10 Strange Exercise Fads from the ’50s and ’60s That People Actually Tried

The 1950s and 1960s weren’t just about sock hops, rock ‘n’ roll, and space-age dreams—they were also filled with some truly bizarre fitness trends.

As people became more health-conscious, they embraced quirky, often questionable exercise fads that promised effortless weight loss and toned bodies without breaking a sweat.

From vibrating belts that jiggled fat away to putting yourself in a steam cabinet, these unusual fitness crazes may seem laughable today, but at the time, they were the next big thing.

Some of these trends disappeared into obscurity, while others laid the foundation for modern workouts.

1. The Vibrating Belt Machine

If losing weight without breaking a sweat sounds too good to be true, that’s because it is. But in the 1960s, people were convinced that strapping on a vibrating belt and letting it jiggle their fat away was the secret to a slim figure.

These machines were everywhere—gyms, salons, even living rooms—and promised to melt fat effortlessly. The idea? Vibrations would shake up fat cells, magically breaking them down. In reality, all they did was give users a good wobble and possibly a sore stomach.

As exercise science progressed, people realized that actual movement (you know, like running or lifting weights) was necessary for weight loss. Today, passive exercise machines have been replaced by intense workouts and strength training, proving that there are no shortcuts to fitness.

2. Hula Hoop Fitness

In the late 1950s, adults decided to take a child’s toy and turn it into a fitness revolution. Hula hooping became a national craze, with people convinced that spinning a plastic ring around their waist was the key to a toned midsection and improved coordination.

And while it was undeniably fun, was it really an effective workout? Kind of. Hula hooping does engage the core and burn calories, but it wasn’t quite the miracle fat-burning method people hoped for.

Modern fitness still embraces hula hoops—especially weighted versions—as a way to add fun to cardio workouts. But let’s be honest, it’s hard to take this one too seriously when you imagine a room full of grown-ups wildly hula hooping like it’s recess.

3. Sauna Suits

In the 1950s, if you weren’t sweating, you weren’t “losing weight.” Enter: the sauna suit—a shiny, suffocating outfit that trapped heat and moisture, making wearers sweat buckets in the hopes of shedding pounds.

The concept was simple: the more you sweat, the more weight you lose. In reality, it was just water weight, which came back the moment you rehydrated.

While today’s athletes still use sauna suits for short-term weight cutting (like wrestlers or boxers), we now understand that actual fat loss comes from exercise and diet, not excessive sweating.

4. Mini-Trampoline Workouts

Before Zumba and Peloton, the 1960s had mini-trampolines—a quirky low-impact cardio workout designed to make fitness feel fun and effortless.

The idea was that bouncing lightly would improve circulation, strengthen muscles, and tone the body—and surprisingly, they weren’t entirely wrong. Today, rebounding workouts have made a comeback and are seen as an effective low-impact option for those with joint pain.

The ‘60s version was definitely ahead of its time, even if most people back then just used it to bounce around for fun.

5. Steam Cabinets

In the 1950s, people loved the idea of weight loss without moving a muscle. That’s where steam cabinets came in—essentially a human-sized sauna that enveloped the body while leaving the head exposed.

The promise? Detoxification and weight loss through sweat. The reality? A relaxing but ultimately ineffective experience.

Modern spas still use steam therapy, but we now understand that real fitness requires movement—not just sitting in a hot box sweating out water weight.

6. Finger Touch Exercisers

Believe it or not, finger fitness was a thing in the 1960s. Small hand-grip exercisers were marketed as a way to improve strength and dexterity, mostly targeting office workers and housewives.

While modern grip strengtheners still exist (especially for climbers or athletes), they’re just a tiny part of a balanced fitness routine.

Back then? People really thought strong fingers = strong body. If only it were that easy.

7. Roller Massagers

In the 1960s, people believed that rolling their fat away was just as effective as sweating it off. Enter roller massagers—machines with rotating wooden or rubber rollers that promised to break up fat deposits and smooth cellulite.

These contraptions were a staple in beauty salons and gyms, and their appeal was obvious: no effort required—just sit back and let the rollers do the work. Unfortunately, they did nothing for fat loss—except maybe bruising a few hopeful users.

While foam rollers and massage guns are now common for muscle recovery, we’ve long since abandoned the idea that rolling fat around actually burns it.

8. Isometric Exercise

In the 1960s, fitness experts pushed the idea that you didn’t need to move to build strength. The concept of isometric exercise—where muscles contract but don’t actually move—was supposed to be the future of effortless strength training.

A typical isometric workout? Pressing your hands together for resistance, tensing your abs, or pushing against a wall. While these exercises do engage muscles, they were oversold as a miracle method for getting ripped without lifting weights or breaking a sweat.

Today, isometrics still have a place in modern fitness—planks, for example, are a great core workout—but they’re now part of a broader strength routine rather than the ultimate fitness hack.

9. Twist Boards

The 1960s took core workouts for a spin—literally—with the invention of twist boards. These simple rotating platforms let people twist their way to a slimmer waist, all while keeping their feet in place.

Marketed as a fun, dance-like way to work out, twist boards were seen as a shortcut to toned abs and a tiny waist. The reality? While twisting does engage the obliques, it’s not a full-body workout and certainly wasn’t enough to replace traditional exercise.

Twist movements still show up in modern workouts (like Russian twists or ab circuits), but gone are the days when people thought a few minutes of spinning in place would sculpt their dream body.

10. Jack LaLanne’s Glamour Stretcher

Before resistance bands became a staple in gyms, there was Jack LaLanne’s Glamour Stretcher—a fancy name for what was essentially a giant rubber band marketed as the ultimate at-home fitness tool.

Jack LaLanne, the godfather of modern fitness, was way ahead of his time. He encouraged simple resistance training using the Glamour Stretcher to tone and strengthen muscles. It was one of the first fitness gadgets to make home workouts accessible.

Fast forward to today, and resistance bands are a gym essential, proving that LaLanne’s idea wasn’t all that far-fetched. While the Glamour Stretcher itself has faded into history, its concept laid the groundwork for modern resistance training.