Gym once a day keeps the doctor away!
Are you the type to exercise daily in a gym? Personally, I prefer outdoor activities like downhill skiing or cycling 😉. However, for many hotel guests, having a well-equipped gym where they can work out is a big plus, and most hotels offer this amenity.
History
Over 4,000 years ago, the Egyptians introduced structured acrobatics and fitness training. At that time, it is believed that the Chinese also practised Cong Fu, an exercise that combines breathing and fluid movements. However, it was not until the Greeks introduced formalized training for competitive athletes that fitness received cultural acceptance. Still, once Greek culture lost prominence, so did structured fitness.
It took nearly 2,000 years for fitness to become popular again. In 1569, an Italian published the book “De Arte Gymnastica Aput Ancientes” in which he described the use of gymnastic-like movements for physical training. Approximately 200 years later, a German introduced a curriculum at his school that used movements and training from Greek gymnastics. Twenty years later, another German authored “Gymnastics for Youth: A Practical Guide to Healthful and Amusing Exercise for the Use of Schools.” These two publications catalyzed the re-emergence of fitness as a means of improving one’s physical health.
In 1799, Franz Nachtegall of Denmark established what is believed to be the world’s first private gymnastics club. Around 1850, the Boston YMCA introduced the American public to one of the first multipurpose-style fitness gyms in the U.S.