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Fun Fitness Flashback: 80s Aerobics

By: Nicole Nichols : 11/13/2009 5:11:05 AM : 288 comments : 15,113 Views

(Disclaimer: As I write this, it's 4:55 p.m. and I need a blog post for tomorrow. While I guarantee this post will entertain and delight you, don't expect anything too deep.)

When you think of aerobics, what comes to mind? Tights, thong leotards, spandex and sweatbands? Well, you're not alone. Aerobics hit the mainstream in the 80s, and the "fashion" that went along with it (think: Olivia Newton John's "Get Physical" video) was probably just as famous as the signature moves, which could best be described as a cross of dance, calisthenics, and athletic training that is choreographed and set to music.

I recently stumbled upon a set of YouTube videos from the 1987 "National Aerobics Championship" where groups of, um�aerobicisers (?) competed for the title "America's Best Aerobic Athlete." These routines are mesmerizing.

If you're ready for a fun fitness flashback, you'll love the videos embedded below!

Update: The original video I posted here has been removed from YouTube by its owner, but I did find another version of the video where someone dubbed some newer hip hop music into the soundtrack instead of the original sound. You can see it below or click here:

And here's an example of one of the routines:

We've come a long way, baby! The hair, the music, the moves�this is 80s aerobics at its best. I wish I would have seen these workouts when I was developing ideas for my own "80s Aerobics" workout (on the Cardio Blast DVD), but I don't think I could hold a candle to these guys! If your workout routines resemble these videos in any way, it's time for a fitness intervention!

On a serious note, despite looking a bit corny, these routines are tough. It would NOT be easy to replicate a workout like this and keep up with it! They are fast-paced and anyone who actually followed a routine like that would have to get some great results. But I'm glad that fitness has changed so much since 1986. I can't imagine fitting in as a fitness instructor if I had to wear that much spandex and teach people to exercise like this. It would not come very naturally for me.

So I have to ask: Did you ever try aerobics during the 80s craze? Do you love it or hate it?

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Comments (Scroll to end to leave a comment)

