Where Did The Idea of the Gym Come From?By Aazdak AlisimoWhen you are flinging free weights around or huffing and puffing on the treadmill, you might want to give some thought to who came up with the very idea of Gyms in Croydon. The answer is found long in the past. Ancient Greeks believed that in order for the mind to remain sharp, the body must follow suit. During those ancient days, young men (Croydon Gyms were only for men during that time) met at local facilities in order to train both their minds and their bodies. The Greek word "gymnasium" literally means "place to be naked," and this is precisely how young men arrived to swim, study, and fight. Though they 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 fitness facilities 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 them across Germany. Though America eventually caught up with the fad, it wasn't until the year 1848 that the first one was built within the United States. The American craze 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 locations were wildly successful, and the Turner family quickly started to build others across the nation. Though the Turners tried to build quickly, the 1920s meant prosperity and gyms began to pop up everywhere. Today, they are a large part of most people's physical and social lives ... whether or not gym memberships are kept for long periods of time. The story of the gym stretches from Ancient Greece to Germany and across the globe to America. They have come a long way from (clothing optional) physical and educational centers though they are still highly popular meeting places. Today, they are a large part of most people's lives, and many people could not live without the modern gym. Aazdak Alisimo writes about gyms and health clubs for GymsandHealthClubs.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aazdak_Alisimo |