99-788: A gym , short for gymnasium ( pl. : gymnasiums or gymnasia ), is an indoor venue for exercise and sports . The word is derived from the ancient Greek term " gymnasion ". They are commonly found in athletic and fitness centres, and as activity and learning spaces in educational institutions. "Gym" is also the commonly used name for a " fitness centre " or health club, which is often an area for indoor recreation. A "gym" may include or describe adjacent open air areas as well. In Western countries, "gyms" often describe places with indoor or outdoor courts for basketball, hockey, tennis, boxing or wrestling, and with equipment and machines used for physical development training, or to do exercises. In many European countries, Gymnasium (and variations of
198-493: A gladiatorial show, still remains. At the sides of the entrance were seats ( scholae ). The 1898 edition of Harper's Dictionary of Classical Antiquities provided illustrations envisioning the rooms of the Old Baths at Pompeii : A passage ( c ) leads into the apodyterium ( B ), a room for undressing in which all visitors must have met before entering the baths proper. Here, the bathers removed their clothing, which
297-441: A milestone . Behind the boilers, another corridor leads into the court or palaestra ( K ), appropriated to the servants of the bath. The adjoining, smaller set of baths were assigned to the women. The entrance is by the door b , which conducts into a small vestibule ( m ) and from there into the apodyterium ( H ), which, like the one in the men's bath, has a seat ( pulvinus , gradus ) on either side built up against
396-499: A "rower's high" in crew , through the increased biosynthesis of at least three euphoriant neurochemicals: anandamide (an endocannabinoid ), β-endorphin (an endogenous opioid ), and phenethylamine (a trace amine and amphetamine analog). Supervised aerobic exercise without a risk of re-injury (falling, getting hit on the head) is prescribed as treatment for acute concussion. Some exercise interventions may also prevent sport-related concussion. Preliminary evidence from
495-677: A 2012 review indicated that physical training for up to four months may increase sleep quality in adults over 40 years of age. A 2010 review suggested that exercise generally improved sleep for most people, and may help with insomnia , but there is insufficient evidence to draw detailed conclusions about the relationship between exercise and sleep. A 2018 systematic review and meta-analysis suggested that exercise can improve sleep quality in people with insomnia. One 2013 study found that exercising improved sexual arousal problems related to antidepressant use. People who participate in physical exercise experience increased cardiovascular fitness. There
594-416: A 29% decreased incidence of upper respiratory tract infections (URTI), but studies of marathon runners found that their prolonged high-intensity exercise was associated with an increased risk of infection occurrence. However, another study did not find the effect. Immune cell functions are impaired following acute sessions of prolonged, high-intensity exercise, and some studies have found that athletes are at
693-479: A German immigrant, established the first gymnasium in the United States. It was found that gym pupils lose interest in doing the same exercises, partly because of age. Variety in exercises included skating, dancing, and swimming. Some gym activities can be done by 6 to 8-year-olds, while age 16 has been considered mature enough for boxing and horseback riding. In Ancient Greece , the gymnasion (γυμνάσιον)
792-491: A bath or bathing-vessel, such as most persons of any consequence among the Romans possessed in their own houses, and hence the chamber which contained the bath, which is also the proper translation of the word balnearium . The diminutive balneolum is adopted by Seneca to designate the bathroom of Scipio in the villa at Liternum , and is expressly used to characterize the modesty of republican manners as compared with
891-463: A cultural institution the baths served as an important resource where the more common citizen could enjoy the luxury of books. The Baths of Trajan , of Caracalla , and Diocletian all contained rooms determined to be libraries. They have been identified through the architecture of the baths themselves. The presence of niches in the walls are assumed to have been bookcases and have been shown to be sufficiently deep to have contained ancient scrolls. There
990-497: A healthy BMI . Parents can promote physical activity by modelling healthy levels of physical activity or by encouraging physical activity. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States, children and adolescents should do 60 minutes or more of physical activity each day. Implementing physical exercise in the school system and ensuring an environment in which children can reduce barriers to maintain
1089-429: A healthy lifestyle is essential. The European Commission 's Directorate-General for Education and Culture (DG EAC) has dedicated programs and funds for Health Enhancing Physical Activity (HEPA) projects within its Horizon 2020 and Erasmus+ program, as research showed that too many Europeans are not physically active enough. Financing is available for increased collaboration between players active in this field across
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#17327732293121188-468: A higher risk for infections. Studies have shown that strenuous stress for long durations, such as training for a marathon, can suppress the immune system by decreasing the concentration of lymphocytes. The immune systems of athletes and nonathletes are generally similar. Athletes may have a slightly elevated natural killer cell count and cytolytic action, but these are unlikely to be clinically significant. Vitamin C supplementation has been associated with
