While art and fitness may seem unlikely bedfellows, the two sectors have actually been strongly intertwined for hundreds of years.

Many famous creative people have historically found inspiration while undertaking fitness activities such as walking or cycling in the countryside.

Modern fitness companies often use art to market their products or to inspire athletes when they are working out in the gym.

With that in mind, we take a closer look at some of the ways art and fitness are linked.

Art & Fitness in Perfect Harmony
In between being one of the most prolific novelists of the Victorian era, Charles Dickens gained inspiration for his stories by walking 12 miles a day.

As highlighted by the experts at preworkout.org, partaking in regular exercise provides positive benefits for physical health and mental wellbeing.

Exercise releases chemicals called endorphins that interact with the receptors in our brains to improve focus, reduce anxiety and depression and boost self-esteem.
Given the impact exercise had on Dickens’ literary output, it is little wonder that many other artistic people have often engaged in physical activity.

History is littered with creatives who exercised - Ernest Hemingway boxed, Kathy Acker was into bodybuilding and Philip Roth maintained his prowess well into his seventies by swimming daily.

Dutch filmmaker and visual artist Guido van der Werve, who also composes music, says running, biking or swimming are especially helpful for orchestration.

“Many days I sit behind my piano trying to compose for a lot of different instruments at once,” he told Artsy.

“It’s quite difficult because music is time-based, so you can’t really sit down and look at it - it disappears.

“Going for a run makes me sharper, it helps me to stay focused, to concentrate, and also you create endorphins, which makes you feel better.”

Fitness activities undoubtedly support mental dexterity, allowing creativity to thrive through the emotional balance they provide.

Art Defines Fitness Experiences
In addition to providing inspiration for creative people, the fitness industry takes several other cues from art that define experiences in the sector.

Movement is classified as a form of art and art is inspired by movement, which goes a long way to explaining why art and fitness are so interwoven.

Working up a sweat is not just about taking a class at the gym or participating in race any more – each is an event driven by elements from art.

From the pumping music in the background to artistically designed fitness clothing and more, art is a tool used by the fitness sector to create immersive experiences.

Fitness facilities are often bedecked with powerful pieces of athletic art, providing inspiration for people while they are working out.

Marketing in fitness taps into various artistic genres such as music and visual to ‘sell’ the idea that physical activity is a thing of beauty.

Art has even been used to inspire people partaking in brutal events such as the Pittsburgh Marathon, with limited-edition artwork sold to commemorate the event.

Local Pittsburgh artist and former NFL player Baron Batch designed the official artwork for the 2015 edition of the race, cementing the theory of art supporting fitness experiences.

An illustrated art print map showing the 26.2 miles of the Greater Manchester marathon is another excellent example of art and fitness combining.

By adding personalised text such as your name and race time, items of this nature become a one-off artistic celebration of physical activity.

Art Shapes Fitness Facility Design
The recently opened Heimat fitness facility in Hollywood takes artistic interior design and fires it into a completely different stratosphere.

The venue boasts amenities found in gyms and social clubs including some of finest gym equipment on the market and boutique studio classes.

There is also a pool and hot tub, an in-house spa, clubhouse/co-working space and restaurant, making for one of the finest fitness facilities in Los Angeles.

The fitness spaces and pool deck were designed by Berlin-based agency Inco Media, while the clubhouse and restaurant were designed by architect Martin Brudzinski.
From the herringbone wood flooring to art-deco sconces in the bathrooms and custom upholstery on the weight machines, every detail is stunning.

Sebastian Schoepe, president and chief executive officer of the company that owns Heimat, told Forbes how the incorporation of art was integral to the design at Heimat.

“Even though we started this project over four years ago, we had already begun noticing a shift in how people lived, and the pandemic only expedited a lot of what we saw,” he said.

“For instance, remote work allows people not to be tethered to their desks anymore. This was also true in the fitness space as home workouts became increasingly popular. As these paradigms moved, we saw an opportunity to reframe what a brick-and-mortar fitness concept could be.

“The idea was to get people to embrace the things they loved about home but add community and luxury that only a membership club could provide— a sense of belonging.

“The art’s presence within Heimat adds to the rich tapestry of design and art we have weaved throughout the space.”

The Final Word
From inspiring creatives to defining experiences and the design of exciting new facilities, the worlds or art and fitness are truly intertwined.
Art inspires the design of fitness products and shapes activities such as gymnastics, yoga, Acro Yoga and synchronized swimming.

Various other forms of exercise can be also constituted as art, such as boxing, Kung Fu, dancing, ballet and many more.

As we stated at the outset, art and fitness are unquestionably a match made in heaven.