Leisure and Weight-Training

A Study Case at a Gym in Peripherial Area in the City of Belo Horizonte

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate, in a gym of Barreiro’s region, peripheral zone of Belo Horizonte, if the weight-training can be considered as a leisure activity to your practitioners. As strategy a study case was conducted, with a qualitative and quantitative approach. In order to collect data, we used a standardized questionnaire and participant observation. 145 volunteers participated in the research. It was found that most research participants consider the practice of weight-training as a leisure activity, which enables spaces for sociability and confraternization. Nevertheless, we observed that, for these practitioners, the main reason for entering and remaining in the activity is body aesthetics (muscular hypertrophy), and weight-training can be considered a pleasant lifestyle that has a fundamental relevance for the researched subjects.