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2500 BCE
Earliest records of physical training
Some of the earliest records of physical training are drawings on the walls of a funerary chapel in Beni-Hassan in Egypt (estimated at 4500 years ago). -
776 BCE
Ancient Greeks
In 776 B.C ancient Greeks were preparing for the Olympic games. However, these were usually men of religious or military importance rather than what we think of today. -
558 BCE
Invention of Progressive resistance training
One of the most famous of these ancient strength athletes was Milo, born in Crotone, in the district of Calabria in Southern Italy around 558 B.C. Milo is credited for inventing progressive resistance training because of his shouldering and carrying a calf the full length of the stadium at Olympia, and doing so until the cow had grown to four years old. Of course, he did not do this for four years consecutively. -
400 BCE
Personal training used prepare soldiers for war
The history of personal training dates back thousands of years to 400 BC when Near East leaders recognized the importance of proper fitness training as a means to prepare soldiers for war. In Ancient Greek civilizations, fitness was considered an important aspect of any man’s life, as not only did being physically fit and strong help during battles but as a medical practitioner, Hippocrates stated “Exercise is medicine". -
200
Strength Training
Galen was a celebrated physician of the 2nd century, A.D. and an integral part in developing systematic strength training exercises. Think of these as workout routines or strength programs nowadays. His systems included what modern coaches refer to as heavy lifting and isometric exercises. Galen also recommended many exercises to improve athletic power, strength and speed. -
1544
Weight training in Education
Weight training became a part of the educational curriculum in Europe in 1544 when French and German universities offered weight training classes. -
German Gymnastics
From 1700 to 1850, Germany and Sweden made large advancements in personal training. Johann Guts Muths and Friedrich Jahn are credited as the "Grandfather of German Gymnastics" and the "Father of German Gymnastics," respectively. Muths created equipment and routines for gymnasts to perform. Napoleon conquered much of Europe during Jahn's early life and he believed future invasions could be prevented if the German peoples level of fitness was further advanced. -
First gym in the United States
1824 saw the arrival of Charles Beck to New York from Germany to establish the first gymnasium in the United States at the Round Hill School in Northampton, Massachusetts. Beck taught gymnastics but also advocated and taught exercises using resistance training equipment. -
First Commercial Gym
A French strongman turned fitness entrepreneur Hippolyte Triat, is often credited with being the earliest to open commercial gyms with the first in Brussels, and then in Paris sometime during the 1840s. -
First ever Bodybuilder
Towards the end of the 19th Century, another icon of the fitness and training industry appeared with his gym. Many consider him the first bodybuilder. His name was Eugene Sandow. The Mr Olympia Statue is called the Sandow, as it is modelled after him. -
First health club in the United States
First health club in the United States in 1936 in Oakland, California. -
American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) was founded.
The 1950’s had a huge impact on the fitness industry in terms of its growth and development, when in 1954, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) was founded. The aim of the ACSM was, and still is, to promote health and fitness and certify fitness professionals. The ACSM certified some of the very first personal trainers. https://www.acsm.org/ -
Integration of women into health clubs
As the century proceeded, the look, equipment, and, in some cases, titles of health clubs evolved, so did the clientele. Amateur exercisers, encouraged by club owners like Tanny and Wilson, began working out as well, starting with only die-hard lifters and serious bodybuilders. Stockton, erroneously dubbed "Pudgy," and LaLanne, dubbed "Jack LaLanne," each contributed to the integration of women into health clubs in their own way. -
Modern Fitness Movement
Dr. Ken H. Cooper, the father of the modern fitness movement shifted peoples thinking from disease treatment to disease prevention through the use of exercise. In 1968, he introduce the word "aerobics" to the world and began a fitness movement that would up the number of joggers in America from 100,000 to more than 30 million. He showed that regular exercise and proper dietary choices could prevent several diseases. -
First Accredited Personal Trainer
National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) did not recognize the first nationally accredited personal training certificate until 1996. https://www.nsca.com/ -
Launch of YouTube
Personal trainers now had a platform to post videos about exercises that they have been teaching in a gym environment to a larger audience on the internet. -
Growing Industry
Personal training is a growing industry. The United States Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that jobs in personal training and fitness instruction will increase by 24% between 2010 and 2020, faster than the average 14% expansion for all occupations. -
Covid-19
The fitness industry employed 3 million part-time and full-time employees prior to the pandemic, and as of October 1 at least 480,000 jobs were lost, according to the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA), a global trade association for the health and fitness industry. -
More than a dozen personal certification available
They include the Academy of Applied Personal Training Education, American College of Sports Medicine, American Council on Exercise, The Cooper Institute, International Fitness Professionals Association, National Academy of Sports Medicine, National Academy of Sports Medicine, National Council for Certified Personal Trainers etc. -
Industry Growth
Industry growth is expected to continue its rising trend, forecast to increase at an annualized rate of 1.4% to reach a total of $13.8 billion in 2026. (Trainer Academy 2022) https://traineracademy.org/blog/personal-training-industry-statistics/
