Throwback Thursday: The Roarin' 20s Workout

The 1920s, not 2020. I'd just like to mention that this is for fun and is not meant to be part of a regular exercise regiment. Throwback Thursday is meant to be a little history and a little activity. I am not a personal trainer and the information used below is via research and information from experts.

The video below goes over what "fitness" was like in the 1920s. It reviews what was expected of the ladies and what was expected of the gentlemen. In the video she goes over the routine of a 1920s woman (7:20). Below the video I have included your challenge for a Roarin' 20's Workout!

Ladies:

First, make sure you review the routine on the video (7:20).

This is a no-sweat workout. We reduce (not lose). Don't workout too much, it could cause hunger later on and we ladies must never be seen eating gratuitously, oh my!

Don't you dare change out of your socially appropriate day clothes. What if a man saw us dressed in un-ladylike fashion? Heavens! And don't forget those wonderful dress shoes. Yes, they wore heels while they worked out.

Find a place indoors where you can have freedom to not be seen by others when you do your routine. You must do something inside and not in front of any men. Must not break the illusion of our natural perfection!

Since we're only really looking at a physical workout, we'll leave the creams, lotions, smoking, and pills out of this. Is this silly? Yes, of course.

The Ladies No-Sweat Routine:

Get your belt ready to wobble your body into the perfect form. If you don't have workout bands or something to mimic the belt, just bounce around and wiggle those hips (see video).

The video then has you apply a chin strap to do the same thing the belt did, but to your chin. Only apply the chin reducer at your own risk. I recommend against it, but that's my opinion.

Do 10 leg-lifts to the right and 10 leg-lifts to the left. Make sure to hold onto something, don't want to perspire. Not too high, either.

Do 10 demi-plies. (Heels together facing out, bend gently at the knees, lowering yourself as comfortably as you can go.) Move your arms out and then bring them back together, like you would see a ballerina do.

Do the same 10 demi-plies, but raise your arms up in front of you and swing them in and out - from the front to the sides.

Find 2 very light weights, somewhere between 2lb-5lbs. Use household materials if you cannot find some. And do 20 bicep curls for each arm.

Depending on your perspiration level, you can treadmill or walk at a very leisurely pace that will not cause you to break a sweat. You can also use a stationary bike or go biking at a very leisurely pace that will not cause you to break a sweat.

 Now that you are finished, admire yourself in the mirror, because you ARE beautiful.

Gentlemen:

Go to 5:20 in the video if you are interested in seeing this in action.

Find somewhere fabulous looking to do some weightlifting (see video for example). 

Choose your own clothing to workout in. Shorts and a tank top or maybe you have a onesie layin' around. Your choice.

If you don't have weights, you can use things around the house to help give your muscles that workout. Ex: Pets, Children, Milk.

Make sure the weightlifting you're doing focuses on those biceps, triceps, and pecs. 

The Gentlemen's Routine:

Now safely lift weights. Do not pick weights that are too heavy or you are unfaimliar with. It could cause you to overextend. I am not an expert on anything like this, so if you are unfamiliar with weightlifting, please refer to the video at the bottom for an adjusted gentleman's workout. The following information is shared from ArtofManiless.com.

10 reps.

The arm holding the weight to form exactly a right angle with the body, rather lower than higher.

The arm and wrist must be fully stretched.

The body must be perfectly straight, and lean in no direction.

5 reps on each side.

Directions from Super Physique Body-Building Bar-Bell Course (circa 1940s) by Siegmund Klein:

“Hold dumbbell overhead as shown in Figure 1. Spread the feet about 15 inches apart keeping both legs straight at the knees, and your gaze on the bell overhead throughout the exercise. Lower body so that the left hand touches the right foot, Figure 2. Come to erect position and repeat. When holding the dumbbell in the left hand you lower the body so that the right hand touches the left foot. Breathe in when raising body, exhale lowering.”

After you have lifted some weights, start shadow boxing like Rocky. Do this for about 10 minutes. (Please don't get too animated. Throwing out your shoulder would not be a gentlemanly thing to have happen.)

If you want a bit more excitement or weren't comfortable lifting weights, this video, though focused on a book published in 1901, has some gentleman daily exercises. The bath at the end is optional.