History of Exercise
Since the beginning of time, people have been practicing exercise skills.
Whether it was hunting and chasing down animals, or making long
20 miles walks to neighboring tribes to see family and friends and also
to celebrate. Exercise has gone back a long time for many countries around
the world. For example: China and India, the Eastern Countries, The Ancient Greek
Civilization, The Roman Civilization, and many more.
Listed below are just a couple countries and their examples of how long exercise
has been around for them.
Whether it was hunting and chasing down animals, or making long
20 miles walks to neighboring tribes to see family and friends and also
to celebrate. Exercise has gone back a long time for many countries around
the world. For example: China and India, the Eastern Countries, The Ancient Greek
Civilization, The Roman Civilization, and many more.
Listed below are just a couple countries and their examples of how long exercise
has been around for them.
China and India (2500-250 B.C.)
China- It was said that if you were not physically active, then you would develop
these diseases in your organs that could otherwise be prevented if you were
physcially active. China came up with what we know as Cong Fu. Cong Fu was
developed to keep the body in good condidition and prevented you from
getting diseases in your organs.
India- It was said that because of their religious beliefs of buddhism and Hinduism,
exercise was discouraged because they were told to focus on their spirituality and
not their outward appearance. They did create an exercise program that still went
along with their religion, and that program is what we know today as Yoga.
these diseases in your organs that could otherwise be prevented if you were
physcially active. China came up with what we know as Cong Fu. Cong Fu was
developed to keep the body in good condidition and prevented you from
getting diseases in your organs.
India- It was said that because of their religious beliefs of buddhism and Hinduism,
exercise was discouraged because they were told to focus on their spirituality and
not their outward appearance. They did create an exercise program that still went
along with their religion, and that program is what we know today as Yoga.
Eastern Countries
In the Eastern Countries, military leaders realized that fitness was very important
in the soldiers performance. Persian leaders demanded boys at the age of six to
undergo a special training program to keep them fit. This training program
consisted of marching, riding, hunting, and javeling throwing.
in the soldiers performance. Persian leaders demanded boys at the age of six to
undergo a special training program to keep them fit. This training program
consisted of marching, riding, hunting, and javeling throwing.
The Ancient Greek Civilization
Athens- The idea of physical perfection was one that the Greek Civilization
practiced. The Greek Civilization had a very strong appreciation for beauty
of the body and health and fitness. According to Lance C. Dalleck, M.S. and
Len Kravitz, Ph.D., “The Greeks believed that the development of the body was
equally as important as the development of the mind. To the Greeks, physical
well-being was necessary for mental well-being, with the need for a strong, healthy
body to harbor a sound mind.
Gymnastics and music was considered one of the most important classroom topics.
According to Lance C. Dalleck, M.S. and Len Kravitz, Ph.D., “A common saying in
Ancient Greek times was, `exercise for the body and music for the soul.’”
Sparta- The interest in fitness in Spartan society was mainly in concern with
the military. Fighting skills were just as important as physical fitness. According
to Lance C. Dalleck, M.S. and Len Kravitz, Ph.D., “Spartan society required males
to enter special fitness programs at the age of six. From this point until
adulthood, the government was responsible for the child’s upbringing
and training. Females were also required to maintain good physical condition
for the purpose of being able to have strong offspring who could serve the state.”
practiced. The Greek Civilization had a very strong appreciation for beauty
of the body and health and fitness. According to Lance C. Dalleck, M.S. and
Len Kravitz, Ph.D., “The Greeks believed that the development of the body was
equally as important as the development of the mind. To the Greeks, physical
well-being was necessary for mental well-being, with the need for a strong, healthy
body to harbor a sound mind.
Gymnastics and music was considered one of the most important classroom topics.
According to Lance C. Dalleck, M.S. and Len Kravitz, Ph.D., “A common saying in
Ancient Greek times was, `exercise for the body and music for the soul.’”
Sparta- The interest in fitness in Spartan society was mainly in concern with
the military. Fighting skills were just as important as physical fitness. According
to Lance C. Dalleck, M.S. and Len Kravitz, Ph.D., “Spartan society required males
to enter special fitness programs at the age of six. From this point until
adulthood, the government was responsible for the child’s upbringing
and training. Females were also required to maintain good physical condition
for the purpose of being able to have strong offspring who could serve the state.”
History of Fitness, www.unm.edu/~lkravitz/Article%20folder/history.html.
Contributor, A Manly Guest. “Physical Fitness: Its History, Evolution, and Future.” The Art of Manliness, 29 Nov. 2017, www.artofmanliness.com/2014/09/24/the-history-of-physical-fitness/.
Tipton, Charles M. “The history of “Exercise Is Medicine” in ancient civilizations.” Advances in Physiology Education, American Physiological Society, June 2014, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4056176/.