Gain valuable insights into the ancient Greeks’ approach to fitness, which combines strength, flexibility, and mental sharpness. We answer the question “how to lift like an Ancient Greek” by presenting their training techniques, the philosophy behind their physical activities, and the importance of a balanced regimen that includes both physical and mental training.
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The ancient Greeks were famous for their deep thinking not really for lifting weights but they believed that having a smart brain also meant having a strong body and they worked hard on both their gyms were pretty basic think Open Fields next to a river rather than rooms full
Of equipment they didn’t have treadmills or dumbbells just whatever was lying around like big rocks and for the real tough guys they might even lift a bull yeah more on that later another thing they didn’t have workout clothes the Greeks did their Fitness routine in their birthday suits believing that’s
How the gods preferred it the word JY actually comes from the Greek word gymnos which means naked back then gyms were all about getting better at combat stuff like wrestling and sprinting so fancy gear wasn’t part of the equation back in ancient Greece with all its different city states doing their
Own thing it made sense that each Place had its own spot for training these early gyms started simple but got fancier as time went by especially as Sports became a big deal athletes in these competitions were in the buff too but they jazzed things up with a good slathering of oil supposedly
For sun protection we can guess there were other reasons for the oil up oh and married women had to sit these events out this exclusion wasn’t just about modesty or the revealing nature of athletes competing in the nude it was deeply rooted in the societal norms and
Gender roles of the time the Greeks believed that athletic competitions were a celebration of physical prowess and Beauty Realms they considered squarely in the male domain these events were more than just Sports they were rituals of strength discipline and virtue embodying ideals that were seen as exclusively masculine these Sports festivals were
The Talk of the Town attracting crowds in the tens of thousands the Olympics were the headline act but there were three other big games too all cycling every four years these games created a class of Superstar athletes who trained like their lives depended on it winning
Meant more than just a leafy crown it meant Hometown hero status complete with statues and sometimes even a political career take Milo of croon for instance this guy found a calf and for some reason decided to Lug it around daily this wasn’t just a short-term gig he
Kept at it until that calf was a full grown bll which he then celebrated by eating the poor thing in a single day Milo wasn’t just showing off he crushed it at the panh helenic game snagging the Grand Slam by winning all four festivals in a cycle and he did this five
Times for over two decades Milo was the rockar of ancient Greek Athletics he also was the father of the progressive overload training principle that is the foundation of any training program in any kind of sport back in ancient times Pros like Milo bulked out by eating lots
Of meat and focusing on one skill exclusively but the average Joe of ancient Greece took a more allrounder Approach at the gym Being Fit wasn’t just about looking good it was about being ready for battle they weren’t try trying to be the best at just one thing because on the battlefield being a
One-trick pony could get you in big trouble so the young dudes and they were mostly dudes hitting the gyms were training to be Warriors needing a good mix of strength Speed and Agility being just okay in one area wasn’t a deal breaker but there were always a few who
Took it easy much to the dismay of thinkers like Socrates one day socres just chilling outside the gym spots a young guy strolling by looking like he’s never lifted anything heavier than a scroll Socrates being Socrates doesn’t miss a beat and starts giving the guy a hard
Time for not being in shape the young guys like chill Socrates I’m no Olympian but Socrates fires back saying it’s everyone’s duty to be fit and ready for action makes you wonder though what Socrates himself was doing hanging around gyms if he was so big on training anyways turns out Greek gyms
Were the ancient equivalent of a community center they were all about the Mind Body Connection blending Fitness with learning that’s why these places weren’t just for sweating it out they became hubs of social life and intellectual debate in fact they got so fancy that cities competed to have the most impressive
Gymnasiums even Plato and Aristotle two big shot thinkers set up their schools in gyms Plato was also a wrestler who earned the nickname Plato meaning broad derived from his broad shoulders and his wrestling style he also stressed combining mental acuity with physical strength claiming he who was only an
Athlete is too crude too vulgar too much a Savage he who is a scholar only is too soft too effeminate the ideal citizen is the scholar athlete the man of thought and the Man of Action Plato established his school known as The Academy in a Grove near the gymnasium of academus
Just outside Athens this wasn’t just a random location Choice it was a deliberate decision that reflected Plato’s belief in the importance of physical fitness as part of a well-rounded education embodying the Greek ideal of a sound mind in a sound body Aristotle Plato’s most famous student later founded his own School the
Lum also near a gymnasium the Lum much like the academy served as a Center for Learning where intellectual discussions were complemented with physical training Aristotle took his students on walks as they discussed various topics believing that movement facilitated thinking and learning this practice even earned Aristotle and his followers the nickname
Parapatics from the Greek word parapan meaning to walk about from their Simple Start the Greeks developed a sophisticated training system and gave birth to a type of Coach called the pyot tries the OG personal trainers these folks were the go-to for everything gym related from workouts to helping athletes recover and eat right
Their job changed a bit over time but they stayed key players all the way into the Roman era even helping to shape the next wave of Athenian Warriors The Classical period introduced us to two new kinds of trainers the zaris who got athletes ready for big competitions like the Olympics and the
Alup who were basically ancient nutrition gurus also Jim started to get fancy with the addition of baths and changing rooms sounds pretty basic now but back then these features were a big deal influencing not just fitness routines but also public life based on what’s available the ancient Greeks were
Savvy about not rushing the training process Plato mentioned that if someone wanted to get physically stronger they needed to invest a lot of personal time to figure out which exercises worked best for them Aristotle chimed in saying it was crucial for trainers to be Hands-On helping to pinpoint which
Workouts were best for different body types they’d also oversee diet plans and offer guidance in various exercises like running and wrestling as for the science of sports back then we know from texts attributed to hypocrates and others that pushing your strength too far could be risky they believed that hitting your
Peak strength required a temporary step back to allow the body to refresh and rebuild this early understanding of muscle building and the necessity of rest days led to the development of what was known as the tetrid routine understanding muscle growth and rest was a big deal back then so their training
Plans were based on this evidence suggests this training regimen was standard during athens’s Golden Days athletes following this program trained on a 4-day rotation day one focus on intense brief exercises day two dialed it back incorporating more Mobility work and perhaps some philosophical discussions the third day ramped up the
Intensity focusing on rigorous training specific to the athletes specialty the cycle would conclude on the fourth day with a focus on recovery which included massages baths and relaxation Plato mentioned that trainers would blend dancing with wrestling to create well-rounded athletes boasting both strength and Agility moreover the Greeks practiced a variety of exercises
Including Shadow boxing punching bag drills running horseback riding swimming and grappling demonstrating a broad and diverse approach to physical training so the gym wasn’t just about getting ripped it was the OG spot for brain gains too this combo is what sparked the whole Greek genius for deep thoughts and
Philosophies we all about today I’ll be taking donations in the form of likes and subscribes catch you on the next one