’80s fitness trends making a major comeback today

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

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

Examples of popular retro workouts include callisthenics, classic cardiovascular exercises, and power walking. Requiring only one’s own body weight, these exercises are simple yet effective. Let’s explore some. 

Calisthenics promotes muscle strength and coordination by using one’s body weight to perform movements like push-ups, burpees, squats and handstands. This has become an incredibly popular form of exercise to improve strength purely with one’s own body weight, and to improve balance.  

Dance-based fitness has also become popular in recent years, inspired by Jazzercise classes. Modern classes blend choreography with cardio, creating entertaining and effective routines. Dance workouts not only have great physical benefits, but also support mental wellbeing by boosting 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 muscular strength. The increased resistance of the water effectively and efficiently trains the muscles.

Rollerblading contributes to the strengthening of the hips and glute muscles due to the side-to-side movement when skating. This outdoor activity encourages you to move in an entirely different way to 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 has now been used as a form of exercise for years. Weighted hoops are now popular, burning calories fast and toning the core, arms, and legs.

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

Martial arts and kickboxing workouts 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 expect to see this on the rise with the world’s current political and economic state.

Sometimes, simply walking is the most effective form of exercise. Power walking in particular is simple, yet consistent, and can be enjoyed in a group or independently. Increasing your pace raises your heart rate and improves heart health in a low-intensity manner.

Finally, classic aerobic steps are a fun form of exercise, burning high calories and improving cardiovascular fitness. Mostly performed by watching fun exercise classes on TV, these became popular again during the COVID-19 global pandemic.

The fitness boom of the ’80s saw stretchy fabrics, bright colors and aesthetic accessories becoming increasingly popular, which sparked the crossover between gym wear and fashion, and has led to our current obsession with wearing athleisure in everyday life. Brands such as Lululemon, Alo, and Tala have seen incredible profits as a result. 

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

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