When I was a little kid, I used to get up early in the morning with my mom and watch her do workout videos. I was fascinated by the 90s aerobics, the leg warmers and the neon leotards.

These are probably the images that come most readily to mind when someone thinks of workout videos, and perhaps fewer people are willing to try them because they think that they’re outdated. Fortunately, this is not the case. Workout videos may have peaked in their popularity, but they still serve as a great workout option for many reasons.

First, they’ve been completely updated to match changing trends and user needs, providing a wide array of options. The workout videos of today are nothing like the ones I used to watch my mom do. Instead, they’ve been remodeled to cover all kinds of current workouts.

There’s weight training, yoga, cardio interval training, Pilates, HIIT, bodyweight training, boot camp, kickboxing and dance workouts, among many others. In addition, there are workouts specifically designed to fit into people’s busy schedules while simultaneously providing maximizing results. Oftentimes with exercise videos, you can fit in a productive workout in 20 minutes or less.

Workout videos are also great to have on hand when the weather is bad. That way, you can still get in a workout from the comfort and privacy of your own home. I particularly like to use them during the winter months when I don’t want to venture out into the cold.

They work well for cross-training, as well, regardless of what exercise or sport you typically do. I like to use exercise videos to balance out my regular workout sessions. If I go for a run, for example, I might do a strength-training video later in the week. Or if I lift weights at the gym, I might follow up with a HIIT video.

During the winter, too, I tend to exercise primarily with workout DVDs in order to stay in shape, and I’ve found that they help keep me primed for when I start my regular training again in the spring.

In addition, workout videos are an inexpensive way to experiment with different exercises and vary your usual routine. You can buy DVDs pretty cheaply and start your own collection — I personally love having a stockpile of my favorites that I own.

You can also access numerous videos for free online, including many from big-name fitness magazines, companies and celebrity trainers. You typically don’t need much (if any) expensive equipment, either. Most of the time, all you need is a computer or TV, a little bit of space and maybe some hand weights, depending on the workout.

Despite the outdated images typically associated with them, workout videos are actually a great fitness option. They offer a diverse array of exercise options, are convenient to use during bad weather and tend to be very inexpensive.