To Be Fit or Not to Be Fit? That is the Question of The Ages!
I think we all know by now that fitness is important for an overall healthy life, but when did this ritual of physical activity begin? That's what we are going to explore today.
I think the answer will surprise you!
THE BEGINNING
Okay, yes, the All Caps title is a little aggressive, but I wanted to get your attention. Do I have you now? Good. Now, Let's talk about primitive humans (pre-10,000 B.C.)! That's right, fitness goes all the way back to primitive man. During this period, tribes did have nomadic lifestyles, which meant they often moved their homes and did so by physically moving everything to a new location (Moving Trucks did not exist back then). But this is not the only physical activity they had. According to Lance C. Dalleck, M.S. and Len Kravitz, Ph.D., "Following successful hunting and gathering excursions, celebration events included trips of six to 20 miles to neighboring tribes to visit friends and family, where dancing and cultural games could often last several hours."
The Ancient Greeks (2500-200 B.C.)
When I proposed this topic, I am sure some of you presumed that the idea of fitness began in Ancient Greece, and that's understandable. Fitness was held in a very high regard in Ancient Greece. Sports, like gymnastics, were seen as an essential way to teach the importance of exercise. In Sparta, physical fitness had more to do with militaristic purposes than overall health benefits. Dalleck and Kravitz stated, "The Greeks believed development of the body was equally as important as development of the mind. Physical well-being was necessary for mental well-being, with the need for a strong, healthy body to harbor a sound mind."
The Reinassance (1400-1600)
Ah, the resurgence of culture! A time of reintroducing the cultural aspects of life before the Dark Ages. One of these cultural ideals was the beliefs the Ancient Greeks had about a healthy body. These ideas spread across Europe and were even picked up by some people you may recognize from your high school History Class (Martin Luther and John Locke, just to name a couple).
20th Century America
A bit of a time jump, apologies for the turbulence you might have experienced back in the late 18th century (those Revolutionaries can get a little wild). Now that we are in the safe harbors of the 20th century, let's discuss the role of The President of The United States of America in physical fitness. According to Dalleck and Kravitz, "President [Theodore] Roosevelt held an infatuation for fitness similar to the ideology of ancient Greece. His desire for physical fitness evolved out of his childhood battle with asthma, which he overcame with a rigorous exercise program." After World War I, the American government passed legislation that improved public shool's physical education programs.
All Aboard the Time MAchine!
Sadly, we have reached the end of our adventure, but don't fret we can travel together soon! If you enjoyed this post and would like to learn more about past peoples and their exercising habits, let me know in the comments!
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