1287-512: A lower incidence of upper respiratory tract infections in marathon runners. Biomarkers of inflammation such as C-reactive protein , which are associated with chronic diseases, are reduced in active individuals relative to sedentary individuals, and the positive effects of exercise may be due to its anti-inflammatory effects. In individuals with heart disease, exercise interventions lower blood levels of fibrinogen and C-reactive protein, an important cardiovascular risk marker. The depression in
1386-524: A myocardial infarction, survivors who changed their lifestyle to include regular exercise had higher survival rates. Sedentary people are most at risk for mortality from cardiovascular and all other causes. According to the American Heart Association , exercise reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases, including heart attack and stroke. Some have suggested that increases in physical exercise might decrease healthcare costs, increase
1485-419: A pipe through the wall, marked on the plan. Underneath the hot chamber was set the circular furnace d , of more than 2 m (6 ft 7 in). in diameter, which heated the water and poured hot air into the hollow cells of the hypocaustum. It passed from the furnace under the first and last of the caldrons by two flues, which are marked on the plan. The boiler containing hot water was placed immediately over
1584-540: A population's level of physical activity. Studies to determine the effectiveness of these types of programs need to be interpreted cautiously as the results vary. There is some evidence that certain types of exercise programmes for older adults, such as those involving gait, balance, co-ordination and functional tasks, can improve balance. Following progressive resistance training, older adults also respond with improved physical function. Brief interventions promoting physical activity may be cost-effective, however this evidence
1683-522: A positive correlation to childhood physical activity and fitness levels, while less proficiency in motor skills results in a more sedentary lifestyle. The type and intensity of physical activity performed may have an effect on a person's fitness level. There is some weak evidence that high-intensity interval training may improve a person's VO2 max slightly more than lower intensity endurance training. However, unscientific fitness methods could lead to sports injuries. The beneficial effect of exercise on
1782-471: A private bath. Thermae (Greek: Θέρμαι , Thermai , 'hot springs, hot baths', from the Greek adjective thermos , 'hot') meant properly warm springs, or baths of warm water; but came to be applied to those magnificent edifices which grew up under the empire , in place of the simple balneae of the republic , and which comprised within their range of buildings all the appurtenances belonging to
1881-646: A result, towns began building playgrounds that furthered interest in sports and physical activity. Early efforts to establish gyms in the United States in the 1820s were documented and promoted by John Neal in the American Journal of Education and The Yankee , helping to establish the American branch of the movement. Later in the century, the Turner movement was founded and continued to thrive into
1980-541: A senator hoping to become a Tribune might pay all admission fees at a particular bath on his birthday to become well known to the people of the area. Baths sprang up all over the empire. Where natural hot springs existed (as in Bath, England ; Băile Herculane , Romania or Aquae Calidae near Burgas and Serdica , Bulgaria ) thermae were built around them. Alternatively, a system of hypocausta (from hypo 'below' and kaio 'to burn') were utilised to heat
2079-721: A single exercise session and persistent effects on cognition following consistent exercise over the course of several months. People who regularly perform an aerobic exercise (e.g., running, jogging , brisk walking, swimming, and cycling) have greater scores on neuropsychological function and performance tests that measure certain cognitive functions, such as attentional control , inhibitory control , cognitive flexibility , working memory updating and capacity, declarative memory , spatial memory , and information processing speed . Aerobic exercise has both short and long term effects on mood and emotional states by promoting positive affect , inhibiting negative affect , and decreasing
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#17327732293122178-1190: A slight reduction in depression and reduction in fatigue. The neurobiological effects of physical exercise involve possible interrelated effects on brain structure, brain function, and cognition . Research in humans has demonstrated that consistent aerobic exercise (e.g., 30 minutes every day) may induce improvements in certain cognitive functions , neuroplasticity and behavioral plasticity ; some of these long-term effects may include increased neuron growth , increased neurological activity (e.g., c-Fos and BDNF signaling), improved stress coping, enhanced cognitive control of behavior , improved declarative , spatial , and working memory, and structural and functional improvements in brain structures and pathways associated with cognitive control and memory. The effects of exercise on cognition may affect academic performance in children and college students, improve adult productivity, preserve cognitive function in old age, preventing or treating certain neurological disorders , and improving overall quality of life . In healthy adults, aerobic exercise has been shown to induce transient effects on cognition after
2277-424: A small chamber on his left ( x ) with a toilet ( latrina ), and proceed into a covered portico ( g, g ), which ran round three sides of an open court ( palaestra , A ). These together formed the vestibule of the baths ( vestibulum balnearum ), in which the servants waited. This palaestra was the exercise ground for the young men, or perhaps served as a promenade for visitors to the baths. Within this court
