Feeling Fit? The New Workout of the 21st Century: Retrocises!

Hello Curious Readers!

I like to stay vintage here at Curiouser and Curiouser, do not get me wrong, I am all for modern equivalents to retro and vintage necessities. For example, I take my photos with a digital camera not film (although I do have a soft spot for film I must admit), I write these blog posts on a laptop not a typewriter and there certainly would not be a blog without the internet. But on the whole, unless it is a technological advantage, I have definite retro and vintage leanings!

I have a love/hate relationship with food, as the great grandaughter of an Italian women, the italian love of food courses through my veins, inevitably this love of food is not teamed with a super fast metabolism (is it ever?) so fitness is how I have to keep myself trim. I am definitely not as trim as I once was, letting myself go just a little bit when I met my Fiance but that is something I am working on with the help of salsacise dvd's and Wii Fit! So as you can see, when it comes to fitness I am definitely a modern girl!

But I did see something this week that is the perfect combination of my retro side and my desire to be fitter. I am an avid reader of The Guardian, a paper from the United Kingdom, I trawl through their website with an astonishing regularity and imagine my surprise when I found this article?

Entitled "Back to the Future Fitness", it lists the top ten nostalgic ways to get fit and I have to say, I loved some of their suggestions! In full support of their article, I hope they will not mind my reposting their top ten here, with my own thoughts and observations:

1. Raving

I am personally loving this idea! Too young for the raver scene in the 90's, I love the idea of dancing with glo sticks (yes they give you glo sticks!) in order to get fit. I love to dance and like the idea of a workout that does not feel like a workout! Gymbox is based in London and I can honestly say that if I lived in the capital I would be lining myself up for this one!



2. Hula Hooping

I actually do this! I have a weighted hula hoop and there really is nothing more fun (or more able to make you feel distinctly childlike!) than hula hooping! Great for those tricky stomach muscles, hula hooping can apparently burn over 200 calories an hour! I recommend playing some great music to get you into the mood for hooping.

3.Lindy Hop

Apparently developed in Harlem in the 20's and 30's, Lindy Hop is a form of swing dancing that sounds pretty complicated! Swings and throws sound fun though? Wonder if I can get The Boy involved?

4. Roller Disco

Awww I would love to try this but my history with rollerskates/blades is worrying to say the least! I think for this to work you would actually have to be able to move about a bit, I would be too busy concentrating on staying upright!

5. Jive

Originating from Lindy Hop, this is the ultimate in 40's and 50's style dancing for me. Sounds like great fun and I would love the chance to give it a go. I have a big soft spot for 50's music and seeing as my grandmother was the "Jitterbug Queen" maybe it is in the blood?



6.Vogueing

I have to admit, this just made me laugh when I read it. Based on the infamous "Vogue" dance where you adopt model like poses, apparently it is a testing work out, demanding angular shapes and high energy. I need to be a bit more free flowing with my dancing so I think I will give this one a miss!

7. Disco Health Club

Live DJ's where the workout turns into a club afterwards? Yes Please! Again, another one only the people living in London get to try, hopefully it will find it's way to my part of the country soon!

8.Rebounding

Another one I have tried! My mum is a HUGE fan of rebounding, she puts on some of her party tunes and bounces away the pounds. My only issue is that I need a very supportive sports bra before I start trying it!




9.The Retro Gym

A very back to basics approach with old style climbing frames, climbing ropes and beams. I remember this from when I was in school between the ages of 7 and 11, I enjoyed it then but not so sure I would like it now? At least I would avoid the climbing ropes for a while, my upper body strength is BAD. haha

10. Chap Olympiad

Lastly, this "retrocise" is less of a workout and more of a good old english annual event. Where egg and spoon races are the "workout" of the day. I also love that they do a cucumber-sandwich throwing event! This years Chap Olympiad is on 16th of July in London.

So those are the top ten "retrocises", what I want to know is which would you like to try the most if you could? Answer the poll and add additional comments as to why you chose what you did below! I had to pair up the Lindy Hop and Jive and the Roller Disco/Disco Health Club, I thought they were similar enough that you would forgive me for that one! But again, if you have a preference, feel free to comment!

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