Jazzed up!

I will rarely post to this blog about Jazzercise. However, as part of the “happy life” portion of this blog, I wanted to share some exciting news: I just completed the certification process to become a Jazzercise instructor. To celebrate, I have written this little post to respond to some common (and hilarious) misconceptions about Jazzercise. Here goes:

1. Yes, Jazzercise is still around.

Jazzercise has been around for a long time. It was started in 1969 by Judi Sheppard Missett who, to this day, is still an active instructor (in addition to running the company). Jazzercise was very popular in the 1980s (hence the next misconception about legwarmers) but it has remained strong throughout its existence. Why? Because it’s a fun and supportive workout that creates strong communities around health and wellness.

2. Nope, Jazzercise is not about jazz music (or leg warmers!)

Most of the music you will hear in Jazzercise is pop music. In fact, prior to my starting Jazzercise last June, I couldn’t name three songs on the Top 40 pop music charts; now, I can name at least five Top 40 songs. 🙂 You can check out the most recent Jazzercise song list here. We also dance to jazz music, country music, R&B, techno, and many more musical styles. What I love too is that Jazzercise releases 5 new music and routine sets per year, so there is always something new in class. And, just to reiterate, there really are no leg warmers in Jazzercise. We work out so hard, leg warmers are a really bad idea. Which leads me to…

3. Yes, it’s the best workout I have done.

I usually burn between 600 and 800 calories per one-hour class (as a student; as an instructor, I burn more because of all of the talking I do). A typical class involves a warm-up of key muscle groups, a cardio section that ramps up your heart rate, a lighter cardio section that brings the heart rate down, and a strength and stretch section. The cardio portion works along the Perceived Exertion Chart. You can read more about a typical class and the Perceived Exertion Chart here. Anyway, my point is that I have tried all kinds of exercise, from team sports (hockey) to working out solo in a gym, and nothing has worked as well for me as Jazzercise.

4. No, it’s not just for women.

Men take Jazzercise. Men teach Jazzercise. I think that’s enough said.

5. Yep, it’s tons of fun.

I can’t emphasize enough how much fun I have at Jazzercise. Part of this, I will admit, is that I always wanted to dance as a kid but my parents couldn’t afford and/or we didn’t have access to dance lessons. In Jazzercise, I can dance without worrying about what others are thinking and I love the fun that we have as a community of people who work out through wonderfully-choreographed routines.

So anyway, celebrations and happy dances for my successful transition as a Jazzercise instructor. Oh, and if you are interested in trying Jazzercise out, check out this page to find the nearest location to you. Have fun!

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