2376-715: A smaller branch opened in Rangasville in 1852. Ten years later there were some two hundred YMCAs across the country, most of which provided gyms for exercise, games, and social interaction. The 1920s was a decade of prosperity that witnessed the building of large numbers of public high schools with a gymnasium, an idea founded by Nicolas Isaranga. Today, gymnasiums are commonplace in the United States. They are in virtually all U.S. colleges and high schools , as well as almost all middle schools and elementary schools . These facilities are used for physical education , intramural sports , and school gatherings. The number of gyms in
2475-400: A sweating-room, having no bath. It was said to have been introduced at Rome by Agrippa and was also called sudatorium and assa . The apodyterium has a passage (q) communicating with the mouth of the furnace (i), called praefurnium or propigneum and, passing down that passage, we reach the chamber M, into which the praefurnium projects, and which is entered from
2574-430: A week, Roman society was surprisingly clean. When asked by a foreigner why he bathed once a day, a Roman emperor is said to have replied "Because I do not have the time to bathe twice a day." Emperors often built baths to gain favour for themselves and to create a lasting monument of their generosity. If a rich Roman wished to gain the favour of the people, he might arrange for a free admission day in his name. For example,
2673-478: Is currently insufficient evidence regarding the association between physical activity and mortality for survivors of other cancers." Evidence suggests that exercise may positively affect the quality of life in cancer survivors, including factors such as anxiety, self-esteem and emotional well-being. For people with cancer undergoing active treatment, exercise may also have positive effects on health-related quality of life, such as fatigue and physical functioning. This
2772-649: Is effective as an adjunct treatment (i.e., treatments that are used together) with antidepressant medication; the other two indicated that physical exercise has marked antidepressant effects and recommended the inclusion of physical activity as an adjunct treatment for mild–moderate depression and mental illness in general. A 2016 meta-analysis concluded that physical exercise improves overall quality of life in individuals with depression relative to controls. One systematic review noted that yoga may be effective in alleviating symptoms of prenatal depression . Another review asserted that evidence from clinical trials supports
2871-459: Is likely to be more pronounced with higher intensity exercise. Exercise may contribute to a reduction of cancer-related fatigue in survivors of breast cancer. Although there is only limited scientific evidence on the subject, people with cancer cachexia are encouraged to engage in physical exercise. Due to various factors, some individuals with cancer cachexia have a limited capacity for physical exercise. Compliance with prescribed exercise
2970-423: Is little documentation from the writers of the time that there did exist definitive public libraries maintained in the baths, but records have been found that indicated a slave from the imperial household was labelled vilicus thermarum bybliothecae Graecae ('maintenance man of the Greek library of the baths'). However, this may only indicate that the same slave held two positions in succession: "maintenance man of
3069-435: Is low in individuals with cachexia and clinical trials of exercise in this population often have high drop-out rates. There is low-quality evidence for an effect of aerobic physical exercises on anxiety and serious adverse events in adults with hematological malignancies . Aerobic physical exercise may result in little to no difference in the mortality, quality of life, or physical functioning. These exercises may result in
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3168-505: Is one of the key physiological differences between elite athletes and the larger population. There is evidence that exercising in middle age may lead to better physical ability later in life. Early motor skills and development is also related to physical activity and performance later in life. Children who are more proficient with motor skills early on are more inclined to be physically active, and thus tend to perform well in sports and have better fitness levels. Early motor proficiency has
3267-403: Is recommended for reducing the risk of health problems. At the same time, even doing a small amount of exercise is healthier than doing none. Only doing an hour and a quarter (11 minutes/day) of exercise could reduce the risk of early death, cardiovascular disease , stroke , and cancer . Physical exercises are generally grouped into three types, depending on the overall effect they have on
3366-422: Is seen in sedentary individuals who become moderately active. Studies have shown that since heart disease is the leading cause of death in women, regular exercise in aging women leads to healthier cardiovascular profiles. The most beneficial effects of physical activity on cardiovascular disease mortality can be attained through moderate-intensity activity (40–60% of maximal oxygen uptake, depending on age). After
3465-463: Is some level of concern about additional exposure to air pollution when exercising outdoors , especially near traffic. Resistance training and subsequent consumption of a protein-rich meal promotes muscle hypertrophy and gains in muscle strength by stimulating myofibrillar muscle protein synthesis (MPS) and inhibiting muscle protein breakdown (MPB). The stimulation of muscle protein synthesis by resistance training occurs via phosphorylation of
