Aerobics is a kind of workout that makes you breathe faster and gets your heart pounding, like jogging or biking uphill. When people talk about aerobics, they sometimes mean a specific exercise program that's often done in groups, accompanied by loud music. This kind of aerobics has been around since the 1960s, combining vigorous movements, stretching, and strength training. Aerobics comes from aerobic, originally "living only in the presence of oxygen," with the Greek roots aero, "air," and bios, "life."