The 1980s was a vibrant era when fitness icons like Richard Simmons and Jane Fonda became hugely successful for their low-impact exercises. These exercises were not only fun, but also accessible—meaning anyone at any age could do them. If you want to exercise without making too much physical effort, the low-impact moves of the 80s are the best choice for you. These exercises are great for anyone who wants to stay fit and active while aging.
Side Reaches
Stretching is a fixture in any exercise routine. Side reaches are one of the easiest stretching moves that you can do without straining your body. Stand straight with your feet apart. Then, raise your right arm over your head while you lean slightly to the left. Switch sides and repeat. Side reaches can help release any tension in your back and are great for stretching out your sides.
Standing Hip Rotation
If you want to be more flexible and have stronger hips, you obviously need hip exercises in your routine. The standing hip rotation is one of the easiest hip exercises that you can do. Start by moving your hips in a circular motion. Start from right to left, then counter-rotate from left to right. Your hips should be clearly doing a circular motion. Doing this repeatedly helps with hip problems and lower back pain.
Walking In Place
For a good and easy cardio workout, try walking in place. Richard Simmons used this move to start his exercise routines, and it greatly improves circulation. Walking in place is as simple as standing straight and raising your knees one at a time, almost like marching in place. And there are a lot of ways to make this exercise more intense. You can lift your knees higher, carry weights in your hands, pair it with arm exercises, or walk faster.
Knee Pulls
Aerobics was the most popular form of exercise during the 1980s, with everyone loving their spandex and leg warmers. A popular aerobics move is the knee pull. Stand with your feet apart, raise your right knee up toward your chest, and pull your hands down toward it. Hold the position for a second, then do the same with your left knee. Doing this move repeatedly will strengthen your core and legs while going gentle on your joints.
Chair Squats
Jane Fonda’s workout routines were all about toning and strength. She introduced chair squats as a gentler way to strengthen your core and legs. You just have to stand in front of a chair and lower yourself toward it as if you are about to sit. When your bottom is about to touch the seat, lift up your heels to take you back to a standing position. Remember, your bottom should not touch the chair. Repeat this action several times, and you will end up with toned thighs, glutes, and core muscles.
Step Touch
Jazzercise is an exercise routine that combines aerobics, jazz dancing, and resistance training. The step touch is a classic move of this routine that works on coordination and burns calories. Stand with your feet together, step your right foot to the side, and bring your left foot to meet it. Repeat in the other direction. You can add arm movements like swinging or raising them over your head from side to side—this will help improve your heart rate.
Seated Arm Circles
If you often feel tension in your upper back and shoulders, you should do seated arm circles. This workout routine, inspired by Denise Austin, is all about accessibility and helps you build stronger arms and flexible shoulders. Sit upright in a chair, extend both arms to the side at shoulder height, and start by making small circles, then gradually increase the size of the circles for a minute. Then, switch the direction of rotation.
Leg Raises
Jack LaLanne is a fitness icon known for his simple and effective routines. He recommends leg raises for those who want a stronger core. Lie down on your back, making sure that your legs are straight. Slowly raise both legs to a 45-degree angle, hold the position for a few seconds, then slowly lower your legs without letting your feet touch the ground before lifting them up again. Repeating this movement will do wonders for your core stability and strengthen your abs.
Side Leg Lifts
Want to work on your hips and thighs but have weak knees? Try doing side leg lifts. This 80s exercise move is easy on the knees. Lay down on your side with your legs on top of one another. Slowly raise the top leg to hip height, hold for a second, then lower it slowly. Repeat the movement on the other side. The side leg lift is great for strengthening your hips and thighs and is gentle on the knees.
Seated Knee Lifts
Tony Little has this move in his routine to help beginners who are new to exercising. The seated knee lifts work on your core without putting too much pressure on your body. Start by sitting upright in a chair, then raise one knee toward your chest, hold for a while, and lower it. Do the same for the other knee. Doing this in repetition while alternating your legs will serve as a great workout for your abs.
Low-Impact Punches
Back in the 1980s, martial arts-inspired fitness routines were popular thanks to Billy Blanks. Stand with your feet apart and bend your knees slightly. Use your right hand to punch forward, keeping your fist level with your shoulders. Do the same with your left hand. Repeat several times to give your upper body a great workout.
Single-Leg Balance
The 80s fitness routines would not be complete without balance exercises. The single-leg balance is one of the easiest you can do. Stand on one foot, hold your balance for 15 to 20 seconds, and switch feet. Repeat this several times to improve stability and strengthen your ankles. If you’re afraid of falling, do this near a chair or wall so you can easily have support when you need it.
Step Aerobics
During the 1980s, step aerobics was one of the most popular fitness trends. People were buying step platforms and instructional videos to work out at home. Some of these platforms have adjustable heights to make the workout harder. Step aerobics involves a variety of moves, but the simplest is stepping up onto the platform one foot at a time, then stepping down in reverse. Repeating this gives you a good cardio workout that focuses on agility, stability, and coordination. If you don’t want to spend money on a platform, you can simply use the first step of your stairs.
Rotating Toe Touches
Toe touches are great for warming up and cooling down. Stand with your feet apart and stretch your arms out to the sides at shoulder height. Then, using your right arm, bend down to touch your left foot. Hold for 3 to 5 seconds. Slowly return to the starting position and repeat with the left arm toward your right foot. Toe touches stretch your hamstrings and are great for your abs and core strength.
Modified Plank
Core strength was a popular fitness goal during the 80s. The modified plank is a gentler way to give your core a workout without straining yourself too much. All you have to do is lie down on the floor, lift your knees with your hands supporting your body weight. While lifting, make sure your body is in a straight line. Hold the position for 10 to 20 seconds, gradually increasing the duration as you feel stronger.
It’s natural to have lower energy levels and to get a little weaker as you get older. But that does not mean you have to give up on staying fit and active. If you feel unable to keep up with the high-energy workouts you used to do, try these low-impact exercises from the 80s. You can do them at your own pace and in the comfort of your home. With these workout moves, it’s easier to get on your feet, get up, and make it happen!