3564-458: Is weak and there are variations between studies. Environmental approaches appear promising: signs that encourage the use of stairs, as well as community campaigns, may increase exercise levels. The city of Bogotá , Colombia , for example, blocks off 113 kilometers (70 mi) of roads on Sundays and holidays to make it easier for its citizens to get exercise. Such pedestrian zones are part of an effort to combat chronic diseases and to maintain
3663-452: The apodyterium the bather who wished to go through the warm bath and sweating process entered the tepidarium ( D ). It did not contain water either at Pompeii nor at the Baths of Hippias, but was merely heated with warm air of an agreeable temperature, in order to prepare the body for the great heat of the vapour and warm baths, and, upon returning, to prevent a too-sudden transition to
3762-494: The tepidarium a door opened into the caldarium ( E ), whose mosaic floor was directly above the furnace or hypocaust . Its walls also were hollow, behind the decorated plaster one part of the wall was made from interconnected hollow bricks called tubuli lateraci , forming a great flue filled with heated air. At one end was a round basin ( labrum ), and at the other a quadrangular bathing place ( puelos , alveus , solium , calida piscina ), approached from
3861-412: The tepidarium ( D ) and another to the frigidarium ( C ), with its cold plunge-bath referred to as baptisterium (more commonly called natatorium or piscina ), loutron , natatio , or puteus ; the terms natatio and natatorium suggest that some of those baths were also swimming pools . The bath in this chamber is of white marble, surrounded by two marble steps. From
3960-628: The Dark Ages there were sword fighting tournaments and of chivalry ; and after gunpowder was invented sword fighting began to be replaced by the sport of fencing , as well as schools of dagger fighting and wrestling and boxing. In the 18th century, Salzmann, a German clergyman, opened a workout area in Thuringia teaching bodily exercises, including running and swimming. Clias and Volker established gyms in London, and in 1825, Doctor Charles Beck ,
4059-497: The caldarium (hot bathing room). The design of baths is discussed by Vitruvius in De architectura (V.10) . Thermae , balneae , balineae , balneum and balineum may all be translated as 'bath' or 'baths', though Latin sources distinguish among these terms. Balneum or balineum , derived from the Greek βαλανεῖον signifies, in its primary sense,
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4158-619: The master regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis. Developing research has demonstrated that many of the benefits of exercise are mediated through the role of skeletal muscle as an endocrine organ. That is, contracting muscles release multiple substances known as myokines which promote the growth of new tissue, tissue repair, and multiple anti-inflammatory functions, which in turn reduce the risk of developing various inflammatory diseases. Exercise reduces levels of cortisol , which causes many health problems, both physical and mental. Endurance exercise before meals lowers blood glucose more than
4257-750: The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) and subsequent activation of mTORC1 , which leads to protein biosynthesis in cellular ribosomes via phosphorylation of mTORC1's immediate targets (the p70S6 kinase and the translation repressor protein 4EBP1 ). The suppression of muscle protein breakdown following food consumption occurs primarily via increases in plasma insulin . Similarly, increased muscle protein synthesis (via activation of mTORC1) and suppressed muscle protein breakdown (via insulin-independent mechanisms) has also been shown to occur following ingestion of β-hydroxy β-methylbutyric acid . Aerobic exercise induces mitochondrial biogenesis and an increased capacity for oxidative phosphorylation in
4356-411: The mitochondria of skeletal muscle, which is one mechanism by which aerobic exercise enhances submaximal endurance performance. These effects occur via an exercise-induced increase in the intracellular AMP : ATP ratio, thereby triggering the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) which subsequently phosphorylates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1α (PGC-1α),
4455-423: The systolic pressure to rise significantly, albeit transiently, during the performance of the exercise. Physical exercise is important for maintaining physical fitness and can contribute to maintaining a healthy weight, regulating the digestive system, building and maintaining healthy bone density, muscle strength, and joint mobility, promoting physiological well-being, reducing surgical risks, and strengthening
4554-524: The EU and around the world, the promotion of HEPA in the EU and its partner countries, and the European Sports Week. The DG EAC regularly publishes a Eurobarometer on sport and physical activity. Worldwide there has been a large shift toward less physically demanding work. This has been accompanied by increasing use of mechanized transportation, a greater prevalence of labor-saving technology in
4653-518: The Forum Baths at Pompeii the floor is mosaic, the arched ceiling adorned with stucco and painting on a coloured ground, the walls red. Anointing was performed by slaves called unctores and aliptae . It sometimes took place before going to the hot bath, and sometimes after the cold bath, before putting on the clothes, in order to check the perspiration. Some baths had a special room ( destrictarium or unctorium ) for this purpose. From
4752-428: The Forum Baths, which are among the best-preserved Roman baths. These baths were connected to the forum at Pompeii, hence the name. The references are to the floor plan pictured to the right. This specific complex consists of a double set of baths, one for men and one for women. It has six different entrances from the street, one of which ( b ) gives admission to the smaller women's set only. Five other entrances lead to
