aerobics

Aerobics was originally invented by American physician Dr. medical Kenneth H. Cooper as an aerobic workout to strengthen the heart and lungs. This triggered a real fitness boom in America and as a result endurance training was included in gymnastics programs. Aerobics had its worldwide breakthrough in 1982 when Jane Fonda marketed the sport as her gymnastics principle.

In aerobics, gymnastics are intensively practiced to the rhythm of pop music. Aerobics serve as fitness training to train endurance and mobility. It includes a so-called warm-up phase with stretching exercises, the actual endurance gymnastics and final relaxation exercises. A special variant is step aerobics, in which a flat foot bench is integrated into the step choreography.

In 1988 there was increasing discussion about the harmfulness of aerobics, which resulted in a collapse of the aerobics boom. After that, the emphasis shifted more to medical and sports science aspects. Greater emphasis was also placed on a joint-gentle design. Since then, the sport has developed significantly, mainly in Europe. At an advanced level, dance elements are also increasingly introduced.

Aerobics is also practiced as a competitive sport (under the name of sports aerobics).