- Explore Fitness Frenzy: An Examination of the 1980s Aerobics Obsession
Fun, awesome tunes, and swaying hips: That's the recipe for Aerobics. Iconic figures like Tina Turner, Cher, Mick Jagger, and Freddie Mercury were grooving in vibrant leotards during the 1980s. Yet, the most iconic figure of the fitness revolution during that time was none other than Jane Fonda, now 86 years old. The Arte documentary "Burn, Baby, Burn! – How Aerobics reignited the world to sweat", airing this Wednesday (11:23 PM), delves into the influence of the legendary actress and the forces driving the former craze.
The name Aerobics is derived from space astronaut training. While terms like Pilates and Yoga enjoy copyright protection, the term Aerobics is not. At its core, Aerobics refers to endurance training. The doc highlights how the fitness wave fostered a sense of unity and bolstered the self-confidence of women.
At first, the movements were viewed as "unstable and risky" according to the daughter of a pioneer. However, alongside emancipation, sport went hand in hand back then. The flashy, sparkly, and form-fitting leotards also symbolized self-determination.
Véronique de Villele and Debbie Moore, European Aerobics stars and fitness influencers, brought the wave from the USA to London and Paris with their studios. The US actress and Aerobics icon Sydne Rome toured Berlin and other cities. She still fondly recalls the birth of the movement in Germany. "The German women were exceptionally strong. The only challenge was that they insisted on opening the windows even in the coldest of months," she shares. But Germany embraced Aerobics more passionately than any other country.
Women of all ages were inspired to lead an active life and engage in sports due to the trend. The distinctive Aerobics music defined an entire decade and matched the disco era's vibe. "Never exceeding 160 beats per minute," says Rome. "The music acts as a motivator, just like in the disco. Everyone dances, and that's one of the secrets behind Aerobics' success." Music continues to hold significant importance in fitness, including in Zumba and other dance workouts.
Aerobics began to lose its grip as the 1980s Yoga trend took hold in the 1990s. Women finally had the chance to breathe and nurture their bodies gently.
Jane Fonda, the Aerobics icon, once again donned a sports outfit for the camera nearly 30 years after the peak of her first fitness video series. At over 70, she released two training DVDs.
In the 1980s, US actress Sydne Rome toured various cities in Germany, fondly remembering the birth of Aerobics in this country. Interestingly, Germany embraced Aerobics more passionately than any other nation.