4851-510: The Greek gymnasia , as well as a regular establishment appropriated for bathing. Writers, however, use these terms without distinction. Thus the baths erected by Claudius Etruscus , the freedman of the Emperor Claudius , are styled by Statius balnea , and by Martial Etrusci thermulae . In an epigram by Martial — subice balneum thermis —the terms are not applied to the whole building, but to two different chambers in
4950-728: The U.S. has more than doubled since the late 1980s. Today, fitness gyms and private health clubs are a huge global business. Exercise Exercise is physical activity that enhances or maintains fitness and overall health . which is performed for various reasons, including weight loss or maintenance, to aid growth and improve strength, develop muscles and the cardiovascular system , prevent injuries, hone athletic skills, improve health, or simply for enjoyment. Many people choose to exercise outdoors where they can congregate in groups, socialize, and improve well-being as well as mental health . In terms of health benefits, usually, 150minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week
5049-566: The baths themselves sometimes being decorated with mosaics of local champions of sport. Gyms in Germany were an outgrowth of the Turnplatz , an outdoor space for gymnastics founded by German educator Friedrich Jahn in 1811 and later promoted by the Turners , a nineteenth-century political and gymnastic movement. The first American to open a public gym in the United States using Jahn's model
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#17327732293125148-412: The baths" ( vilicus thermarum ) and "employee in the Greek library" (a bybliothecae Graecae ). The reason for this debate is that, although Julius Caesar and Asinius Pollio advocated for public access to books and that libraries be open to all readers, there is little evidence that public libraries existed in the modern sense as we know it. It is more likely that these reserves were maintained for
5247-509: The baths. There were libraries, rooms for poetry readings, and places to buy and eat food. The modern equivalent would be a combination of a library, art gallery, mall, restaurant, gym, and spa. One important function of the baths in Roman society was their role as what we would consider a "branch library" today. Many in the general public did not have access to the grand libraries in Rome and so as
5346-450: The benefits from exercise are achieved with around 3500 metabolic equivalent (MET) minutes per week, with diminishing returns at higher levels of activity. For example, climbing stairs 10 minutes, vacuuming 15 minutes, gardening 20 minutes, running 20 minutes, and walking or bicycling for transportation 25 minutes on a daily basis would together achieve about 3000 MET minutes a week. A lack of physical activity causes approximately 6% of
5445-804: The biological response to acute psychological stress . Aerobic exercise may affect both self-esteem and overall well-being (including sleep patterns) with consistent, long term participation. Regular aerobic exercise may improve symptoms associated with central nervous system disorders and may be used as adjunct therapy for these disorders. There is some evidence of exercise treatment efficacy for major depressive disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder . The American Academy of Neurology 's clinical practice guideline for mild cognitive impairment indicates that clinicians should recommend regular exercise (two times per week) to individuals who have been diagnosed with these conditions. Some preclinical evidence and emerging clinical evidence supports
5544-651: The burden of disease from coronary heart disease, 7% of type 2 diabetes, 10% of breast cancer, and 10% of colon cancer worldwide. Overall, physical inactivity causes 9% of premature mortality worldwide. The American-British writer Bill Bryson wrote: "If someone invented a pill that could do for us all that a moderate amount of exercise achieves, it would instantly become the most successful drug in history." Most people can increase fitness by increasing physical activity levels. Increases in muscle size from resistance training are primarily determined by diet and testosterone. This genetic variation in improvement from training
5643-507: The cardiovascular system is well documented. There is a direct correlation between physical inactivity and cardiovascular disease, and physical inactivity is an independent risk factor for the development of coronary artery disease . Low levels of physical exercise increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases mortality. Children who participate in physical exercise experience greater loss of body fat and increased cardiovascular fitness. Studies have shown that academic stress in youth increases
5742-474: The discus thrown. Men would oil themselves and remove the excess with a strigil (cf. the well known Apoxyomenus of Lysippus from the Vatican Museum ). Often wealthy bathers would bring a capsarius , a slave that carried his master's towels, oils, and strigils to the baths and then watched over them once in the baths, as thieves and pickpockets were known to frequent the baths. The changing room
5841-599: The early twentieth century. The first Turners group was formed in London in 1848. The Turners built gymnasiums in several cities like Cincinnati and St. Louis , which had large German American populations. These gyms were utilized by adults and youth. For example, a young Lou Gehrig would frequent the Turner gym in New York City with his father. The Boston Young Men's Christian Union claims to be "America's First Gym". The YMCA first organized in Boston in 1851 and
5940-417: The efficacy of physical exercise as a treatment for depression over a 2–4 month period. These benefits have also been noted in old age , with a review conducted in 2019 finding that exercise is an effective treatment for clinically diagnosed depression in older adults. Continuous aerobic exercise can induce a transient state of euphoria , colloquially known as a "runner's high" in distance running or
