Recession Brings Retro Aerobics Back from the ‘80s

They don’t say boredom is the killer of a good workout for nothing. Once we slip into routine and, eventually, reach that weight plateau where nothing else seems to change, we’re bound to quit, experts tell us. Because of this, trainers have thought of bringing back a routine that was once as popular as it was fun and efficient: retro aerobics.

According to That’s Fit, more and more classes of retro aerobics are starting to pop up in most major cities, with people literally crowding the gyms for the chance to get their dance on as Poison or perhaps Michael Jackson’s music blasts from the speakers. And this is only the beginning, the publication says, urging us to break the legwarmers and one-piece neon colored suit and gigantic headbands, because the future of fitness is, as it turns out, in the past.

There are two main reasons why retro aerobics is back by popular demand, one of them being, obviously, that they come cheaper than subscription at classes that require either advanced equipment or very special training. Retrofitness, for instance, charges under $20 for a monthly subscription, which is considerably less than the prices of the competition.

Secondly, this is a type of workout that is guaranteed fun: because there’s dancing to old music and the gymgoer stays fit by breaking a sweat, it can easily be considered one of the most light-hearted ways to work out. After all, this type of workout was not so popular back in the ‘80s without a solid reason and, clearly, stars like Richard Simmons, Jane Fonda or Kathy Smith, all of whom came out with their own routines, can vouch for just how popular it was.

“The class is timeless. Good for the heart, spirit, and wallet.” Carol Johnson, teacher of a retro workout class, explains. Rob Piela, personal trainer at Crunch, explains that the fun factor also weighs heavily in the balance for many gymgoers. “Any of these trends come around, it’s just reinventing for the sake of keeping peoples’ interest peaked. Boredom is the curse of any good workout routine.” Piela says.