The Strength Running Podcast

How the Fitness Industry Began: Exploring 200+ Years of Training Evolution with Professor Conor Heffernan

11 snips
Nov 27, 2025
Join Conor Heffernan, a professor at Ulster University and author specializing in the evolution of fitness, as he dives into the fascinating history of the fitness industry. Discover how the 19th century, influenced by Napoleon and industrialization, paved the way for modern training practices. Heffernan shares wild early fitness claims, the emergence of competitions, and the role of mass media in democratizing fitness. With insights into historical equipment and the shift from natural movement to structured training, this conversation is a treasure trove for history and fitness buffs alike!
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INSIGHT

Military Needs Spark Modern Fitness

  • The 19th century sparked modern fitness because militaries prioritized fit troops after facing Napoleonic armies.
  • Industrialization made daily life less physical, creating a corrective push toward formal exercise.
INSIGHT

Industrialization Reduced Everyday Fitness

  • Urbanization and factory work drained everyday physical activity, producing weaker, paler populations.
  • Physical culture and early gyms emerged to replace lost daily movement and preserve health.
ADVICE

Start With Bodyweight And Simple Tools

  • Early training relied heavily on gymnastics, calisthenics, club swinging and light weights for general fitness.
  • Use bodyweight drills and simple tools to build baseline strength rather than defaulting to heavy loads.
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