Body and Soul Health Club history

Founded in 1844 in London England, The YMCA would eventually lead the way for fitness for many men.

Gymnase Triat – The First Membership-Driven Facility (1848)

The Boston YMCA – The Granddaddy of United States Fitness Facilities (1850)

By 1860 over 150 Turns or Turnverein had spread across the globe, making it the first scaled fitness offering to exist on both sides of the Atlantic.

According to the YMCA website, The first buildings constructed with gymnasiums opened in 1869.

In 1881, Boston YMCA staffer Robert J. Roberts coined the term “body building” and developed exercise classes, which are the forerunner of today’s health club model.

In 1901 Sandow staged the world’s first physique contest, and he later promoted the burgeoning fitness lifestyle by marketing various publications, equipment, and dietary products and by operating a chain of fitness centers throughout Great Britain.

In 1926, Professor Attilla sold his New York club to Sig Klein, who operated the studio for another 50 years as Sig Klein’s Studio of Physical Culture.

In 1939, fitness legend Jack LaLanne opened what is believed to be the first United States health club in Oakland, Calif.

Vic Tanny Health Clubs –The First Suburban Fitness Club (1947)

Health and Tennis Corporation (aka Bally Total Fitness) – First Club Chain to Go Public in United States (1962)

While still fringe and a Mecca for early bodybuilders, the birth of Gold’s Gym in Venice, Calif. in 1965 signaled the beginning of the rise of a new big-box concept for health and fitness that could –and would be—recreated to open the doors to the masses.

Lucille Roberts Health Clubs - The First Women-Only Club Chain (1969)

Joe Gold followed his success with Gold’s gym by founding the World Gym chain in 1977.

McFit – The First Scaled Budget Club Operation (1997)