Strength training serves numerous purposes and provides various benefits. Unsurprisingly, its history covers a similar variety of origins, purposes, and development. In fact, the history of strength training can largely be understood through examining how societies throughout history valued the same sorts of things that define strength fitness to this day, covering such categories as aesthetic, spiritual, and practical benefits. From athletic competitions in Greek antiquity to military training in the middle ages to the ways that some specific weight training implements matched the modes of production of their original eras, the history of strength training has followed a fascinating, winding path.

The health benefits of exercise extend beyond the direct results of the act of exercising itself. Regular exercise provides numerous and varied health benefits, including reduced risk of mortality and improved mental health. Beyond these broader benefits, exercise can assist with more specific health concerns such as recovery from chaotic substance use and quitting the use of tobacco products.

For much of my life, I thought of myself as “not the fitness type.” I hung out at backyard rock shows and poetry readings—but certainly not at the gym. Eventually, I came to realize that being artistic and being athletic are not at odds. In fact, quite the opposite is true.