A health club (also known as a fitness club, fitness center, health spa, weight room and commonly referred to as a gym) is a place that houses exercise equipment for the purpose of physical exercise.
In recent years, the number of fitness and health services have increased, expanding the interest among the population. Today, health clubs and fitness centers are a reference of health services, rising the adherence to physical activity.[1]
Facilities and services
Main workout area
Most health clubs have a main workout area, which primarily consists of free weights including dumbbells and barbells and the stands and benches used with these items and exercise machines, which use gears, cables and other mechanisms to guide the user's exercise. This area often includes mirrors so that exercisers can monitor and maintain correct posture during their workout. A gym that predominantly or exclusively consists of free weights (dumbbells and barbells), as opposed to exercise machines, is sometimes referred to as a , after the traditional color of weight plates.[2]
Cardio area/exercise theatre
A cardio theater or cardio area includes many types of cardiovascular training-related equipment such as rowing machines, stationary exercise bikes, elliptical trainers and treadmills. These areas often include a number of audio-visual displays, often TVs (either integrated into the equipment or placed on walls around the area itself) in order to keep exercisers entertained during long cardio workout sessions. Some gyms provide newspapers and magazines for users of the cardio theatre to read while working out.
History
In 1840, Hippolyte Triat, a French vaudevillian strongman, established the first commercial gymnasium in Brussels, in response to the growing interest for physical exercise. In 1847 he opened his Gymnase Triat in Paris, introducing membership fees with varying rates for men, women, and children.[9] The first health clubs for the general public were probably opened in Santa Monica, California in 1947 by Vic Tanny.[10] Inspired by European wellness centers and spas, the American Health Studios were founded in the 1950s by Ray Wilson and Bob Delmonteque. They were pioneers in bringing the full wellness experience to the gym with the inclusion of saunas, weight rooms, steam rooms, and other multifunctional amenities.[11][12]
Since the 1970s, the health club market has expanded, along with the adoption of a fitness routine. From the postmodern era to metamodernism, fitness and physical activity have been shaped by and have in turn impacted societal changes, body ideals and trends, cultural shifts, and consumer culture.[13]
See also
- Athleisure
- Country club
- Gym
- Leisure centre
- Medspa
- Physical fitness
- Spa
External links
References
- Jairo León-Quismondo, Jorge García-Unanue, Pablo Burillo. Service Perceptions in Fitness Centers: IPA Approach by Gender and Age International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2020-04-21^
- New York Magazine, Apr 24, 1989, p. 117^
- File:CorePower Yoga Studio.jpg - Wikipedia commons.wikimedia.org, 2024-11-08, retrieved 2025-11-09^