Jazzercise: It isn't What You Think

by mommytotwo | More from this Blogger

19 Sep 2006 05:38 AM

Before I had my boys and when I was a single woman, I started Jazzercising. I will admit I did so hesitantly, thinking it would be me, my friend who was the same age as I am, and a bunch of elderly women. I had this preconceived notion of what Jazzercise was like, think Jane Fonda workouts in the late 1980's and that is what I imagined.

I grudgingly agreed to go with my friend because she really wanted to lose weight and she needed an exercise buddy. So I went. I paid for one visit, thinking that I would not be back. I looked around the gym where the class was being held and what did I see? Many women my age or younger. I also saw some older women and some middle-aged women. Basically, there were all ages of women represented in this group, but the majority of them were 20 to 30 years old.

Imagine my surprise when a very fit looking instructor came out and put on some music. This wasn't music that was boring; this was music that was popular for the time. I was thrilled. I was even more thrilled as we began the warm-up to these great tunes and discovered that the moves in this type of workout were just plain fun. I felt like I was dancing, easy dancing, for over 40 minutes straight. Not once did I feel self-conscious or out of my element. I was loving this workout.

After the brisk paced cardio, we did a brief cool down before starting weights. I was taken back, not believing that we were going to lift weights, but we sure did. Arm weights and ankle weights were used to tone up my upper and lower body. We also worked on our abdominals. Jazzercise also had exercise balls you work out on and exercise bands for toning. It is wonderful.

I must say, after that first class, I purchased a monthly pass. One class and I was hooked on Jazzercise. My entire body was screaming in pain the next day, but it was a good pain. I started going with my friend four times a week and before I knew it, I was in the best shape of my life. Yes, I can honestly say I was in better shape then I was compared to when I was in high school and a cheerleader with a gymnastics background. I was in better shape than I am now, even with my daily Firm workouts (don't get me wrong, The Firm has done wonders for my post-babies body and I love it). Jazzercise had me hooked!

I kept with Jazzercise until I got pregnant with my first child. I stopped teaching and just couldn't afford the monthly fee that goes with it. That is the one drawback to Jazzercise; it can be a bit expensive, especially for a family who lives on one income.

Jazzercise is such an amazing workout and incredibly fun. I miss it! I am anxious for the day when I have a little more time and a little more money so that I can go back to it. I will end this blog the way I started it. If you have a preconceived notion of what Jazzercise is like, if you picture women in headbands and leg warmers doing easy Jane Fonda-like workouts, you are wrong. Jazzercise truly isn't what you think.

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Heather Long (16954) 19 Sep 2006 06:25 AM

What a great story Kaye! I love jazzercise, in fact, I pretty much love any form of dancing and yes, I can believe that you were in the best shape of your life. I know lots of people who don't think dancing is a sport on par with say baseball athletes and such -- but those people have never danced on a regular basis or they'd get it!

mommytotwo (526) 19 Sep 2006 06:48 AM

Thanks Heather! I loved Jazzercise. I highly recommend it to anyone! It is a great workout, I was so surprised by how great it was. I have a friend who is an avid runner and she used to tease me constantly about going to Jazzercise, she thought it was a pretty easy workout geared towards the elderly. She couldn't have been more wrong!