History of steps

I just realized that despite the title of my blog, I have yet to post anything about steps. I know some people have not idea what step is. Step or stepping is an aerobic exercise done to music and pre-choreographed movements while stepping up and down a board, or several boards. Get it? What is so fun about that, one might ask. Well, if you have not tried it, you will never discover the thrill. Anyway I did a little bit of research and guess what? The founder of steps is a woman...yay...Gin Miller is a fitness instructor who injured her knee and was doing rehabilitation by stepping up and down her porch steps. This was way back in 1978 and she found that this type of exercise not only strengthened her knee but was also cardio intensive as well. So she approached Reebok and step aerobics ( as it was known then) was born!!! Double yay !!! So stepping is now 20 years old!





This is what people wear for steps in the 80's . Would you dress like this now?









At that time, stepping was considered low impact and was done mainly by quote middle aged women unquote.....yikes....how do you macho guys feel about that, huh?? Anyway, the craze caught on and was made popular by Jane Fonda in the early 80's, and that's when people of all ages and both sexes got into the game.

I started in the late 90's and even then, stepping was not like what it is now. Choreography was much more simple and a 2 board routine was considered advanced. It has since evolved into something really awesome now, with complex choreography , great music, multiple boards and is simply adrenaline pumping. No one will ever call it low impact anymore!!! ( It's still done by middle aged women - ME!!) But boy, is it ever fun , not to mention addictive !! Nothing like a solid hour of stepping to get an all natural adrenalin high. To those who have not tried it, you don't know what you are missing. So give it a shot - I promise you will not regret it. To my fellow stepaholics....way to go :p