Jazzercise: A Workout Program for the Rest of Us
“There’s a fire starting in my heart, reaching a fever pitch and it’s bringing me out the dark…” Adele’s voice boomed through the speakers. The British singing sensation’s beautiful sultry voice and captivating lyrics were lost on the crowd in front of me. Their faces were filled with determination. Some had lines forming on their foreheads in deep concentration while others scrunched up their faces with tenacity. “Contract your abs and tighten your core” I yelled. Immediately I saw postures changing. Some threw me a “Are you kidding me?” look to which I responded with an encouraging smile.
It was a Monday evening and I was standing on a stage in front of my Jazzercise class. We had just finished 40 minutes of cardio and transitioned into strength training. A group of glistening jazzercisers stood before me mirroring me as I performed an abdominal routine. It was an eclectic group this evening. There was the fifty something year old “aunty” who had more upper body strength than the eighteen year old next to her, the guy in the corner with more rhythm than the entire class put together, the new mom who was determined to lose her baby fat and the fitness junkies who’s precise and accurate posture and movements hinted at years of fitness training. As I looked around the group in front of me, I realized that they epitomized what Jazzercise is truly about and reminded me why I loved my job as a Jazzercise instructor.
Jazzercise was started in 1969 by Judi Sheppard Missett who turned he love for jazz dance into a world-wide dance exercise phenomenon. The workout programme, which offers a fusion of jazz dance, kickboxing, resistance training, Pilates, yoga, and various cardio movements, has positively affected millions of people worldwide. Benefits include increased cardiovascular endurance, strength, and flexibility, as well as an overall “feel good” factor.
Forty two years after its humble beginnings in a dance studio in Chicago, Jazzercise is now the world’s leading dance fitness programme. Jazzercise posted its highest-ever ranking on Entrepreneur Magazine’s 2011 Franchise 500 list. The international group fitness programme ranks 17th overall and first in the fitness business category. The international franchise business hosts a network of 7,800 instructors teaching more than 32,000 classes weekly in 32 countries. Sri Lanka is the newest addition to the Jazzercise global network. The strict guidelines enforced by the franchise ensures that a class taken in Colombo, Sri Lanka is identical in content, format and energy level to classes conduct world-wide, whether in Palo-Alto, California by Judi Sheppard Missett herself or in Southlake, Texas where I was first introduced to Jazzercise 7 years ago.
Eight years of Jazzercising has not only kept me fit and healthy but created a desire to help others become more aware of the benefits of exercise and realize that working out does not have to be a chore but an addictive and fun part of the weekly routine. As the last bars of music to Adele’s song faded, I heard a collective groan from my class. I happily listened to them complain about how much their abs hurt because as far as this group was concerned I had accomplished my goals. I knew they’d be back next week for more.
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