6039-482: The farther extremity the labrum . The floor of this chamber is suspended, and its walls perforated for flues, like the corresponding one in the men's baths. The tepidarium in the women's baths had no brazier, but it had a hanging or suspended floor. The baths often included, aside from the three main rooms listed above, a palaestra , or outdoor gymnasium where men would engage in various ball games and exercises. There, among other things, weights were lifted and
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#17327732293126138-404: The furnace; as the water was drawn out from there, it was supplied from the next, the tepidarium , which was raised a little higher and stood a little way off from the furnace. It was already considerably heated from its contiguity to the furnace and the hypocaust below it, so that it supplied the deficiency of the former without materially diminishing its temperature; and the vacuum in this last
6237-417: The home, and fewer active recreational pursuits . Personal lifestyle changes , however, can correct the lack of physical exercise. Research published in 2015 suggests that incorporating mindfulness into physical exercise interventions increases exercise adherence and self-efficacy, and also has positive effects both psychologically and physiologically. Exercising looks different in every country, as do
6336-406: The human body: Physical exercise can also include training that focuses on accuracy , agility , power , and speed . Types of exercise can also be classified as dynamic or static. 'Dynamic' exercises such as steady running, tend to produce a lowering of the diastolic blood pressure during exercise, due to the improved blood flow. Conversely, static exercise (such as weight-lifting) can cause
6435-459: The immune system following acute bouts of exercise may be one of the mechanisms for this anti-inflammatory effect. A systematic review evaluated 45 studies that examined the relationship between physical activity and cancer survival rates. According to the review, "[there] was consistent evidence from 27 observational studies that physical activity is associated with reduced all-cause, breast cancer–specific, and colon cancer–specific mortality. There
6534-410: The immune system. Some studies indicate that exercise may increase life expectancy and the overall quality of life. People who participate in moderate to high levels of physical exercise have a lower mortality rate compared to individuals who by comparison are not physically active. Moderate levels of exercise have been correlated with preventing aging by reducing inflammatory potential. The majority of
6633-488: The keeper of the baths ( balneator ), who exacted the quadrans paid by each visitor, was also stationed. The room ( f) which runs back from the portico, might have been appropriated to him; but most probably it was an oecus or exedra , for the convenience of the better classes while awaiting the return of their acquaintances from the interior. In this court, advertisements for the theatre or other announcements of general interest were posted, one of which, announcing
6732-542: The large imperial bath complexes , while balneae were smaller-scale facilities, public or private, that existed in great numbers throughout Rome. Most Roman cities had at least one – if not many – such buildings, which were centers not only for bathing, but socializing and reading as well. Bathhouses were also provided for wealthy private villas , town houses , and forts . They were supplied with water from an adjacent river or stream, or within cities by aqueduct . The water would be heated by fire then channelled into
6831-488: The luxury of his own times. But when the baths of private individuals became more sumptuous and comprised many rooms, instead of the one small chamber described by Seneca, the plural balnea or balinea was adopted, which still, in correct language, had reference only to the baths of private persons. Thus, Cicero terms the baths at the villa of his brother Quintus balnearia . Balneae and balineae , which according to Varro have no singular number, were
6930-405: The men's department, of which two ( c and c2 ), communicate directly with the furnaces, and the other three ( a3, a2, a ) with the bathing apartments. Passing through the principal entrance, a (barely visible, right side, one third of the total length from above), which is removed from the street by a narrow footway surrounding the building and after descending three steps, the bather would find
7029-809: The mornings, square dances are held in public parks; these gatherings may include Latin dancing, ballroom dancing, tango, or even the jitterbug. Dancing in public allows people to interact with those with whom they would not normally interact, allowing for both health and social benefits. These sociocultural variations in physical exercise show how people in different geographic locations and social climates have varying motivations and methods of exercising. Physical exercise can improve health and well-being, as well as enhance community ties and appreciation of natural beauty. Thermae In ancient Rome , thermae (from Greek θερμός thermos , "hot") and balneae (from Greek βαλανεῖον balaneion ) were facilities for bathing. Thermae usually refers to
7128-594: The most complete are various public and private baths in Pompeii and nearby sites. The Hammam Essalihine is still in use today. In 1910, Pennsylvania Station was opened in New York City, with a Main Waiting Room that borrowed heavily from the frigidarium of the Baths of Diocletian, especially with the use of repeated groin vaults in the ceiling. The success of the design of Pennsylvania Station in turn
