy mind, spirit and body for all. This was achieved by building gymnasiums across the world for people’s social, intellectual and physical development. Towards the beginning of twentieth century, gymnasiums thrived in the United States as well as in Europe. Almost all high schools and colleges had a gymnasium in their campus. Moreover, using a gym was incorporated in the school curriculum as a part of sporting activities.
Due to the increase of ailments such as cardiac problems, diabetes and obesity, more and more people today are adopting a healthy lifestyle by doing some exercise in the gym. Most modern gyms have state-of-art equipment. Some common fitness equipment includes treadmills, twisters, cross trainers, rowing machines, seated chest presses, vertical chest presses and arm curls.
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