4/5 Dharshan V. 6 years ago on Google
A gym,
also
referred
as gymnasium,
is
an
open
air
or
covered
location
for gymnastics, athletics,
and
gymnastic
services.
The
word
is
derived
from
the
ancient
Greek gymnasium.[1]They
are
commonly
found
in
athletic
and
fitness
centers,
and
as
activity
and learning
spaces in
educational
institutions.
"Gym"
is
also
slang
for
"fitness
center",
which
is
often
an
indoor
facility.
Gymnasia
apparatus
such
as
barbells,
parallel
bars,
jumping
board,
running
path,
tennis-balls,
cricket
field,
fencing
area,
and
so
forth
are
used
as
exercises.
In
safe
weather,
outdoor
locations
are
the
most
conducive
to
health.[2] Gyms
were
popular
in
ancient
Greece.
Their
curricula
included
Gymnastica
militaria
or
self-defense,
gymnastica
medica,
or
physical
therapy
to
help
the
sick
and
injured,
and
gymnastica
athletica
for
physical
fitness
and
sports,
from
boxing
to
dancing.[3]
These
gymnasia
also
had
teachers
of
wisdom
and
philosophy.
Community
gymnastic
events
were
done
as
part
of
the
celebrations
during
various
village
festivals.
In
ancient
Greece
there
was
a
phrase
of
contempt,
"He
can
neither
swim
nor
write."
After
a
while,
however,
Olympic
athletes
began
training
in
buildings
just
for
them.
Community
sports
never
became
as
popular
among
ancient
Romans
as
it
had
among
the
ancient
Greeks.
Gyms
were
used
more
as
a
preparation
for
military
service
or
spectator
sports.
During
the
Roman
Empire,
the
gymnastic
art
was
forgotten.
In
the
Dark
Ages
there
were
sword
fighting
tournaments
and
of
chivalry;
and
after
gunpowder
was
invented
sword
fighting
began
to
be
replaced
by
the
sport
of
fencing.
There
were
schools
of
dagger
fighting
and
wrestling
and
boxing.[4]
Then
in
the
18th
century,
Salzmann,
German
clergyman,
opened
a
gym
in
Thuringia
teaching
bodily
exercises,
including
running
and
swimming.
Clias
and
Volker
established
gyms
in
London,
and
in
1825,
Doctor
Beck,
a
German
immigrant,
established
the
first
gymnasium
in
the
United
States.
It
was
found
that
gym
pupils
lose
interest
in
doing
the
same
exercises,
partly
because
of
age.
Variety
in
exercises
included
skating,
dancing,
and
swimming.
Some
gym
activities
can
be
done
by
6
to
8
year-olds
while
age
16
has
been
considered
mature
enough
for
boxing
and
horseback
riding