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Alright, my fellow Gen Z comrades, gather around. It’s time to take a trip down memory lane – but not our memory lane, oh no. We’re hopping onto our parents’ and grandparents’ fitness rollercoaster ride. Buckle up, because we’re about to dive into the evolution of fitness trends over the decades.
The 1950s: The Era of Hula Hoops
Picture this: poodle skirts swishing around as girls twirl hula hoops around their waists. The hula hoop was more than just a toy in the 50s; it was an exercise trend that swept across America faster than you can say ‘rock n roll’. So next time your mum complains about your TikTok dances, remind her that she probably spent hours trying to keep a hoop from hitting the ground!
The 1960s: Twist and Shout with Aerobics
Aerobics entered the scene in the swinging sixties, thanks to Dr Kenneth Cooper’s research on preventative medicine. Suddenly everyone was jumping, stretching and twisting their way to health. And yes, this is when those high-cut leotards started making appearances (cue collective shudder).
The 1970s: Jogging into Pop Culture
In came the era of disco music and jogging. Yes, jogging! This simple activity became a national obsession in America during this decade. It’s hard to imagine now with our wireless earbuds and Spotify playlists, but people actually went running for fun without any tech distractions.
The 1980s: Rise of Jane Fonda & High-Impact Aerobics
Enter the queen of fitness, Jane Fonda. Her workout videos were as essential to an 80s household as shoulder pads and perms. High-impact aerobics ruled this decade, with people leaping around their living rooms in neon spandex (the mind boggles). I’m sure our parents thought they looked cool… but we’ve seen the photos.
The 1990s: The Birth of Tae Bo & Step Aerobics
The 90s brought us gems like the Spice Girls, Friends, and…Tae Bo. This high-energy workout combined taekwondo and boxing, and it was a hit! Step aerobics also stepped into the limelight during this time. Remember those colourful little step platforms? Yeah, they weren’t just for tripping over.
The 2000s: Yoga Pants & Zumba Parties
The new millennium brought us yoga pants – a fashion trend that has thankfully stuck around (can I get an amen?). Yoga itself became massively popular during this time too. And let’s not forget Zumba – the dance party disguised as a workout that had everyone shaking their hips in gym studios across the globe.
The 2010s: HIIT Workouts & Wearable Tech
High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) became all the rage in the 2010s. Short bursts of intense exercise followed by short rest periods? Yes please! This decade also saw the rise of wearable tech like Fitbits and Apple Watches, allowing us to track every step, heartbeat, and calorie burned.
The 2020s: Home Workouts & Virtual Fitness Classes
Welcome to our era! The pandemic turned our world upside down and our living rooms into gyms. Home workouts have become the norm, and virtual fitness classes are now a thing. Who would’ve thought we’d be doing Pilates with an online instructor while our cat judges us from the sofa?
So there you have it, a whirlwind tour of fitness trends throughout the decades. From hula hoops to HIIT workouts, it’s been quite a journey. It makes you wonder what the next big thing in fitness will be. Virtual reality workouts? Drone-led running routes? Only time will tell.
In the meantime, let’s appreciate our yoga pants, wireless earbuds and judgemental cats because who knows – one day our kids might be laughing at us!
