Philosophy and history

The idea

An idea without demands

Friskis&Svettis is a keep-fit association with an unusual yet simple aim. There is no finish line to race across, no net to throw a ball into and no competitors to compete against. Here, our simple aim is to place a smile on our faces.

Steered by pleasure

The smile that F&S wishes to promote will prevail over that feeling of "I should and ought to". Exercises and workouts driven by bad conscience are not fun, are usually performed on an irregular basis and don’t last very long. That is why the sports association F&S bases all its work and activities upon the idea that exercise should be driven by pleasure and fun.

Longing for exercise

If you enjoy working out, you want to do it again and again. You will look forward to the next time. And by exercising with other people and having great fun you can also shrink those extra inches, lower your cholesterol level, build lean muscles or even beat your personal record in a race!

Affordable quality

You don’t have to spend loads of money to stay in shape. F&S instructors receive extensive training but volunteer their time as do hosts and other collaborators. As a result, the cost to you is very affordable, but with high quality.

A work-out for everybody

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced athlete, young or mature, an outdoor or indoor type, you prefer rhythm and coordination or strength exercises, F&S will have something for you. Click here and see where you fit in.

F&S history in short

1978 Johan Holmsäter founded Friskis&Svettis in Stockholm. There was only one participant at the first class. The number of members quickly rose to 1,500 and in the autumn the first keep fit instructor training course was held.

1979 On the 22nd of September, a jympa demonstration is held on the streets of Stockholm. This results in traffic congestion and chaos. The membership magazine Friskispressen prints its first issue.

1988 Friskis&Svettis 10th anniversary with 64 associations and approx. 70,000 members.

1991 Friskis Brussels is founded as an isbl (later asbl/bvba) by a group of enthusiasts in the Waterloo area, where the first sessions are offered.

1993 Friskis Brussels selects its first group of candidates for instructors, to be locally trained.

1996 Friskis Brussels participates for the first time with a team in the Brussels 20k run.

1998 Friskis&Svettis 20th anniversary with 116 associations and approx. 188,000 members.

1999 Friskis Brussels starts to offer free outdoor sessions in the Parc Cinquantenaire.

2001 29 January, Friskis Brussels participates together with other keep fit organisations to break the world keep fit record, as 64,782 people take part in a simultaneous keep fit class. A series of activities are organised in connection with the first Swedish EU chairmanship.

2002 Friskis Brussels expands its activities to all-year outdoor Nordic Walking sessions.

2003 Friskis Brussels selects it’s first group of candidates for instructors, to be locally trained.

2008 Friskis&Svettis celebrates its 30th anniversary with a total of 477,665 members in 156 associations.

2009 Friskis Brussels has 650 members and offers 34 regular sessions per week, whereof 3 outdoor, at 7 different locations, and organizes its 10th training of new instructors.