There is no doubt that the 80s were all about leg warmers, sweatbands, and spandex. This was the time that aerobics exploded into popularity. We can all remember our moms watching the videos in the living room while doing step kicks and leg lifts to some upbeat music. Those workout videos from the 80s were truly iconic of the decade.
80s Aerobic Videos And The 7 Things Everyone That Watched Them Knows Is The Truth
The Perfect Leotard
If you were about to take on an aerobic video, the first thing you needed was the perfect leotard, the shinier the better. It was even better if it was reflective. It made it that much harder for people to stare at you as your flailed around to the music.
Spandex Leggings
The tightest spandex leggings were a must. They also should have either been just slightly off from your own natural color or any fluorescent shade you can find. The key to finding the right leggings was making sure that they did not allow your skin to breathe at all.
You Needed A Belt
You had to have a belt. This was a must, and there was no excuse for skipping out on this high-value item. It was a necessity to have something pressing tightly against your belly while keeping your leotard from falling down.
Leg Warmers
Your ankles could definitely freeze while doing aerobics, so leg warmers were a must. Ideally, they had to match your outfit in some way as well. If you were super stylish, you had a pair for every day of the week.
Flexibility
There was no way you would do well in your aerobics classes if you did not have the ability to stretch your leg up over your head. If you couldn't do that, you had to be sure to get a good warm-up in before trying again. Seriously, it can't be stressed enough how important it was to make sure you were flexible enough. Don't ever try to do exactly what Jane Fonda did, because your body will not be able to do it.
Never Go Alone
You would never have gone to these classes alone. What would people think? It was a must that you do these classes with a group of friends. The whole gang would get together and match up their outfits.
Smile
You had to have the ability to smile no matter how much physical pain you might have been in. If you could not keep a smile on your face, you took the chance of being shunned for not pretending this was the best hour of your life. Even if every muscle in your body was screaming and you felt like you just might die while walking to your car after class, you had to keep on smiling until you got home. That is when you were finally able to peel off your sweat-soaked gear and relax.
