According to the latest statistics, there are over 180 million active gym memberships and approximately 200,000 health and fitness centers worldwide, with the fitness industry experiencing steady growth over the past decade. As reported by Statista, 21% of gym members are active daily, with 30% going more than once a week. Attending the gym has never been more popular.
With the continual rise in the number of global gym memberships, gyms are a staple of our exercise regimes. But how did we get here? What is the history of gyms? Where did the concept and idea originate, and how did it become widely recognized? This article examines the history of gyms, highlighting significant moments that have led to their rapid growth in popularity as a method of exercise and the origins of some gym chains we know and love today.
What is the History of Gyms? From Sparta to the YMCA
Ancient Greece is often regarded as the birthplace of the gym. The term “gym” is derived from the Greek word “gymnasium,” which was coined by the Greeks to describe a public place where males could train for competition (back then, only males were allowed to participate).
Essentially, public schools for exercise, gymnasiums, became the lifeblood of a culture of war and competition that characterized Ancient Greece. Taught by teachers known as gymnastai, these establishments served as places of education, with non-sport-related activities also taking place, such as lectures and music.
Greek soldiers were trained in gymnasiums from a young age, most notably the infamous Spartan warriors, who utilized the gymnasium as part of their rigorous training regimen. The legendary king of Sparta, Leonidas I, trained in a gymnasium from a young age and as a Spartan soldier in preparation for combat, which served him until he perished in the battle of Thermopylae against the overwhelming forces of the Persian Empire.
Three hundred years later, after the Roman conquest of Greece, gymnasiums continued to be used by the invaders for the training of soldiers. Emperor Nero was the first Roman Emperor to build a gymnasium in the Roman capital of Rome, and wealthy Romans began building gymnasia attached to their homes for exercise.
The Romans adopted the concept of gymnasiums, expanding on it with the creation of bathhouses for leisure and relaxation. According to recent research, emperors such as Hadrian actively encouraged the use of gyms during their reign, helping to keep the idea of an establishment for training, exercise, and mental stimulation alive 2,500 years ago.
Unfortunately, however, after the downfall of these civilizations and the emergence of the Dark Ages, recreational physical fitness and structured exercise declined due to clashes with religion, specifically the Catholic Church. It wasn’t until the mid-to-late 1500s that the idea of gymnasiums started to gain popularity again, with writers such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau writing about the importance of structured exercise for young people.
Throughout the next two hundred years, gymnasia underwent rapid transformation, finding importance in schools, the military, and popular culture, with the first chain of multipurpose modern gyms opening as part of the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) in the United States. In the 20th century, gyms continued to evolve with Jack LaLanne opening the first health club in the US and the eventual opening of Gold’s Gym in 1965, kickstarting the nation’s obsession with weightlifting and bodybuilding.
When was the Original Gold’s Gym Opened?
The original Gold’s Gym was opened in 1965 by legendary American bodybuilder Joe Gold. An avid regular of Muscle Beach in Venice, California, Gold built an indoor gym next to the beach for his friends to train in. He welded together homemade gym equipment for training, utilizing his Navy skills to design the gym’s many machines.
The gym’s barebones and gritty appeal attracted legendary bodybuilders such as Arnold Swarznigger, Franco Columbu, and Incredible Hulk actor Lou Ferrigno – kickstarting the golden era of bodybuilding.
Finding initial success, Gold later went on to sell the mythical establishment, with subsequent franchising seeing Gold’s Gym become an international brand.
To date, the Gold Gym franchise has around 700 locations globally with 3 million customers. Now owned by the RSG Group, purchased in 2020, the German fitness group looks to continue Gold’s Gym’s success by spreading its influence globally and dominating the fitness market.
From humble beginnings with homemade equipment to international success, the Gold’s Gym brand has gone through significant growth over the last 50 years since its opening by Joe Gold in 1965.
The History of Equinox Gym
The luxury fitness label Equinox is another one of the world’s most successful gym brands, not just from a membership perspective but from a revenue standpoint. Equinox saw $7.3 billion in income in 2024, growing at 27% in 2023.
Equinox specializes in providing its customers with a luxury, high-end experience with industry-leading equipment, elite fitness classes, top-end spa experiences, and more. In 2024, Equinox launched the globe’s most expensive fitness program at $40,000 annually, known as ‘Optimize’ – using data, fitness, and coaching to transform health outcomes.
Equinox was founded in 1991, with the first location opening in Manhattan, New York. The fitness company was established by Lavinia, Danny, and Vito Errico.
From Greek Warriors to Spin Class
From ancient Greek warriors to the millions that attend modern-day global gym chains, gyms have been integral to the well-being and fitness of humans since the early days of Western civilization.