7227-482: The motivations behind exercising. In some countries, people exercise primarily indoors (such as at home or health clubs ), while in others, people primarily exercise outdoors . People may exercise for personal enjoyment, health and well-being, social interactions, competition or training, etc. These differences could potentially be attributed to a variety of reasons including geographic location and social tendencies. In Colombia, for example, citizens value and celebrate
7326-453: The open air. In the baths at Pompeii this chamber also served as an apodyterium for those who took the warm bath. The walls feature a number of separate compartments or recesses for receiving the garments when taken off. The compartments are divided from each other by figures of the kind called atlantes or telamones , which project from the walls and support a rich cornice above them in a wide arch. Three bronze benches were also found in
7425-617: The outdoor environments of their country. In many instances, they use outdoor activities as social gatherings to enjoy nature and their communities. In Bogotá, Colombia, a 70-mile stretch of road known as the Ciclovía is shut down each Sunday for bicyclists, runners, rollerbladers, skateboarders and other exercisers to work out and enjoy their surroundings. Similarly to Colombia, citizens of Cambodia tend to exercise socially outside. In this country, public gyms have become quite popular. People will congregate at these outdoor gyms not only to use
7524-685: The piped water from a furnace ( praefurnium ). A number of Roman public baths survive, either as ruins or in varying degrees of conservation. Among the more notable are the Roman baths of Bath and the Ravenglass Roman Bath House in England as well as the Baths of Caracalla , of Diocletian , of Titus , of Trajan in Rome and the baths of Sofia , Serdica and Varna . Probably
7623-407: The platform by steps. The labrum held cold water, for pouring upon the bather's head before he left the room. These basins are of marble in the Old Baths, but we hear of alvei of solid silver. Because of the great heat of the room, the caldarium was but slightly ornamented. The Old Baths have no laconicum , which was a chamber still hotter than the caldarium , and used simply as
7722-414: The public baths, but this accuracy of diction is neglected by many of the subsequent writers, and particularly by the poets, amongst whom balnea is not uncommonly used in the plural number to signify the public baths, since the word balneae could not be introduced in a hexameter verse. Pliny also, in the same sentence, makes use of the neuter plural balnea for public, and of balneum for
7821-622: The public facilities, but also to organize aerobics and dance sessions, which are open to the public. Sweden has also begun developing outdoor gyms, called utegym . These gyms are free to the public and are often placed in beautiful, picturesque environments. People will swim in rivers, use boats, and run through forests to stay healthy and enjoy the natural world around them. This works particularly well in Sweden due to its geographical location. Exercise in some areas of China, particularly among those who are retired, seems to be socially grounded. In
7920-451: The rate of job attendance, as well as increase the amount of effort women put into their jobs. Although there have been hundreds of studies on physical exercise and the immune system , there is little direct evidence on its connection to illness. Epidemiological evidence suggests that moderate exercise has a beneficial effect on the human immune system ; an effect which is modeled in a J curve . Moderate exercise has been associated with
8019-421: The risk of cardiovascular disease in later years; however, these risks can be greatly decreased with regular physical exercise. There is a dose-response relationship between the amount of exercise performed from approximately 700–2000 kcal of energy expenditure per week and all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease mortality in middle-aged and elderly men. The greatest potential for reduced mortality
8118-428: The room, which was heated as well by its contiguity to the hypocaust of the adjoining chamber, as by a brazier of bronze ( foculus ), in which the charcoal ashes were still remaining when the excavation was made. Sitting and perspiring beside such a brazier was called ad flammam sudare . The tepidarium is generally the most highly ornamented room in baths. It was merely a room to sit and be anointed in. In
8217-407: The same edifice. A public bath was built around three principal rooms: the tepidarium (warm room), the caldarium (hot room), and the frigidarium (cold room). Some thermae also featured steam baths: the sudatorium , a moist steam bath, and the laconicum , a dry hot room. By way of illustration, this article will describe the layout of Pompeii 's Old Baths, otherwise known as
8316-513: The same exercise after meals. There is evidence that vigorous exercise (90–95% of VO 2 max ) induces a greater degree of physiological cardiac hypertrophy than moderate exercise (40 to 70% of VO 2 max), but it is unknown whether this has any effects on overall morbidity and/or mortality. Both aerobic and anaerobic exercise work to increase the mechanical efficiency of the heart by increasing cardiac volume (aerobic exercise), or myocardial thickness (strength training). Ventricular hypertrophy ,
8415-410: The street at c . It was assigned to the fornacatores , or persons in charge of the fires. Of its two staircases, one leads to the roof of the baths, and one to the boilers containing the water. There were three boilers, one of which ( caldarium ) held the hot water; a second, the tepid ( tepidarium ); and the third, the cold ( frigidarium ). The warm water was filled into the warm bath by
8514-407: The thickening of the ventricular walls, is generally beneficial and healthy if it occurs in response to exercise. The effects of physical exercise on the central nervous system may be mediated in part by specific neurotrophic factor hormones released into the blood by muscles , including BDNF , IGF-1 , and VEGF . Community-wide and school campaigns are often used in an attempt to increase
