The European Gymnastics Movement took place in the 19th century, and encompassed working styles with gymnastics at school, proposed by Sweden, England, France, Denmark, Austria and Germany. The birth context of this movement is the most interesting, because once you know it, you can understand how gymnastics emerged in Europe.
The 19th century in Europe was marked by the immense belief in science. Therefore, objectivity and neutrality were values that spread throughout society and that won the population's trust. Immersed in this framework, methods of body discipline and working with the body, whose goals were to strengthen, beautify, correct and make healthy the bodies of the population European. Therefore, specific types of exercises were developed for each part of the body, a method still widely used today in bodybuilding gyms.
The great purpose of the European Gymnastics Movement was to improve the health of society. At a time marked by the social problems that resulted from the Industrial Revolution, associated with the need to strengthen the worker to withstand the high load of their tasks, the movement led to the formation of local groups to practice the fitness.
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In addition to strengthening and making workers healthy, it was necessary to turn these principles into values to be perpetuated. No wonder they started to be introduced to the school. There, through the imposition of gymnastics, it was possible for students to become stronger, more disciplined, healthier, and still take this type of physical activity as a continuous practice.
By Paula Rondinelli
Brazil School Collaborator
Graduated in Physical Education from the São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” – UNESP
Master in Motricity Sciences from the São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” – UNESP
PhD student in Latin American Integration at the University of São Paulo - USP
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
RONDINELLI, Paula. "European Gymnastics Movement"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/educacao-fisica/movimento-ginastico-europeu.htm. Accessed on June 30, 2021.