THESKINNY100 4/3/2010 10:59:06 PM	I WAS one of those aerobics instructors in 1984-1994!!! I taught dance and step aerobics. I still have many of my outfits in the back of the closet and every once in a while I take them out!! My leg warmers really give me a kick!! I never wore a headband, but my hair was long and up in ball on top of my head! I was so fit back then and I have alot of great memories of the girls in my classes and how much fun we always had everyday. I loved going to work and I lost 75 lbs. and could eat what I wanted cause I burned so many cals. a day. I'm pretty sure I would do it again if it came back around and I could fit into any of those thong Danskins, tights, and leg-warmers!!	288
MOMWANTSNOWAIST 3/15/2010 1:51:39 PM	Aerobic videos--hated it.	287
TEE789 2/7/2010 9:43:55 PM	I love aerobics, but never tried it during the 80's craze. I was very tiny and had not desire at the time to try aerobics. Now I enjoy taking aerobics class.	286
LINDALEE51 2/6/2010 12:51:54 PM	I loved my aerobic classes. They made me feel good, and more coordinated!! Didn't really help with the left-right thing cause I was usually going in the wrong direction -- BUT, I always got a good workout! And thoroughly enjoyed it. The only thing I'd change is -- what was I thinking wearing a leotard!!????	285
-GIRLIE- 2/5/2010 11:31:14 PM	I loved 80's aerobics! I was so thin then too. LOL!	284
DANCINGRITA2 2/5/2010 8:59:38 PM	I have some of the old tapes, but the only form of exercise I've ever really enjoyed is dancing. I could dance for hours.	283
RMPOKRZY 2/5/2010 7:06:30 PM	Must have..shiny blue leotard...	282
MAZZMLANI 2/5/2010 5:45:27 PM	HA! this is hiLARious!! sigh I kinda miss the 80s. even if I wouldn't wear the fashion from back then, it's a never ending source of entertainment for me to look back on them fondly!! :-) but I just want to point out for the record, though, that that's not hip hop (even though there is a rapper). that's more like house music or something... carry on!	281
STEVIECAT4 2/5/2010 1:48:34 PM	I thought the routine was ridiculous. Sorry.... I wonder what they look like today. Probably still very fit.	280
39TOGO 2/5/2010 1:29:25 PM	I loved the aerobics of the 80s! Oh, I had this great leotard outfit... "singlet" style shorts which I wear with a bandau under the straps.	279
PATJOONWW 2/1/2010 11:07:26 PM	I did all the videos and Jazzercise in the eighties. Last year my DH and I cleaned the basement, I found the box of leotards and leggings and couldn't bring myself to pitch them. I want to be able to wear them again (not out mind you). 4 years ago got back into Jazzercise again and it is a fantastic workout. The teacher is wonderful and makes the hour and 10 minutes go by so fast. Most of the music is current sometimes she brings back oldies upon request. It's still a blast.	278
TDLEE9674 1/20/2010 2:44:31 PM	That brought back memories... too funny.	277
PMANQUEN 12/14/2009 1:24:17 AM	I did high impact aerobics in the '80's 5 - 6 times a week. I also was a dancing fool in those days. I was in the best shape ever! Unfortunately I had a huge disappointment and became severly depressed, quit going to the gym and turned to food. It took me many years to make a change and now that I have I couldn't be happier ~~~ Yes, I remember those days, loved them and would do those same classes today if they were offered!	276
CHRISAEROBICS 12/14/2009 1:18:25 AM	Hello you folks, I used to exercise alot in the 80's when I was a kid in my one piece leotards, tights, and leg warmers. I still do sometimes. LOL. ;) I'm a man. I don't know why most of us guys hate aerobics or have no desire to even try it. But I for one love it. Bless you all and take care. Warmly yours, Chris	275
BOBBABINSKI 12/12/2009 12:51:24 PM	That is cute. Check out how some swimmers are turning back the clock. For a peek at a unique trend in the UK that has more people swimming outdoors, check out this cool feature called "Water's Transforming Power" on the Good4sports blog: http://good4sports.wordpress.com /	274
MCNEILLMAMA3 11/30/2009 1:01:07 PM	The only one I cared for was Richard Simmons Sweatin to the Oldies and Dance Your Pants Off. The others invovled too many complicated moves and hard cored stomping and jumping. Does not go well with someone with DJD of the knees and lower back. I have no cushion. Currently I am consistently doing Leslie Sansone's WATP series, Denise Austin's Blast Away the Pounds, and just received the Spark 10 minute Fitness DVDs-these are great to work in q quick exercise stent. I also like the Arthritis Foundation's People With Arthritis Can Exercise(PACE)	273
OKEESEGOBELLA 11/26/2009 2:31:29 PM	hey i did em all jane fonda richard simmons denise richards - it was great. right now i am interested in more of the sexy latin dances...	272
SUPERSIZE2BBW 11/26/2009 10:26:29 AM	I'm an 80's baby! I love it!	271
HY2009 11/25/2009 10:17:46 PM	oh my gosh i am killing myself with this video how funny - I was that bad! I grew in the 80s- disco Hy	270
KZBAKER 11/24/2009 5:28:20 PM	This was blog was so much fun I pulled out my old Jazzercise and Jane Fonda VHS tapes and did a few 'retro' workouts. They're still great workouts and still highly enjoyable. Plus I got free entertainment from looking at the hairstyles! Thanks for the walk down memory lane.	269
OUREB33 11/24/2009 11:50:03 AM	I love jane fonda.	268
VANANDEL 11/24/2009 10:35:10 AM	I taught aerobics during the 90's, and it was a blast! I taught at my company and at a couple of different clubs in the area. I even had a thong leotard at one point, although I have to say I was glad when that trend went away! I enjoyed the spontaneous nature of routines in those days, it was both a great workout and so much fun.	267
SAMODER 11/22/2009 10:42:19 PM	I did Jane Fonda too....	266
INDEJAM09 11/22/2009 5:54:59 PM	I DID JANE FONDA ....UNTIL SHE CAME OUT OF THE CLOSET AND ADMITTED TO HAVING AN EATING DISORDER...I LOST FAITH IN HER AND THE WORKOUT THEN...	265
