running: the dawn

jazzercise.

No one believes me when I tell them that I love Jazzercise, and they’re are even more shocked when they learn that I spent three years as a Jazzercise Instructor.  (In fact, had I not resigned last May, January 22 would have been my 4-year Jazzer-versary.)  But it’s true, I LOVE the Jazzercise workout.

I know what people think when they hear the word Jazzercise.  First, most people literally show me their “jazz hands” and start laughing because they are so sure they just summed up all there is to know.  The conversation then goes directly to the 80’s.  I can see the images they are forming in their minds, all of which involve…shiny blue spandex leggings, lavender leotard, serious head band action and to complete the ensemble, hot pink leg warmers scrunched up just over the white double velcro straps of their Reebok shoes.  Hotness!

I can personally testify that Jazzercise has evolved through all the changing decades and is just as up-to-date today as it was with all of its 80’s glory.

Monday I signed up and officially became a customer of Jazzercise once again.  My first class was in 2000.  A friend of mine was going and she couldn’t stop talking about how much fun class was.  Back then, I was a poor college student, so I would wait to get coupons in the mail and then go to class for a few months at a time.

From the first day, I knew this was an exercise that I could get excited about.  The number one reason is that it gives me a chance to dance my little heart out.  The moves are not hard, but they are SO much fun.  The music always got me going, and before I knew it the class would be over.

The year that I ran my first marathon, I signed up to go to Jazzercise the four months leading up to the race.  I used it as my cross-training going five days a week.  Come race day I felt strong.  Jazzercise uses moves from all different fitness-related activities from kick-boxing to latin dancing, from yoga and pilates to plyometrics.  For me, it’s the perfect companion to running.  In Jazzercise I spend so much time focusing and strengthening my core and I remember how different my running posture was after a just a month of attending classes.

Then it was time for me to leave school and get a full time job in the big scary world.  I am not exaggerating when I say that I would look up online to see if there were Jazzercise classes near any potential job.  When I finally decided to move to Vermont I found and apartment within walking distance to the local Jazzercise center.  It was there that I found a community of women that melted my heart.  The Barre Jazzercise center was also where I decided to become a certified instructor.

I thought I loved Jazzercise before, but once I became an instructor my love affair was elevated to a whole new level.  After another move brought me to Kansas and again I was immediately welcomed into a family of fitness-minded strong and beautiful women.  These ladies were with me through my dating-engagement-wedding evolution.  That brought them even closer to my heart.

So, when my latest move brought me to a small rural town and my job demands increase, I couldn’t balance all areas of my life anymore and I had to step away from my role as an instructor.  It broke my heart.  I spent the last seven months Jazzercise-less.  The first time in 10 years.

And now…I’m back!  I took my second class tonight as a returning customer and loved every second of it.  There’s something different about Jazzercise sweat.  It gets in my eyes, my mouth, drips off my nose.  It’s like swimming, but not.  My legs were burning by the end of class, so many squats and lunges!  I can’t wait to feel the sore in the morning.