Ancient civilizations viewed physical training not merely as recreation, but as an essential component of medicine, military readiness, and spiritual harmony.

Exercise as Medicine The concept of "Exercise is Medicine" dates back thousands of years. In ancient India (circa 600 BCE), the physician Susruta became the first to prescribe moderate daily exercise to treat obesity and prevent disease, understanding that overexertion could be fatal. In China, therapeutic exercises known as Daoyin (a precursor to Qigong) combined breathing with rhythmic movements simulating animals to promote the flow of Qi (vital energy) and create internal balance. In ancient Greece, Hippocrates and his disciples linked physical health to the balance of the body's four humours (blood, phlegm, yellow bile, black bile). They were among the first to  ...