8613-493: The treatment of depressive disorders . The 2013 Cochrane Collaboration review on physical exercise for depression noted that, based upon limited evidence, it is more effective than a control intervention and comparable to psychological or antidepressant drug therapies. Three subsequent 2014 systematic reviews that included the Cochrane review in their analysis concluded with similar findings: one indicated that physical exercise
8712-414: The use of exercise as an adjunct therapy for the treatment and prevention of drug addictions . Numerous systematic reviews and meta-analyses have indicated that exercise has a marked and persistent antidepressant effect in humans, an effect believed to be mediated through enhanced BDNF signaling in the brain. Several systematic reviews have analyzed the potential for physical exercise in
8811-420: The wall. This opens upon a cold bath ( J ), answering to the natatio of the men's set, but of much smaller dimensions. There are four steps on the inside to descend into it. Opposite to the door of entrance into the apodyterium is another doorway which leads to the tepidarium ( G ), which also communicates with the thermal chamber ( F ), on one side of which is a warm bath in a square recess, and at
8910-599: The wealthy elite. Baths were a site for important sculpture; among the well-known pieces recovered from the Baths of Caracalla are the Farnese Bull and Farnese Hercules and over life-size early 3rd century patriotic figures, (now in the Museo di Capodimonte , Naples ). The Romans believed that good health came from bathing, eating, massages, and exercise. The baths, therefore, had all of these things in abundance. Since some citizens would be bathing multiple times
9009-423: The weather is safe. Gyms were popular in ancient Greece. Their curricula included self-defense, gymnastics medica, or physical therapy to help the sick and injured, and for physical fitness and sports, from boxing to dancing to skipping rope. Gymnasiums also had teachers of wisdom and philosophy. Community gymnastic events were done as part of the celebrations during various village festivals. In ancient Greece there
9108-424: The word) also can describe a secondary school that prepares students for higher education at a university , with or without the presence of athletic courts, fields, or equipment. In Gymnasiums, apparatus such as barbells, bumper plates, kettlebells, dumbbells, resistance bands, jumping boards, running paths, tennis balls, cricket fields, and fencing areas are used for exercises. Outdoor settings are healthiest when
9207-615: Was John Neal of Portland, Maine in 1827. The first indoor gymnasium in Germany was probably the one built in Hesse in 1852 by Adolph Spiess. Through worldwide colonization, Great Britain expanded its national interest in sports and games to many countries. In the 1800s, programs were added to schools and college curricula that emphasized health, strength, and bodily measure. Sports drawn from European and British cultures thrived as college students and upper-class clubs financed competition. As
9306-463: Was a locality for both physical and intellectual education of young men. The latter meaning of intellectual education persisted in Greek , German and other languages to denote a certain type of school providing secondary education , the gymnasium , whereas in English the meaning of physical education pertained to the word 'gym'. The Greek word gymnasion , which means "school for naked exercise,"
9405-461: Was a phrase of contempt, "He can neither swim nor write." After a while, however, Olympic athletes began training in buildings specifically designed for them. Community sports never became as popular among ancient Romans as it had among the ancient Greeks . Gyms were used more as a preparation for military service or spectator sports. During the Roman Empire , the gymnastic art was forgotten. In
9504-454: Was again filled up from the farthest removed, which contained the cold water received directly from the square reservoir seen behind them. The boilers themselves no longer remain, but the impressions which they have left in the mortar in which they were embedded are clearly visible, and enable us to determine their respective positions and dimensions. Such coppers or boilers appear to have been called miliaria , from their similarity of shape to
9603-473: Was known as the apodyterium (from Greek apodyterion from apoduein 'to take off'). In many ways, baths were the ancient Roman equivalent of community centres. Because the bathing process took so long, conversation was necessary. Many Romans would use the baths as a place to invite their friends to dinner parties, and many politicians would go to the baths to convince fellow Romans to join their causes. The thermae had many attributes in addition to
9702-400: Was taken in charge by slaves known as capsarii , notorious in ancient times for their dishonesty. The apodyterium was a spacious chamber, with stone seats along three sides of the wall ( h ). Holes are still visible on the walls, and probably mark the places where the pegs for the bathers' clothes were set. The chamber was lighted by a glass window, and had six doors. One of these led to
9801-651: Was used to designate a locality for the education of young men, including physical education ( gymnastics , for example, exercise) which was customarily performed naked, as well as bathing , and studies. For the Greeks, physical education was considered as important as cognitive learning. Most Greek gymnasia had libraries for use after relaxing in the baths. The first recorded gymnasiums date back to over 3000 years ago in ancient Persia , where they were known as zurkhaneh , areas that encouraged physical fitness. The larger Roman Baths often had attached fitness facilities,
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