The ’70s brought American exercise into the modern era. Here are five workouts that changed the game.
Take a moment to imagine what it was like to work out in 1972. There weren’t many gyms, and they rarely allowed women, except on “ladies’ days.” Running shoes were barely cushioned, the sports bra hadn’t been invented and yoga mats were usually just blankets.
People who exercised for fun were often seen as kooky. At the same time, heart disease had become prevalent and diabetes and other illnesses were on the rise as Americans were driving more, walking less and watching plenty of television.
But over the course of a decade, everything changed. In the years between the passing of Title IX in 1972 and the Jane Fonda Workout video in 1982, exercise evolved from a fringe pastime to something half of Americans at least claimed to do regularly.
How did culture pivot so radically? The answer lies in five trends that changed how we look, feel and move forever.
Jane Fonda, Yoga and ‘Pumping Iron’: How the 1970s Changed Fitness Forever
