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Mar 22

I tried following a vintage-inspired workout routine for a week, and only some parts have aged well – Business Insider

Exercise Programs Comments Off on I tried following a vintage-inspired workout routine for a week, and only some parts have aged well – Business Insider

The 1950s marked a decade when Americans became really interested in exercise and fitness.

Television programs, the government, and new social norms created an environment where staying in shape was not only encouraged, but also expected.

With the recent return of 1950s workout staples like Bongo Boards, Hula-Hoops, and other calisthenic-focused exercises, I decided to spend a week trying out moves from the decade to see how they stack up against more modern routines.

To guide me in my vintage-fitness journey and provide some insight into what types of workouts were popular in the 1950s, I spoke to Conor Heffernan, assistant professor in the departments of kinesiology and health education at The University of Texas at Austin, and personal trainer Chris DiVecchio.

Heres what it was like to follow a vintage-inspired workout routine for a week.

Many women in the 1950s sought to stay or become slender through their new exercise routines, but they were seemingly not nearly as concerned with building strength or staying healthy, something many of the weight-lifting and cardio workouts I do today emphasize.

I also found that many workouts of the time seemed pretty simple and low-energy. For example, one popular fitness tool in the 1950s was a Bongo Board, which is designed to help improve ones balance.

Although some early iterations of this balance board debuted in 1952, it is still useful today, according to DiVecchio. He said it can stabilize muscles, which can act as a foundation for strength and power and help prevent injuries.

With this in mind, I began my workout by trying to stay upright on a Bongo-style balance board, which turned out to be a lot harder than expected.

After trying to stay upright for about 30 seconds, I did 30 jumping jacks followed by 10 minutes of Hula-Hooping, an activity that has unclear origins but was especially popular in the 1950s.

I actually felt myself smiling while hooping, and I was happy to hear that, according to DiVecchio, using this childlike piece of equipment can help shrink your waist size, burn calories, and increase your bodys mobility even if it doesnt build muscle.

Next, I decided to try and use dumbbells (which have been around for centuries) and a rowing-style machine (which have been around since the 1870s) to imitate some of the equipment that those in the 1950s would have had access to.

Although stationary bikes didnt gain mainstream popularity in the US until the 1960s, theyd been around since the early 1900s, so I decided to include some pedaling in my routine to finish off my workout.

Honestly, I didnt really feel like I got much of a workout on the stationary bike, and I was bored after just five minutes.

According to Heffernan, yoga found a resurgence of popularity in the 1950s, so I decided to dedicate a couple of days of the week to it.

During that decade, women would likely have been attempting yoga poses that were taught at community centers or salons from cosmetic pioneers, like Helena Rubinstein or Elizabeth Arden, who emphasized that yoga could help a woman take control of her physical beauty.

Im not one to choose yoga over a high-intensity workout, but I have to admit that I enjoy the calming and relaxing benefits from the practice.

I do 30 seconds of each pose, starting with mountain, standing bow, tree, eagle, triangle, leg lifts, camel, bow, and chair, as well as a few rounds of downward-facing dog.

I feel less stressed and more energized when Im finished.

Treadmills really started to gain popularity in the 1960s, but some US advertisements for them date back to the 1930s, so I figure they were probably part of some 1950s routines. I decided to incorporate this machine into my day-two workout.

After warming up with the balance board and one minute of jump rope, I put on one of my favorite workout playlists and start running. Im bored within 10 minutes, but it feels really good to get some of my extra energy out, and Im able to stay on the treadmill for around 30 minutes.

Ive finally broken a sweat, which is a relief. One of the most frustrating things for me so far this week is that I havent really felt like Ive gotten my heart rate up during any of these exercises.

It feels weird having such a relaxing workout planned for the day, but part of me feels happy about it because its been a stressful week at work, and Im looking forward to zoning out and concentrating on my breathing for at least 20 minutes.

To start things off, I decide to try to focus on balancing on the board. For some reason, its even harder than it was the first day, and Im having a hard time concentrating on keeping it steady.

After about five minutes of that, I return to my yoga moves. I again move into my mountain, standing bow, downward-facing dog, tree, eagle, triangle, leg lift, camel, bow, and chair poses.

Im surprised to admit it, but I wish my yoga session was longer so I didnt have to get back to being productive.

Although a part of me is enjoying taking the week kind of easy, I miss doing exercises that really get my heart rate up as well as strength-building moves.

To start, I crank up some music as I try to balance on the board for 45 seconds and then do 40 jumping jacks. I feel like Im getting a lot better at balancing and I am having some fun with it.

After doing 15 minutes of Hula-Hooping, I grudgingly head over to the stationary bike and set a timer for 45 minutes. Its weird how easy it is to zone out, and even though I stay on the bike the whole time, I dont really feel like I broke a sweat.

DiVecchio echoed my thoughts, saying that stationary bikes can create a false sense of action, adding that its typically not a good source for burning calories. However, he said that its a helpful workout tool for people who have back issues or knee, hip, or foot injuries.

When Im done with my workout, I check my abs, and am surprised to see a hint of definition, but its hard to tell if its from Hula-Hooping or from my previous core-centric workouts.

Even though theres something about Hula-Hooping that makes me feel like a kid again (in a good way), the minimal results make me feel like its not as effective of a workout as my regular ab exercises.

I know that plenty of people do yoga several times a week, but Im having a hard time getting excited about putting aside 20 minutes in my day for a yoga routine.

Today, I decided to switch up my routine by adding burpees to the list. Although Im not sure whether women in 1950s-era yoga classes would have done them, I just needed something to get my heart rate up a little.

Again, I warm up with a mountain pose, followed by tree, standing bow, downward-facing dog, eagle, and triangle poses. I then do 30 burpees until Ive worked up a sweat, and then I do some leg lifts, spine twists, and camel, bow, and chair poses.

I finish off with a relaxing happy-baby pose to stretch everything out.

I wake up feeling pretty excited to put this week behind me. Ive definitely had fun with some of this 1950s-era exercise equipment, but Im ready to start lifting weights and go back to focusing on more intense moves to help me build my strength and get my heart rate up again.

I begin by attempting one minute on my balance board followed by one minute of jump rope. Once Im warmed up, I head to the treadmill and decide to finish the week off strong with 45 minutes of it.

Im not full-on sprinting the whole time, and I definitely take breaks, but it feels like a good workout, and Im covered in sweat at the end of it.

There were a few things that I really loved about the 1950s-inspired workouts, including the fun attitude and the way that certain moves focus on balance and stability. DiVecchio said that this is actually something that modern workouts are lacking, and that weightlifting alone, without focusing on stability and balance, can actually lead to injuries.

It also can hold people back from being as powerful as they could be.

In order to be optimal in the strength and power, youve got to have good stabilization, so you sell yourself short with how strong and powerful you could be without it, he said.

However, I really didnt feel like I gained a lot of strength or muscle definition while doing these workouts, which makes sense since many 1950s-era exercise routines for women were focused on creating and maintaining an idealized slim figure.

I wont be following all of these moves and routines again, but I might just incorporate a balance board and Hula-Hoop into my next workout.

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I tried following a vintage-inspired workout routine for a week, and only some parts have aged well - Business Insider

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