12 ’70s Workout Trends That Nobody Follows Anymore
These fitness fads of the 1970s once filled gyms and living rooms but have since disappeared into history.
- Chris Graciano
- 3 min read
The ’70s were a funky time for fitness. We had exercise trends as wild as the fashion. From vibrating belts to disco aerobics, Americans embraced some truly bizarre ways to break a sweat. Here are 12 old-school workout trends that faded fast and are rarely, if ever, seen today.
1. Vibrating Belt Machines
Andrew Kuchling on Flickr
Strap it on and let it jiggle the fat away — or so they claimed. These passive machines were found in gyms and home basements everywhere. The idea was to “melt” pounds without effort, but it didn’t actually do much.
2. Jazzercise in Leotards
Tom Britt on Flickr
Combining dance with aerobic moves, Jazzercise was part workout, part performance. The music was loud, the outfits louder, and the energy infectious.
3. The Sauna Suit Craze
amgis on Wikimedia Commons
Wearing a full-body plastic suit to sweat out “water weight” became oddly popular. While users saw temporary drops on the scale, the results weren’t lasting.
4. Prancercise (Yes, It Started Then)
Clem Onojeghuo on Unsplash
A mix of trotting and rhythmic movement, Prancercise was born in the late ’70s. The founder believed in its joy-filled, freeform motion — but the public mostly laughed.
5. Hula Hoop Cardio
MART PRODUCTION on Pexels
Though fun and playful, hula hooping was once marketed as serious calorie-burning exercise. Entire classes revolved around spinning plastic rings for core strength. While still a toy, it’s mostly vanished from adult workouts.
6. Passive Isometric Devices
bruce mars on Unsplash
These strange contraptions had users pressing or pulling against springs while staying in place. Marketed for toning without motion, they were often sold via late-night TV ads.
7. Disco Aerobics
ShinyFan on Wikimedia Commons
With pulsating lights and groovy music, disco aerobics felt like exercising inside a nightclub. Moves were more about flair than form. It was entertaining, but not the most efficient workout.
8. The 8-Minute Workout Cassettes
Bradley Dunn on Unsplash
Touted as “all you need,” these cassette-based routines focused on short bursts of exercise. Easy to follow and very ’70s, they were popular for home fitness.
9. Roller Disco Workouts
Airam Dato-on on Pexels
A mashup of skating and aerobics, these workouts brought flair to cardio. It was a party on wheels with neon tights and choreographed moves. Injuries and safety concerns put a brake on its popularity.
10. The Shake Weight’s Grandfather: Bullworker
Jim Barker on Flickr
This resistance tool promised bigger muscles with just minutes a day. You squeezed, pressed, and hoped for gains. While it had a niche fanbase, it didn’t stand the test of time.
11. “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” Tapes
aadunn on Flickr
Though more of an ’80s staple, it began gaining traction in the late ’70s. Richard Simmons turned exercise into a feel-good, music-fueled dance party.
12. Greased Lightning Gymnastics
jana müller on Unsplash
Inspired by movies like Grease, this trend involved tumbling and flips set to rock ’n’ roll. It was high energy but lacked safety oversight. Injuries were common, and classes faded quickly.