Strange and frightening equipment of the Victorian era. Photo

Look at this woman, she radiates enthusiasm!

This is an illustration from “the Bible” of exercises Gustav Zander “Medico-mechanical gymnastics”, published in 1892. And although it seemed that the fascination with gyms gained momentum in the 1980-ies, along with clips of Jane Fonda and Richard Simmons, but it seems that it all started much earlier.

The first in the history of gyms has appeared in ancient Persia 3000 years ago and was called “zorkhana”, which means “house of strength”. In fact, it was something like the stadiums for sports. Were gyms and the ancient Romans, they were placed next to the baths and were decorated with mosaics. However, the first gym in the room there were in 1850-ies in Germany. It was built by the enthusiast for school children, in order to contribute to the healing of diseases.

Then there was the Swedish physician Dr. Gustav Zander, one of the founders of physical exercises that have introduced the treatment of therapeutic movements. He began developing a sports apparatus in medical school and soon, with government support, was founded in Stockholm, the Agency called Therapeutic Institute Zander.

I must say that modern machines seem mundane and boring compared to these ingenious devices.

© 2017 – 2019, paradox. All rights reserved.