5 Of The Best '80s Aerobics Exercises


The '80s was a powerful time of fitness. The decade that brought us neon spandex and wild hair styles as well as those famous aerobics videos that we all know and love. But those days do not have to be reduced to dusty VHS tapes. Some of the most challenging and exciting tests still hold their own after all these years.


For the best '80s aerobics exercises that you will revive today, contact Sarah Grooms, NASM CPT, for her top selection. Make sure you warm yourself up first with an active extension. Stick to the theme and try the vines, treading area, and body reach.



This movement is ideal for beginners and has little effect. You can easily do it in a small space at home; just make sure you have nothing to break between the arm or the leg that you can reach. You will hit your abs, obliques, back, arms, inner and outer thighs, and glutes (this was the Buns of Steel era, after all).


For these exercises, you will need an exercise mat and light hand weights. Hot red spandex is your choice.

01

Oblique Knee Drive

Muscles worked: legs, obliques, back.


Start standing with the legs together. Reach both arms up.

Pull the elbows down to your side while at the same time bending and raising your right knee to your side.

Jump feet together and repeat on the other side. That is one answer.

Repeat 16 times in total.

02

Triceps Press and Rotate

Muscles worked: triceps, shoulders, spine.


  • Using light hand weights, begin to stand with your feet slightly wider than your shoulders.
  • Hold your left hand (inactive arms) with your hip; extend your right arm to the side, rotating your palm up in the air.
  • Bend your elbow and rotate your arm 180 degrees so that your palm is facing upwards.
  • Undo rotation and return to start. That is one answer.
  • Repeat 16 times in total.

03

Plie Squat and Curl

Muscles worked: biceps, outer and inner thighs, glutes.


  • Using light hand weights, start to stand with your legs wider than your hips, with your toes turning to the side.
  • Hold both weights in your right hand, wrap the weights around your shoulders.
  • As you straighten your right arm, bend both legs into a plié squat: knees over toes, buttocks under your shoulders.
  • Straighten your legs and bend your right arm to start. That is one answer.
  • Repeat the total 16 times on each side.

04

Cross-Body Crunch

Muscles worked: shoulders, spine, obliques.


  • Using light hand weights, begin to stand with your legs slightly wider than your hips, arms reaching to the sky wider than your shoulders; your body should look like the letter "X."
  • Keep your legs straight, reach your right arm down and fall to your left ankle. Go back to start and repeat on the other side. That is one answer.
  • Repeat 16 times in total.

05

Knee Sight Leg Pulse

Muscles work: core, glutes.


  • Start in the tablet position: left knee with lower arm, right hand palm under your shoulder, right leg extended straight behind you.
  • Without lowering the right leg below the hip length, lift the left leg two inches apart and lower it down to begin with. That is one answer.
  • Repeat 32 times in total.