Where Did Step Aerobics Come From?

Step aerobics is a form of exercise that burns calories and improves cardiovascular health. Step aerobics uses a riser or step that participants step on and off of, burning more calories and working the heart and lungs harder. Step aerobics remains popular both at gyms that offer aerobics classes and in the home.

  1. Harvard Step Test

    • The Harvard Step Test may be the first documented instance of step aerobics. Invented in the 1950s, the Harvard Step Test was used to assess cardiovascular health. The Harvard Step Test measures participants' pulses after they step up and down from a standard gym bench for 150 steps.

    Early Aerobics

    • Aerobics at this time consisted of performing dance-inspired moves at a moderate level of intensity over a relatively long period of time, expending oxygen and working several major muscle groups. Jack LaLanne hosted a popular aerobics show from from 1951 to 1985. Judi Sheppard Missett developed jazzercise, which incorporated jazz dance moves, in 1969 and Jacki Sorensen also helped popularize aerobics with her dancelike routines in 1971.

    The Aerobics Craze of the 1980s

    • The late 1970s and 1980s saw the popularity of aerobics skyrocket. Richard Simmons and Jane Fonda became fitness celebrities with videos, books and TV shows. However, overuse and impact injuries were starting to become a concern, and exercisers were looking for a low-impact way to gain the same fitness benefits.

    Gin Miller

    • Gin Miller was inspired to create step aerobics after suffering from a knee overuse injury as a result of traditional aerobics. Doctors advised her to step on and off a milk crate to strengthen her knee. She incorporated music into a routine she performed on her porch step. Gin was able to persuade her local Gold's Gym to use wooden steps, and eventually spread her idea to other gyms in the area.

    Reebok

    • As wooden steps became impractical, the Step Company, partnered with Reebok, began manufacturing plastic steps. Gin Miller began touring the country teaching workshops and classes on this growing exercise phenomenon. Reebok issued "Step Reebok: The Video" in 1991, starring Gin Miller. With music performed by a live African band and highly stylized production values, the video, sold with the Step Reebok Platform, was a huge success.

    Step Aerobics Today

    • Today step aerobics is often combined with light weight training to further strengthen the body. Interval training, where bouts of higher-intensity aerobic activity are coupled with intervals of lower intensity, has been shown to help burn fat and is now included in many step aerobics classes.