The ’80s fitness trend is making a major comeback today

During the 1960s, Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper American developed a series of aerobic exercises to help those with cardiovascular disease.

In the ’70s, this movement became popular through the creation of exercise videos, starring the likes of Jane Fonda. By the ’80s, aerobics was a big part of the culture, with vibrant fitness classes that incorporated music and high-energy movements to create a fun form of exercise.

Examples of popular retro exercises include callisthenics, classic cardiovascular exercises, and power walking. Requiring only your own body weight, this exercise is simple but effective. Let’s explore some.

Calisthenics promote muscle strength and coordination by using body weight to perform movements such as push-ups, burpees, squats and handstands. This has become an incredibly popular form of exercise to improve pure strength with your own body weight, and to improve balance.

Dance-based fitness has also become popular in recent years, inspired by Jazzercise classes. Modern classes mix choreography with cardio, creating routines that are fun and effective. Dance training not only has great physical benefits, but also supports mental well-being by increasing serotonin and reducing stress through music and movement.

Water aerobics is a joint-friendly form of exercise that’s gentle on your body but great for muscle strength. Increased water resistance effectively and efficiently trains the muscles.

Rollerblading contributes to strengthening the hips and glute muscles due to the side-to-side movement during skating. This outdoor activity encourages you to move in a completely different way than other forms of exercise, and is a great way to get out of the house.

Hula hooping is not only a great form of entertainment, but now it has been used as a form of training for years. Heavy hoops are now popular, burning calories quickly and toning the core, arms, and legs.

Parkour, as told by nutrition and exercise scientist Amelia Phillips HELLO!, is a sport that incorporates strength, balance, and coordination. “It’s a community-friendly sport, bringing people together while exercising the whole body.”

Martial arts and kickboxing training have a great impact on a person’s social life and their physical health. A real mental sport, this type of exercise has been shown to improve mental health. Tae Bo and martial arts rose in popularity in the 90s with the culture of empowerment, so we hope to see this increase with the current world political and economic situation.

Sometimes, just walking is the most effective form of exercise. The power of walking is particularly simple, yet consistent, and can be enjoyed in a group or independently. Increasing your pace raises your heart rate and improves heart health at low intensities.

Finally, the classic aerobic step is a fun form of exercise, burns high calories and improves cardiovascular fitness. Usually done by watching fun exercise classes on TV, this has become popular again during the global pandemic of COVID-19.

The fitness boom of the 80s saw stretchy fabrics, bright colors and aesthetic accessories become more popular, which led to a crossover between gym wear and fashion, and has led to our current obsession with sports wear in everyday life. Brands like Lululemon, Alo, and Tala have seen tremendous gains as a result.

Amelia Phillips shared with HELLO! that retro is “becoming fashionable again, especially for millennials and Gen X who experience the fun lifestyle of the ’80s workout culture. They crave the simplicity that is offered.”

Today, group fitness is on the rise, as classes or clubs run posing as a form of exercise and a means of meeting new people. They’re giving people a chance to connect with others, rather than just a solo workout at the gym.