Until recently, I loathed at-home workouts for many reasons. My New York City living room is cramped. I want to avoid a confrontation with my grumpy neighbors. And I thrive on being pushed by an instructor IRL. But a week into quarantine, I caved and joined the cult of Jane Fonda after a few friends started raving about the icon’s ’80s workout in our group text.
Jane brightened our apartment with her jaunty demeanor, leotard, and leg warmers.
And I’m not the only Fonda Fangirl made in the time of coronavirus, according to the star’s Instagram. A video of Jane, at 82, recreating one of her classic workouts while staying home has been viewed over 500K times in just the seven days since she uploaded it. The comments are the type of glow up any woman (at any age) would be happy to receive. Even Gen Z knows about the actress’s legendary leg raises thanks to her TikTok debut.
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My roommate, Olga, and I gave one of her 35-minute workouts a try for the first time on one particularly bleak and rainy afternoon. Jane brightened our apartment with her jaunty demeanor, leotard, and leg warmers.
The routine starts with some basic stretches, then transitions to light aerobics (think jumping jacks and jogging in place). From there, we focus on upper-body work, which consist of some very vigorous arm circles.
The two of us spend the entire time discussing our favorite outfits.
Next up is abs, and Fonda leads us through various types of side bends and crunches. This portion lasts just a few minutes before we move on to leg raises, and finally, stretching. In the end, my roommate described the routine best in a word: gentle. And I have to agree. But the lack of soreness and sweat left me questioning whether I’d just become too accustomed to high intensity movements like burpees, or if the workout is just too easy. So, I ask trainer Laura Miranda, DPT, if these exercises are considered effective muscle builders in 2020. The harsh reality? Not really (womp, womp).
“A lot of these movements are more flexibility based rather than strength based,” she says. “Will that get you shoulder deltoids? No. Will it prepare you for something else? Yes.”
Now, we end the work day by throwing on bathing suits—in lieu of leotards—and firing up Fonda.
As such, it’s probably better to save it for your active recovery days. Or, you can treat it as a very long warm up—which is what my roommate and I prefer.
Now, we end the work day by throwing on bathing suits—in lieu of leotards—and firing up Fonda. Afterwards, we stream dance cardio or kickboxing classes.
“I’m proud of us for creating something to look forward to,” Olga says during a night of Fonda, Tabata, and a two-mile walk. Because while Jane’s workout doesn’t leave me tired, sore, or drenched in sweat, her reassuring attitude provides a dose of comfort in this time of uncertainty that feels almost as good as endorphins.
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