History of Medieval Exercise: The Monk, The Wrestler King, and The Nun on Parade – What People Did for Fitness in the Middle Ages

In the medieval period, fitness was often considered a reflection of one's social position, occupation, and religious duty rather than a personal goal of health and wellness as we might think of today. People in the Middle Ages did not have modern gyms, fitness classes, or structured exercise routines. Instead, their physical activity was intertwined with their daily work, religious practices, and social traditions. From monks to wrestlers and nuns, physical exertion had a different form and purpose. This article delves into the fascinating ways people from different walks of life kept their bodies in motion and the role that physical activity played in their lives.

Monks and Physical Labor: Penance and Prayer

Monks, especially those in monastic communities, had a very structured daily life filled with prayer, work, and meditation. Physical exercise in the monastery was not solely for the purpose of fitness, but rather a means of penance, discipline, and spiritual purity. The Cistercian order, for example, believed that physical labor was an important part of monastic life. Monks spent hours working the land, tending to crops, and maintaining the monastery. This manual labor served as both exercise and a way to remain humble, as they believed that hard work was a form of worship.

The monks’ physical activities were not purely labor-intensive but also included walking, climbing, and even engaging in the occasional “pious” sport. Monastic gardens, often cultivated as a source of food and medicine, were places where monks could walk or engage in physical activity during moments of solitude. There were also written accounts that some monastic orders encouraged running, especially as a form of penance or self-discipline. However, their version of exercise was closely tied to the concept of serving God rather than the idea of personal health or fitness. shutdown123