Historical nude exercise at YMCA
Return to DiscussionsI've read that prior to going co-ed after WW2, many activities at the YMCA were conducted nude. At facilities with overnight accomodations, I can imagine that men could go from their rooms straight to the nude only swimming pool without clothes, but imagined men were dressed playing basketball or wrestling in the gymnasiums. Afterall the excuse of fibers clogging filters didn't apply. Therefore I was suprised to see a picture from the first half of the 20th century (undated) titled YMCA Gym Class. It's a balcony shot of a gymnasium in Marietta, Ohio of naked boys doing calesthenics. Here is the link: https://marietta.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16824coll5/id/9190/
I attended an all boys school from 1977-1983. When we had swimming as part of our physical education programme it was compulsory that we were naked. Even when we had an open evening for parents to bring prospective new pupils around we still had to be naked so they could see how we complete our lessons.
I attended an all boys school from 1977-1983. When we had swimming as part of our physical education programme it was compulsory that we were naked. Even when we had an open evening for parents to bring prospective new pupils around we still had to be naked so they could see how we complete our lessons.
Similarly but only for other male students, someone on another board attended an all male college. The college had an intramural program run by upper classes. He was the advisor for the swimming program. When they held an informational program for the freshmen to learn about the options, he and the gymnastics advisor were nude so the students would know what to expect.