Aerobics is a system of exercises designed to promote
the supply and use of oxygen in the body. These exercises include biking, running, dancing, rowing, skating,
and walking (the term “aerobic” means “with oxygen,”
or “living and working with oxygen”). The system originated and remains primarily a fitness activity, but has
also developed into an intense competitive sport: “the
toughest two minutes in sport.” Aerobic exercise increases cardiorespiratory fitness, the heart’s ability to
pump blood and deliver oxygen throughout the body.
The result is increased endurance, energy, weight control, and ability to manage stress, and decreased blood
pressure, heart disease, and cholesterol levels.
History
The word “aerobics” is relatively new to sport and exercise. In 1968, Dr. Kenneth Cooper, a U.S.Air Force physician, published a book, Aerobics, based on his research
on coronary artery disease. Cooper developed his aerobics exercise program as preventive medicine, to improve health and fitness. Aerobics developed a prescription for exercise. The book identified the quantity, kind,
and frequency of desirable exercise. Cooper’s books
have been translated into many languages, reflecting his
belief that aerobics, exercise, and preventive medicine
are universal. The Congress of International Military
Sports adopted Cooper’s aerobics program for the countries of Sweden, Austria, Finland, Korea, and Brazil as
well as the United States. The aerobics program spread
to civilian populations worldwide. In Brazil, runners ask
“Have you done your Cooper today?” when they want to
know if you’ve run or jogged.
The same year that Cooper published Aerobics, Judy
Sheppard Missett began an aerobic exercise program
called “Jazzercise,” a highly choreographed group of exercises set to music. The program incorporated muscle
group work with new dance trends. In 1969, Jackie
Sorenson started “Aerobic Dance,” also a choreographed set of dance patterns set to music intended to
increase cardiovascular fitness. By the early 1970s, aerobics, aerobic dance, and dance exercise were used interchangeably to describe the combination of exercise
and dance movements set to music. Most early participants were women.
In the late 1970s, the name “aerobic dancing” was
shortened to “aerobics” to attract more men. Coeducational classes were offered, and the aerobics boom followed, soon becoming international. Aerobics classes
were held in churches, community centers, schools,
and health clubs. Jane Fonda and Richard Simmons
contributed to the tremendous growth of aerobics. U.S.
instructors began to train new instructors in other
countries. In the United States in 1978 an estimated 6
million people participated in aerobics, rising to 19
million by 1982, and 22 million in 1987. Forty-five percent of the aerobics participants were women aged
30–50 who used aerobics as their sole form of exercise.
Ten percent of the participants were instructors. Today
more than 25 million people participate in the aerobics
industry and virtually every community offers aerobics classes. Televised aerobic dance classes are
frequent, and aerobics videos are readily available. The
social support and reinforcement of the group exercise
situation also help account for its popularity.
Training and educational organizations emerged to
guide this fast-growing industry, develop safe and effective programs, and promote aerobics internationally. In the United States, the International Dance Exercise Association (IDEA) and the Aerobic and Fitness
Association of America (AFAA) developed into two of
the largest in the world. In 1990 IDEA had over 23,000
instructor members in over 70 countries.
Rules and Play
Cooper’s original exercise plan has diversified in both
content and style while retaining its original purpose.
As a fitness activity, a well-designed aerobic dance
class consists of five segments: the warm-up or prestretch (10 minutes), the aerobic segment (20–45
minutes), cool down (5–10 minutes), strength work
(10–20 minutes), and the final stretch (5–10 minutes). The rhythmic movements also help to develop
balance and coordination. Aerobic activity began as
“high impact,” with both feet off the floor at any given
time, characterized by running or jogging in place,
jumping jacks, and small jumps or hops. This placed
tremendous stress on the joints, and many participants developed impact-related injuries. Thus, “low
impact” aerobics was developed: one foot is always on
the floor; the routines are characterized by marching
in place and traveling from one side of the room to the
other. Next came variable impact aerobics, which
combines the intensity of high impact moves with the
safety of the low impact variety. Other types of aerobics include water aerobics, sculpting, strength, abdominal, sports conditioning, and circuit or interval
classes. Step aerobics, developed by Gin Miller, took
the aerobics industry by storm. This style involves
stepping up and down from a platform 15 to 30 centimeters (6 to 12 inches) high while performing different step combinations.
Competition
Aerobics became a competitive sport in 1983, when
Karen and Howard Schwartz created the National Aerobic Championship (NAC). Today its format and rules
are the international standard for aerobic competition.
In 1989, Howard Schwartz founded the International
Competitive Aerobics Federation (ICAF), which became the governing body of the sport and continues to
develop new guidelines. The new sport’s growth has
been impressive. The first World Aerobic Championship was held in 1990, with 16 countries represented.
Thirty-five countries were represented in 1994. The
World Aerobic Championships have been broadcast to
over 150 nations each year since 1995.
Championship aerobics has been called the “toughest two minutes in sports.” It is a rigorous display of
both compulsory and freestyle moves choreographed
according to specific rules into a two-minute routine
set to music. The performance showcases tremendous
strength, flexibility, and endurance as well as creativity
and dance. The eight categories of competition are:
Novice Men’s Individual, Novice Women’s Individual,
Masters Division M (over 35) men’s individual, Masters
Division M women’s individual, Advanced Men’s Individual,Advanced Women’s Individual,Advanced Mixed
Pair (male/female combination), and Advanced Teams
(of three; any gender combination).
The novelty of aerobics has passed, and, arguably,
its popularity has peaked. Nevertheless, as an activity
that many people find a practical way to achieve fitness, aerobics seems likely to retain its niche in the
world of sports.
—SALLY CRAWFORD