Timeline of Gyms Throughout History
250 BC
Fitness itself can be traced back as far as 250 B.C when Ancient Chinese and Indian recognized regular exercise would be good for health. It was then followed by the Greeks that really developed exercise into a thing of community by creating the first kind of gyms. Through the era's ,exercise and physical conditon started to become a focus in society's health and well being
2500-200 B.C
Greeks believed that development of the body was equally as important as the development of the mind. In Athens, gymnastics took place in indoor facilities called palaestras(the precursors to health clubs) and were supervised by a paidotribe (similar to today’s personal fitness trainer).
500 BC-476 AD
The Roman Empire puts focus on the physical condition in order to withhold strong men for military service
1400-1600 AD
The Renaissance created an envionment that readied people for the widespread development of physical education throughout Europe
1700-1850 AD
Fitness remained important and physical education programs expanded within the emerging European nations. Exercise facilities called "Turnvereins" were built throughout Germany to house apparatuses designed for running, jumping, balancing, climbing and vaulting.
1776-1900s AD
At the beginning of America's upbringing, leisure activities such as going to a gym where not utmost important but during these times American gyms began and eventually spread throughout this time.
1900s-1930s
By the 19th century, schools and colleges started building gymnasiums. The YMCA also built a number of gyms for physical exercise, social sports and games.
1930s-1960s
In the 1930s, boxing gyms came into existence, with the founding of Cus D'Amanto's Gramercy Gym in Manhattan in 1939. These gyms aimed to train fighters and boxers and were not places for general exercise.
1960s-1980s
Between the 1960s and 1970s, gymnasium chains came into existence. In 1965, the Gold's gym chain was founded by Joe Gold in Venice, California and it became a landmark for bodybuilders. By the 1980s, gyms were common and many gyms chains
1980s-2000s
The gymnasium industry sprung up post 1990s, where fitness was associated with gyms and people made it their priority. More gyms were founded, including Lifetime Fitness in 1990, Equinox Fitness in 1991, and Virgin Active in 1999.
