Ok, I have a problem. I think I’m a poly-gymnasiast. I’ve tried commercial gyms such as LA Fitness and 24 Hour Fitness, health clubs such as the New York Sports Club and even University gyms at UCLA and NYU. I’ve always thought they’ve been around forever and never really thought twice about how they originated, from where and when. So without further adieu, here are 10 things I never knew about gyms:
(1) The term gym was originally derived from Ancient Greece with their use of the word γυμνάσιον (gymnasion). This word was used to describe a place for both physical and intellectual education.
(Photo via Patrick Hoesley)
(2) Back in Ancient Greece, physical education was deemed just as important as intellectual education and therefore the gym housed both an area for exercises as well as a library. It’s interesting to think that today most gyms focus solely on physical education (if that), instead of a place for intellectual and even creative stimulation (check out our post for 4 Healthy Habits for Highly Creative People).
(3) In the early 19th century, the term gymnasia were used to describe German outdoor facilities used to teach gymnastics.
(4) In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Germans helped open and promote the first gyms in Cincinnati and St. Louis.
(Photo via Waterloo Library)
(5) The first YMCA was opened in Boston in 1851. Within 10 years the YMCA had grown to about 200 facilities across the nation.
(Photo via eagle102.net)
(6) The 1920s saw even larger growth of indoor gyms as elementary, middle and high schools began integrating physical education within their curricula. Unfortunately, this trend has been declining in the past several years as federal cuts have decreased funding for physical education programs. As a result, currently there are only 5 states that support and require physical education from kindergarten through 12th grade.
(7) Nine out of the top ten largest high school gymnasiums in the United States are in Indiana (the largest gym seats up to 9300 spectators – aka The Largest Venue for Awkward High School Proms).
(8) In the 1930s, boxing gyms were popularized and promoted exercise and sparring training for boxers and fighters.
(9) The 1970s saw the rise of chain gyms such as Gold’s Gym. The first Gold’s Gym was opened in 1965 in Venice Beach, California. And hence, saw the growth of beach body builders and the face of Southern California beaches were never the same.
(Photo via Roberto Verzo)
(10) American gyms are a $700 million industry and it is estimated that 12% of Americans go to the gym regularly.
So there you have it. Originally used to provide both physical and intellectual education for young Greeks, to teaching gymnastics in Germany to finally expanding to the hundred million dollar industry it is today in the United States.
Featured Photo via CherryPoint
The commercial gym industry is full of shit.
1)Most in-house trainers don't really care about getting their clients to meet their goals. From my observation[and I've had memberships to LA Fitness, Equinox, local gyms, Gold's), less than 1 out of 10 trainers pushes a simplified/abbreviated full body routine to a HEALTHY and ABLE client of just squats/deadlifts/bench/chins. They push stupid bosu ball exercises, triceps kickbacks, burpees(which aren't bad in themselves but shouldn't be a foundation of a program), prescribe lots of cardio to grind the client into the ground, and way too many core exercises. I've NEVER seen an in-house trainer make a client keep his/her own workout log. It's not always the trainers fault either: a trainer who puts a client on a simple strength program[unsexy] with compound barbell exercises can't compete with the trainer who makes it look like their client is having a good time in the gym. And do trainers even talk a sound nutrition plan? Because 70% of having a great body is diet(and I don't mean caloric restriction).
2) Way too many machines and cardio. If you've been in the strength game for awhile, you know that these things don't lead to better/healthier/stronger bodies. These strength machines and Smith machines don't really help people do develop real strength/coordination. The Smith machine should be banned, yet I see more of these in the gym than real squat racks. How can there only be one deadlift bar in a gym?!? Way too many trainers put their clients on this bullshit equipment in the commercial gym.
End of rant. I can't change this horseshit industry. All I can do is follow my program and hopefully people pick up that I'm finding success and try to follow a similar/disciplined path that ignores the current fitness dogma/bullshit.
Sign up to our free newsletter and you'll get immediate access to our 5 Days to Better Fitness PDF guide. You'll also receive other free offers and business updates from us from time to time. We promise to never spam you.
Hi Keith,
YES!
We totally agree with much of you what you are saying.
Gyms have evolved into something with profitability at its core rather than the health of their members, which is why for the most part, we see what a lot of what you are describing in many commercial gyms.
Granted there are probably great commercial gym trainers as well as gyms that are designed around actually building a strong, enduring and functional body, but they are far and few between.
There are a lot of flaws about the fitness industry and Matt and I are going to put out a new series pretty soon on that, so stick around, we'd love for you to continue to contribute your thoughts in comments, they're insightful and we really appreciate them.
Thanks Keith!
- spam
- offensive
- disagree
- off topic
Like