Fitness (English: fitness, from the verb to fit — "to fit; to be in good shape"; also found in Russian spelling with a double letter " s " - fitness) — a type of physical activity that is aimed at maintaining a good overall physical shape, achieved through proper nutrition, rest and moderate physical activity. In a broader sense, it is the general physical fitness of the human body for a particular type of physical activity.

fitness

Content

·         Description

·         History of fitness development

·         History of fitness in Russia

·         Directions

·         Types of fitness training programs

·         Quotes

·         Benefits for the body

·         Literature

·         Notes

 

Description

Physical fitness consists of the following elements

·         cardiovascular fitness;

·         flexibility;

·         muscle endurance;

·         power;

·         power output;

·         developing a sense of balance;

·         good coordination of movements

·         response;

·         quickness;

The ratio of muscle and adipose tissue in the body

1. Prehistoric times

The origin of the word "fitness "(English" fitness") means "compliance"," fitness”, “fitness". This term appeared in the 70s of the last century in America. But the history of fitness, in fact, goes back thousands of years. Even primitive man, a good physical form helped to survive — to get food for himself and defend himself from wild animals. Ancient people practiced fitness unconsciously. Life forced them to jump, run, squat, and bend down. Rock and cave paintings of that era depict human figures that not only move or dance, but also throw spears, maces, boomerangs — so men, in order to become good hunters, developed dexterity, accuracy and strength. And the latest drawings of those times depict competitions between different tribes and awarding the winners. With the development of animal husbandry and agriculture, humans have assistants, ranging from animals to various tools. But I still had to work a lot, so the people were healthy and hardy. Fitness continued its development in ancient civilizations. Physical activity was associated with well-being; it was believed that those who worked hard did not get sick and lived well.

2. Ancient times

Ancient Greek civilization

The history of fitness is inextricably linked with ancient Greece. For the Hellenes, the development of the body, along with music and education, was of great importance. By playing sports, the ancient Greeks sought to achieve the unity of external beauty and internal harmony. Society has idealized a person who is fully developed, a person who is both a thinker and an athlete at the same time. The spread of fitness was promoted by Greek doctors, philosophers and scientists. Hippocrates was an unsurpassed horseman, Pythagoras was a famous fist fighter, and Socrates, Plato, Sophocles, and Euripides were constantly awarded prizes for participating in various competitions. Even in those days, gymnastics was practiced in specially designated places. Ancient Greek thermal baths were whole complexes where you could not only work out, but also relax, visit the sauna, and chat with friends. The prototype of fitness halls is considered to be the Heracles caves in the south of the Peloponnesian Peninsula: in them, archaeologists discovered the first "simulators" - primitive stone devices that date back almost 3 thousand years. It is impossible not to mention the fitness programs that existed in Athens, Sparta, and the Persian Empire. To become good soldiers, boys from rich families were required to attend gyms. But the same was required of women — in order to maintain their attractiveness and give birth to healthy offspring, they were required to monitor their physical fitness. The next page in the history of fitness is a competition that was very popular in Olympia in the 8th-4th centuries BC. e. The Olympic Games had such a strong influence in society that they even sometimes suspended wars to hold them. The competition included fisticuffs, wrestling, running, discus and javelin throwing, jumping, and chariot driving.

Ancient Roman civilization

In the Roman Empire, competitions of this kind became very popular a little later, in the 2nd century BC. e. And in other years, although the population was encouraged to play sports, only the military was required to perform physical exercises. This, of course, helped the Romans to conquer almost the entire Western world, but gradually the priority for the population became the accumulation of material goods and all sorts of entertainment. Extravagance led to the fact that Roman civilization gradually declined. Interestingly, the barbarian tribes that defeated the largest power in the ancient world had physical superiority over the Romans, although they did not visit the gym.

3. Ancient India and China

Great importance was attached to a healthy body in the East; however, they strove not so much for physical perfection as for the development of spirituality. The philosophical teaching of Confucius, which called for physical activity, contributed to the emergence of Chinese kung fu gymnastics. Dance, badminton, archery, fencing, and wrestling were also practiced in ancient China. In neighboring India, in the middle of the third century BC, yoga appeared. Exercises in this ancient form of fitness, as in kung fu, imitate the movements of animals-communicating with nature, observing the behavior of living beings, Hindu priests sought to develop and unite the body, mind and soul.

4. The middle Ages

In the Middle Ages, when survival no longer depended on successful hunting, and to win a war you needed not so much physical strength as powerful weapons, sports were treated rather casually. Even the Greek thermal baths, with the oblivion of ancient culture, turned into simple baths for Europeans. Only the knights did not forget about maintaining a strong spirit and body. Nobility and the ability to write poetry were not the only manifestations of their courage. Chivalrous feats included running, jumping, wrestling, pole-climbing, and even swimming. However, strength and dexterity at all times were of great value, even folk amusements were not complete without running, tightrope walking, playing skittles, wrestling and other amusements.

