While the gymnasium as we know it originally dates back to ancient Greece, what constitutes a workout has changed a whole lot over the centuries — especially the past 100 odd years. While we perform hundreds of crunches and enroll in HIIT classes to get our perfect summer bod, our ancestors took a different approach, strapping into vibrating belts and hitting the stationary bikes.
From old-school treadmills to at-home rowing machines, here are 25 sweatworthy snaps of old-school gyms.
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Students at the University of Michigan enjoy a game of basketball, c. 1910
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Passengers on the Titanic sneak in a work out, c.1912.
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“A gym abroad the Titanic, 1912.”
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An early gymnasium, date unknown.
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Two women on a treadmill, c. 1920
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A woman works out on a rowing machine, c. 1920.
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A woman works out with a set of dumbbells, circa 1920.
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A woman riding a stationary bicycle, 1921.
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Women enjoying an outdoor dance exercise class, 1921.
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A woman breaking a sweat on a treadmill in London, 1923.
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A woman practicing her boxing, c. 1925.
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A man trying out a vibrating machine, c. 1927
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“Passengers working out in the gym aboard the SS Normandie, 1930s.”
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A woman works out on the Victoria Transatlantic, c. 1930.
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A woman works out on a rowing machine at home, c. 1930.
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A model runs on a treadmill in heels, circa 1930.
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A woman uses an exercise belt, circa. 1930.
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A woman works out with this medieval torture-looking device, c. 1930.
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Behind-the-scenes of a fitness class at Loughborough College, 1936.
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A woman uses a piece of exercise equipment, c. 1940.
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Bodybuilder Vince Gironda at a gym, circa 1940.
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Women working out at a “reducing salon,” c. 1940.
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Women enjoy a jump rope workout, c. 1940.
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A woman uses another piece of exercise equipment, c. 1940.
