In 1968, Dr. Kenneth Cooper released his first book, "Aerobics," a bestseller that sold more than 30 million copies worldwide. With this book, Cooper introduced aerobics as a noun to describe certain methods of physical exercise. Cooper crafted the definition of aerobics for the Oxford English Dictionary in 1986, noting that aerobic exercise produces "beneficial changes in the respiratory and circulatory systems" by demanding a moderate and sustained increase in oxygen intake.
Dance Aerobics
Using dance moves to drive an aerobic workout evolved alongside Cooper's innovations in the field of exercise physiology. In 1969, a professional dancer, Judi Sheppard Missett, began teaching a fitness class with dance moves that she later branded as Jazzercise. Jane Fonda, who traded ballet training for aerobics in the late 1970s, built an exercise empire around dance-inspired workouts, releasing her first video in 1982, which sold 17 million copies.
Components
Dance aerobics may involve low-impact or high-impact moves and can include a platform for stepping. The department of kinesiology and health at Georgia State University notes that aerobic dance targets muscle groups of the lower body, drawing upon upper-body muscles to add intensity. Energetic music usually motivates these workouts and specialists recommend supportive footwear.
Evolution
Group exercise classes at gyms around the country offer many variations of aerobic dance. For example, cardiovascular fitness classes at Crunch, a gym with locations throughout the United States, draw from African and Afro-Brazilian dance, Broadway and burlesque styles, belly and break dance, as well as funk and hip-hop, among others. The Latin-inspired program of aerobic dance known as Zumba boasts a network of weekly classes in more than 110, 000 locations worldwide.
Future
With the advent of active video games, it's possible to tempt children with the calorie-burning action of dance aerobics at home. In an article for National Public Radio, Nancy Shute reported in March 2011 that "active video games like Dance Dance Revolution give kids a better workout than walking on a treadmill at 3 mph," according to a study published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. A new generation of movers and shakers may be hooked.
Member Comments