A Walk Down Memory Lane
Just like life and “fads” styles change and evolve and sometimes come full circle again. The joke in my household is that the eighties are back in style. Which my kids think is so uncool but what they are choosing to wear is completely eighties fashion. There is a video floating around on YouTube that is a great walk down memory lane with fitness and fashion. The workout is Jazzercise focused and the fashion is leotards and biketards. Of course the guys in the video are wearing the short shorts and tank tops. You know the “look”, very similar to Richard Simmons! When teens look at those old videos they are not only shocked by what everyone is wearing and doing but they are so confused that we did those workouts in our home to a VHS tape!! Let’s fast forward now!
Fast Forward to 2015
Here we are in 2015 and group fitness classes are still very popular! You have a lot more options now with different style boot camps, Yoga, Pilates and different forms of Jazzercise Plus many more. All of these types of workouts have been around for years though. They have just been tweaked and improved to benefit a larger group of people. Not only do you have the option to go to a class but you also have the option to view these types of workouts on DVD’s and YouTube. So fitness has evolved with technology too. However, the basics and principles of fitness classes still remain the same. The goal to offer something that all groups of people like. Yoga is not for everyone as well as bootcamps but they can find something that they enjoy because the options are really limitless.
Fashion has evolved as well but the main goal has been to wear something comfortable that you can move freely in during a workout. Back in the day the short shorts and leotards were very popular because they were comfortable and it did not get in the way during your workout.
Let’s look at what is worn today because it is very similar but it is geared more towards your type of workout. Let’s look at one of cheerFIT’s affiliate brands, Athleta. They offer different styles that are the tighter fitting workout gear which a lot of runners like as well as those that enjoy yoga or Pilates. Soffee is another affiliated brand and they have some similar options but are more known for their different style of shorts that are geared towards the different sports like volleyball, cheerleading, softball and basketball. Each type of sport and style of fitness classes have a style that is geared toward that particular activity. This has always been the case there are just a lot more options and many styles are very versatile to different fitness styles.
Cheer Fashion
Let’s focus now are the cheerleading side since that is our favorite sport! Fitness in the cheerleading world has always been considered conditioning. Well if you think about fitness in general it is conditioning for everyone. We are all trying to get in better shape for life in general and cheerleaders do specific exercises to condition their bodies for the sport. Some exercises are very general and have been the same for years. But, just like with anything the exercises have evolved and become more specific to the sport. Certain exercises are geared toward and more beneficial for jumps, tumbling, stunting and preventing injuries. Cheerleaders are not doing the same exercises as the football team because their bodies are used differently and need to be trained differently. Fitness today is more than just exercising it is training. Runners train, Olympians train and cheerleaders train. Fitness and training has now become more sport/activity specific.
Fashion in cheerleading has more of a purpose and meaning now. It’s not just about how you look but how you feel while training and performing. Let’s look at practice wear. Cheerleaders still wear shorts and shirts but they are wearing more of a Spandex short and a matching tank top. At Rebel Athletic we call this practice wear, performance wear and training gear depending on the sport we are designing for at that time. Uniforms for cheerleaders used to be all polyester and sweaters. Sweaters have been on the way out for a while now and polyester is the same way. Not only is it hot and uncomfortable but it is not as practical to move and perform in. Rebel Athletic offers a Bodyflex material that is basically a performance/dry fit material that is more comfortable and easier for cheerleaders to move around in. If you are a school and used to the old polyester we have a polyester silhouette material that is amazing.
Rebel Athletic’s Bodyflex and Polyester Silhouette materials are truly the best in the industry for performance wear and Cheerleading uniforms. Rebel designs their products with true fashion designers and they always have new innovative ideas with an athletic concept in mind. It’s comfortable and fashionable so every athlete feels and looks comfortable, fashionable and athletic. When you are at practice or group fitness class that’s how we all want to feel isn’t?
Now it’s time to stay FIT and Fashionable!
So, get your team signed up for cheerFIT, get the DVD and check out Rebel Athletic to have the fittest, fashionable and most athletic team in town!
Cheers,
Christy
Christy
I am very excited to be joining the Cheer FIT family and to be an Ambassador for this AMAZING program! Fitness and and cheerleading are my two passions! Although, these two passions of mine have evolved over time. I have been on many sides of the cheerleading industry! I was a cheerleader myself since junior high through college. Then I became a coach for more than ten years. After that I started selling cheerleading uniforms and then became a personal trainer, which, I like to refer to as a personal “coach” or “cheerleader”. However, my absolute favorite role, besides those two, is being a mom!!! I have a fourteen year old son who is very active in football, basketball and baseball and a four year daughter that is on a competitive cheerleading team. However, I have learned a lot over the years with my son but this new role as a “cheer mom” is not easy!!