Would you consider "Aerobic Classes" as a dated term?

Are there still true aerobics classes or cardio classes that require oxygen!?

All the recycled classes have pretty fancy names attached to them these days!

I think the word aerobics got "picked up" as THE phrase for a decade kindof like the word CORE today....

I agree it is a "dated" description of group fitness activities. I feel the same way about the term "cardiovascular" as far as describing "aerobic" exercise. Cardiorespiratory is the correct term to describe the activity.

Yes! When I hear "aerobics class" I think about what my mom went to after she dropped me off at the facilities day care when I was a kid!

As a water aerobics instructor, I do not take offense at the term. However, I try to honor the parameters which the term 'aerobics' implies to me: getting people to move at moderate to vigorous intensity for a prolonged period of time.

However, for land based classes it is an umbrella term which can describe a lot of formats.

I don't know that I would call it a "dated" term since I still hear it basically everyday. The term is bandied about in gyms, you can type and search the term on the internet, and even well-respected journals utilize the term. I don't have a real problem with the term since for many lay-people it's a term of art that they recognize and can identify with. The more important question/issue for me would be do we (fitness professionals) still treat and view it the same way? As you can tell from the answers above, we do not, and so therefore, no matter what someone calls it, the actual exercise methodology has been updated as our research and knowledge has changed.

LaRue, CSCS
www.lecfitness.com
lecfitness@yahoo.com

Yes, it is a bit dated. Classes have evolved much from the days of aerobics, even if only the name has changed. People want to feel that they are getting a well rounded program now, and a name can imply a lot.

Yes very dated. I would not use that name as it implies that the program will be stale and may even include instructors wearing leg warmers (although these may be making a comeback!).

Hey what's wrong with leg warmers!!!???

We actually had a few fitness center members asking us to bring "old school" aerobic classes back! Of course, this group just happened to be about my age.

Hey, you really can't go wrong with a box step, grapevine and step curl!!

So I teach a Cardio Interval class and I mix it up and incorporated some of the classic aerobic dance moves ... "shake your booty"

Many of the commercial gyms in our area offer these "aerobic" classes and they are called various names like "Hi-Lo Retro" or "Old School-style"

I think it depends on your audience. For some, the term aerobics is the perfect explanation; others think of the original workout videos, etc. as described above.

For our college crowd at the University of Cincinnati, we don't use the term aerobics, as it doesn't fit them. But we also offer classes for the employees of a local hospital, and they like the term as they are familiar with it.

Are you able to survey those you are scheduling for? Maybe start there. Or consider teaching the same class but change the name every session to see if one draws a larger crowd.

Very interesting question! "Aerobics" may be too general a term. Using a specific term to define a class may give better results. For example, if I see an ad for a Zumba class, I know what that is as well as what I will be doing in a Step class, Spin class, Barre class, etc. If I see "aerobics," I may think of old school aerobics. However, if I am looking for old school aerobics, then that is a good term. "Aerobics" may be somewhat dated, but that may not be a bad thing, depending on the market target.

If we take the definition of 'aerobic' literally, we wouldn't be teaching much. "Aerobic" activity is defined by the body meeting its need for oxygen, in which case, cooking classes, Spanish lessons, and a nice game of canasta would all qualify.
I believe we've reached a point that we should be naming what we teach in a way that describes what the client will experience. Everyone knows what 'Step' and 'Spin' refer to; appropriate naming helps to eliminate the fear of the unknown for potential clients.