WORKINGSTIFF 11/22/2009 4:25:37 PM	What a great memory! I was in my 20's during the eighties. Graduated from college, lived on my own (do young people live on their own anymore? I think they all move back home now...). Yes, I had the leotards and tights (matching, thank you very much!) and leg warmers. Better yet was that my best friend from work and I both belonged to the same gym (Victory Lady-a women-only gym). We would work out every day after work. She and I are still friends, although she lives in another city. Thank you for some fun and funny memories!	264
LEE-2010 11/22/2009 3:51:53 PM	Anyone remember Aerobic Dance with Jackie Sorenson. I loved that and would do it in a minute of anyone taught the class! I did purchase some LP records on EBay with the music, just need to get them onto a CD for my IPOD.	263
LDREYNOLDS 11/22/2009 1:55:00 PM	Memories.....ah!	262
TERRELLSBE 11/21/2009 12:13:35 PM	What a hoot! I did jazzercise class 3 to 4 times a week and later used all the Kathy Smith videos. I still pull on Kathy Smith once in a while but I have to modify those high speed lunge move-killer on the knees! You know Kathy Smith now appears on the LifeTime lift commercials! She looks great!	261
MASONBEARCAT 11/21/2009 8:22:28 AM	I remember it well. Aerobics helped me lose the weight after I had my son. I couldn't afford the videos, so I would tune into ESPN for workouts in the morning. I can't believe I actually wore leg warmers and had big hair.	260
TAMMYCAN1 11/21/2009 7:53:56 AM	Oh, yea.....Those were the good old days!	259
SUHAILAH 11/20/2009 5:56:01 PM	No...i was growing up in the 80's.....	258
AMARANTHA2 11/20/2009 5:48:17 PM	Love it and still do.	257
TRADERGIRLZ 11/20/2009 1:27:51 PM	I remember ot well....I used to work at Jane Fonda's Workout!!!	256
LENANDRA81 11/20/2009 11:03:49 AM	I'm probably one of the few who was born in the 80s (early) that does not remember much of it (including aerobics) at all. I'm sure I probably seen some commericals of it back then, possibly Richard Simmons, Denise Austin and Jane Fonda. I don't think any of my family during the 80s part of my childhood had any workout tapes. I didn't learn anything about aerobics or any instructors until the early 90s. My mom had a VHS of Calenetics. I also remember seeing Richard Simmons and Denise Austin promo a lot back then. To be honest, I really didn't know many exercises and instructors until this decade. It was when I gained the most weight, so I didn't pay any mind to that But this was a learning experience. Though I knew about the wardrobe, I didn't know aerobics started in the 80s and they had aerobics dance competitions. That's pretty cool.	255
TWEETYKSC 11/20/2009 9:48:29 AM	HAHA! Hosted by Alan Thicke!	254
GREATLIFE5 11/19/2009 11:04:31 PM	Love it, fun, energizing and absolutely positive!	253
LORDLOVER 11/19/2009 4:32:24 AM	That's what first motivated me to move...it was fun!	252
IMABLESSED1 11/18/2009 8:21:49 PM	Oh my gosh - flashbacks! Yes I was one of those who wore the leotards with a baggy shirt that had to cover by stomach and rear end, leg warmers and a head band! It was fun working out to the music, but it was a serious workout! I don't think I ever completed a full aerobics workout!	251
DEANIEHUGS 11/18/2009 7:32:11 PM	Remember the Jane Fonda workout where she kept saying over and over "make it burn"! :)	250
ELBOURDO 11/18/2009 6:48:02 PM	Yes I'm probably dating myself but I did this too in the 80's. I had the leg warmers the one piece that went over your tights. No wonder I sweated so much. Now it's shorts and a tank top. How things change.	249
JULIE_MAY 11/18/2009 6:09:49 PM	I remember going to an aerobics class in the late 80s with a friend and working out to Michael Jackson. I loved exercising to real music instead of just the rhythm drum-type "music" that you mostly get nowadays. I even remember wearing a leotard, but I probably had baggy shorts on over it. Afterwards we would go out for a donut, so I doubt that the class did us much good, but it was fun!	248
CAR227 11/18/2009 5:47:22 PM	ROTFL!!!!! :-)	247
CHOOSINGLIFE 11/18/2009 11:54:27 AM	How funny.. Thanks for the blast from the past... I was a teen thinking I was overweight in the 80's which actually I was not at all. I think I still have a Jane Fonda workout record album up in a closet somewhere. I think my mother bought it but I don't ever remember her doing any sort of aerobics. She did go through a great spell of walking for a few years doing the "pep step" with her arms swinging high and trying to get my sister and I to do the same. By the time i started working out on my own I think I was hooked on Denise Austin.. : ) guess i should have stuck with Denise she's looking a whole lot better then myself.. lol	246
LADYDEEW_114 11/18/2009 5:35:45 AM	Loved the workouts and the gym outfits.	245
PANDAZONES 11/17/2009 8:22:50 PM	I still have some of my 80's tapes, Remeber Joanie Greggins, As a Jazzercise work out show comes on six days a week at 6:30am in the morning here! I sometimes work out with them If I am alert enough.! Yeah I use to work out like that. I couldn't do it now!	244
MAYAELAINE 11/17/2009 4:51:02 PM	Yep. Not even two days ago my mom and I were talking about workout tapes, and she still has and uses her Jane Fonda. LOL Love it.	243
JMLEE509 11/17/2009 4:29:25 PM	I was too heavy to do aerobics so I Sweated to the Oldies! After a few months of that I finally was able to do aerobics. Then I switched to Ta-Bo! Still have a blast doing those kicks!	242
LORI_IN_NB 11/17/2009 2:54:09 PM	My very first workout tape was Jane Fonda in 1982. Loved it! Oh, and I remember a TV show...the 20 Minute Workout, where three women, dressed in their 80's workout gear (complete with legwarmers) put you through a cardio workout. Hang onto those legwarmers people! They're back in style!	241
CAROLJ35 11/17/2009 1:22:18 PM	Leslie Sansone was my aerobics instructor back then - complete with leggings and leg warmers!!!	240
JICHELLE 11/17/2009 12:30:29 PM	Loved it, still do.	239