Tag: physical education

Resources by Conor HeffernanJul 29, 20206:37 pm

Guest Post: A Brief History of German Gymnastics in US Public Schools and its Relevance for PE Teachers Today

As several of the United States’ largest public school districts plan to continue online learning this fall, many physical education teachers will return to the Instagram Live workouts and virtual check-ins used to keep students active during the first months of the pandemic. The adaptability and resourcefulness they have exhibited resembles that of the subject’s first instructors. Beyond mindset, the gymnastics exercises taught in PE by German-American instructors during the late nineteenth century may serve as an example of how to conduct remote or socially distanced classes next year.

Resources by Conor HeffernanJul 3, 202011:01 pm

P.H. Clias: An Early Pioneer

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This website has, at time of writing, been operating for a little over six years. When I began Physical Culture Study my intent was to shed some light on the weird and wonderful of the fitness industry. Little did I know at the time of all the things I could write on!

Somewhat shamefully it’s dawned on me that I have tended to neglect the early pioneers in the fitness industry, the men and women from the seventeenth, eighteenth and early nineteenth century who helped to create, normalise and promote, the practice of moving the body and building muscles.

The object of today’s post, Phokion Heinrich Clias, is one such individual. Born in the United States, Clias moved to Switzerland before travelling around England and France preaching the gospel of gymnastics in the first half of the nineteenth century. Here we are going to discuss his life and, more importantly, his legacy.

Resources by Conor HeffernanMay 3, 20197:31 am

Guest Post: The History of Physical Fitness

Society often makes certain demands on the level of physical strength of its members. This is especially the case in times of primitive communal systems. Yet even then, even in ‘pre-modern’ societies, there were peculiar principles of physical education, because a person’s life was largely dependent on their physical qualities.

Today, fitness is still of paramount importance to health and well-being. With that in mind, the following post details a brief history of physical fitness.

Training by Conor HeffernanFeb 1, 20192:30 pm

Guest Post: The History of Physical Fitness

If you think people started exercising only 100 years ago, you’re wrong. Since the rise of civilizations, exercise was a part of human life. So, let’s see how working out changed through history and where we stand today.

Resources by Conor HeffernanSep 26, 20182:31 pm

Physical Fitness for the Nation (1936 British Pathé Video)

The 1930s were a tumultuous period of European history. Traditional political structures appeared to be faltering, fascist regimes were rising and the modern fitness levels appeared to be dropping dramatically. The following video, taken from the wonderful British Pathé archives, gives a snippet into the British government’s attempt to reverse the political tide and create a nation of strong and fit men.

Resources by Conor HeffernanApr 3, 20189:13 am

JFK’s Fitness Programme (1961-1962)

Part of a mid-century scare about America’s children and the future of the American military, the following post details the 35th President of the United States, J. F. Kennedy’s efforts to test and improve the […]

Resources by Conor HeffernanJul 21, 20177:22 am

Guest Post: A Comprehensive Look At The History of Physical Fitness

Photo courtesy of Flickr The way we look at physical fitness today is way too different from the way people used to consider it during the stone age or bronze age. Today, joining a fitness […]