Okay, so… just to be upfront about it, this video in no way addresses or includes all the fitness trends over the years it covers.

It does, however, pick some of the most iconic from decade to decade, and it’s fascinating to see what changes and what stays the same.

Give it a watch for yourself:

Over the last century, society has placed more and more pressure on attaining a physically “ideal” figure. Clothing gets more revealing, and advertising more competitive and abundant, prompting more and more reliance on Photoshop to keep those billboard models looking unattainably perfect. Likewise, our health and fitness regimens have become more and more demanding.

As someone who has worked in the fitness industry, and someone who values health very highly, I have to say I’m not complaining about the trend as such. I think it’s great that so many people want to be healthy. And it’s great that so many gyms and fitness instructors, yoga studios and exercise classes are so readily available.

Yet, we need to be careful to strike a balance. Even healthy activities, when done in excess, can become unhealthy obsessions. It’s all about the balance. So, yes, get out there and move to whatever exercise trend catches your fancy. But do it for the right reasons, do it because you love yourself and want to be healthy, not because you feel pressured to look or act a certain way.

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Relephant:

1 Woman, 1 Minute, 100 Years of “Beauty.” {Video}

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Author: Kevin Swanwick

Editor: Travis May

Photo: YouTube Still

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