5. The Renaissance

About Greek gymnastics, Europe was reminded of the humanism that appeared in Italy and spread to England, France and Germany. In the 15th century, the history of fitness comes to life. The first European gymnastics school "Casa Giocosa "(which means" House of Joy") appeared in the Italian city of Mantua. It was founded by the humanist teacher Vittorino da Feltre. Since the XV century, fencing unions and rifle societies have flourished in Germany — this was facilitated by the invention and modernization of weapons.

6. Novae vremya

Gymnastics is also becoming popular in Germany, largely due to the efforts of Gerhard Wits, who fought for the idea of creating public gymnastics facilities, and Johann Guts-Must, who published Gymnastics for Young People. And the" father of modern gymnastics " is considered to be the German teacher Friedrich Jan, who promoted the importance of physical improvement, opened the first sports ground in the vicinity of Berlin, and founded several sports and gymnastics unions in Germany. Various sports schools were also opened in other European countries. Scientific and technological progress has made human life easier to such an extent that physical inactivity has become a real threat to society. In the XVIII—XIX centuries, gymnastics programs were actively popularized in Sweden, Denmark, Germany, France, Great Britain, and America. Swede Per Henrico Ling, Englishman Archibald McLaren, German Gerhard Fit, Czech Miroslav Tyrsch, Dane Frank Nechtegal, Swiss Emile Jacques-Dalcroze, Frenchmen Georges Demeny, Francois Delsart and Frans Amoros, Americans Catherine Beecher and Bess Mensendyk-all these people left their mark on the history of fitness.

7. The latest time

US contribution to the history of fitness development

Modern fitness began to develop in the United States at the turn of the XIX-XX centuries. It is believed that the revival of ancient traditions was promoted, first of all, by anabolic steroids, which athletes who were engaged in bodybuilding began to get involved in — these drugs literally disfigured both men and women. Fitness has become a kind of alternative to bodybuilding, which in the XX century conquered America. The final return of ancient Greek ideals to American and European society took place in 1896, following the revival of the Olympic Games by Pierre de Coubertin. In the United States, physical education programs were remembered during World War II, but not for long, solely for the purpose of training new recruits. The importance of fitness was only really considered in the early 1950s, after tests that were conducted on American schoolchildren. Their results were sad — more than half of the children participating in the experiment failed to pass at least one of the standards for flexibility and muscle strength (compared to 9 % of schoolchildren in Europe). During this period, many organizations began to actively promote a healthy lifestyle, educate the public about the consequences of lack of physical activity in a person's life. John F. Kennedy also insisted on the need to promote health. The President himself regularly visited the sports hall, setting a good example to the citizens of his country. Thanks to Kennedy, the government began to actively engage in the development of youth sports. In America, there was Monica Beckman's jazz gymnastics, Jackie Sorensen's aerobics, as well as Ken Cooper's programs — a man whose philosophy was aimed not at treating, but at preventing diseases. The ideas that Dr. Cooper actively disseminated are still being used today. The decision to promote fitness was made by the US government in the 1970s, after the scale of the spread of various diseases and obesity among Americans became epidemic.

History of fitness in Russia

In our country, fitness (in the modern sense of the word) appeared only in the late 1980s. The first official and real fitness club was opened in November 1990 in St. Petersburg. There was no such thing as fitness in the USSR. There were only sports and physical culture, which are the prototype of domestic fitness. But the history of fitness in Russia began much earlier, when the first video recorders appeared, and with them video cassettes - both with practical classes and with recordings of programs. It turned out that a lot of experience had already been gained abroad, and special fitness areas had long existed — for women and men, for people of different ages and physiques. It is impossible not to recall the mass sports competitions of the 1930s, industrial gymnastics of the 1950s and 1970s, sports clubs and sections for adults and children, which for a long time were available to everyone. The history of fitness changed during perestroika, when sports became the lot of the elite, and ordinary citizens were not up to their appearance. However, already at that time, underground gyms ("rocking chairs", as they were called) began to open in the city's basements. True, they had a bad reputation — mostly criminal authorities gathered there, who selected "fighters” for themselves. And for the female half of the population, shaping was invented, which is still popular today. In today's world, fitness is not just about exercise. This is a whole philosophy that includes the regime, nutrition, and worldview. Today, everyone decides for themselves whether to exercise or not, create their own fitness story or not. Only one thing is clear — physical activity, as it was thousands of years ago, is of great importance for human health, harmonious development and well-being.