As the lithe body moves in perfect coordination with the others, the eyes of spectators feel mesmerized by this beautiful form. Gymnastics is something that always makes people wonder with great admiration and sometimes even with little envy about the flexibility of these talented gymnasts! This form is not just a sport or an activity, it is like an art form where skilled gymnasts communicate more than spoken words through their balanced movements. If gymnastics has always drawn your attention, read all about the facts and objectives of gymnastics. ✢ The term is derived from a Greek word, which means 'to exercise'. In the olden days, in Greece, the presence of a gymnasium signified the importance of physical fitness to the Greeks. There were strict fitness routines developed particularly for the Greeks. The soldiers were taught how to mount a horse and many other techniques that involved a lot of performance skills. This formed the base of gymnastics which evolved with time. This was also the time when gymnast methods were introduced even in the Greek educational system. With the Roman Empire, it took a different form. ✢ The year 1896 saw the inclusion of men's gymnastics in the Olympic games. The first competition for women in the Olympics was held during the 1920s. ✢ Gymnasts from the Soviet impressed everybody with their performances in the early years. This was the time when television helped to popularize it amongst viewers. ✢ Gymnastics is also known as one of the most oldest kinds of physical exercise! ✢ Some of the early examples of gymnastics can be found on Egyptian artifacts. Here, the drawings give an indication about the existence of this sport in the olden days. These drawings depict people performing techniques used in gymnastics. Females also performed in those days. ✢ Artistic gymnastics is another form of gymnastics which is very popular amongst people. This stylized and rhythmic form for women found a place in Olympics in 1928. ✢ Gymnastics benefit a person in many ways. This is not just a form of physical exercise, it makes a person develop a positive attitude towards life. These are some of the basic objectives of gymnastics. ✢ Professional training in gymnastics will help a person develop the strength of the body. The eye and foot coordination improves with this form of sport. Gymnastics also help a person to develop a good posture. This is very important from the health perspective. ✢ A person can also develop his/her sense of rhythm and coordination. This is through various musical pieces played during a performance. The musical compositions can be of varying beats. A gymnast also develops a sense of balance and grace with time. ✢ Yet another objective of gymnastics is to develop a person's memory. The new concepts and techniques being introduced helps a person retain thoughts and also exercise one's thinking capabilities. ✢ Gymnastics helps a person to hone social skills. Due to this sport, gymnasts are introduced to people from different age groups and they also learn to interact with their teachers. This makes them earn an experience of group interaction from an early age. These skills help them in their personal life as well. These facts and objectives of gymnastics give an idea about the popularity and beauty of this graceful sport! Today, both men and women gymnasts have plenty of fan following across the globe.