When the Russian Aerobics Federation formed in 1990, few Russians had heard of aerobics, the dance exercise that had long since taken the West by a storm. Instead they were combining rhythmic gymnasts and calisthenics, concocting a Russianized version of the sport. Thanks to the efforts of Federation president Larissa Sidneva, aerobics has gone professional in Russia. These days Sidneva and her staff regularly travel around the former Soviet Union, conducting training seminars for thousands of women who want to be instructors. To date, more than 50 regions in Russia now offer aerobics, and Russians have gone on to win the European aerobic championships. Part instructor, part administrator, Sidneva spoke with LifeStyle about trends in the Russian aerobic scene. 

"When did aerobics start in Russia?"

"It started in 1984. Back then there weren't any private health clubs, and there were very few aerobics classes. It was simple, basic aerobics. It

wasn't until a decade later that the private club system began, and health clubs started buying steps and slides to work out on. Just as an example, at the Olympic sports complex where I teach, we started with one group in 1992. Now there are 16 separate aerobic groups that meet two or three times a week each. "

"What has caused the increase of interest in aerobics?"

"It's psychological. People start to feel better after they work out. In the West, it was the same. At first people came because they wanted to lose weight. Then they started to feel better after they exercised, they were able to handle stress better, so they continued exercising.

Also, many women see an aerobics gym as a place where they can come and feel good about themselves. Many women have no other place to go. It is not common to seek professional counseling in Russia. Many women have a close relationship with their aerobic instructors, and feel that they can tell them anything."

What kind of response do you get from the media?

Unfortunately in Russia, we don't have much on television about aerobics. The TV consistently ignores us, even though we have major conventions each year where thousands of women from around the former Soviet Union come to Moscow for two days. The only coverage the TV has are morning workout clips of super-model type athletes who in no way resemble an average woman. The moves they show on the TV are way too complicated for average people."

"What is new in the aerobic industry?"

"Children's aerobics is becoming quite popular, as is aqua aerobics."

"In the beginning, Moscow's fitness clubs alligned themselves with either Nike or Reebok in a unusual sponsorship relationship. How is that now?"

"In the beginning, the shoe companies only wanted to promote their equipment, and sell shoes. They provided training on their equipment. But there was no license available for learning how to become a simple instructor. Now we've come out with a certificate program and we're starting to work together with World Class gym to establish some professional criterion that instructors need for a license."

"How do you see the future of aerobics?"

"Russia is going to a private club system, which started in 1993 with World Class gym. People want an individual approach to exercise and they want the services that the clubs provide. It's gone that way in Europe and the United States. There should be a club system that people can afford. The first clubs were for the elite, but now they are starting to target the middle class. Now people go to clubs and meet each other for business meetings. If in the past most meetings took place at a restaurant, now people are meeting at health clubs. Excercise is becoming a popular way for women to reduce stress. Men can just go and have a drink, but women need something else, especially during stressful periods, like during the presidential elections."

"How many instructors are there?"

"We've certified about 10,000 to 15,000 instructors over the last five years, all throughout Russia. There was a marked increase in the number of instructors after the crisis. Many women lost their jobs, and were looking for another way to make money."

"How do you publicize aerobics?"

"Fitness is hard to publicize. Few Russian women's magazines have a section for fitness. Usually it's by word of mouth.

All the government money available for sports right now is given to sports teams who are going to the Olympics. So we try to promote the sport through big conventions, when we invite instructors from various countries to present their new programs and exercises to instructors. Several thousand women come to these conventions. There are about 50 aerobic festivals a year all over the former Soviet Union.

Unfortunately, there are few men involved in the aerobic industry in Russia. They don't see it as serious sport."