Testimonials
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Cynthia Wooster
At the behest of my Jazzercise instructor, Renee Davis, I am writing this testimonial about the role Jazzercise played in my recovery from recent surgery. I have been Jazzercising since 1983. I was 50 years old, and up to that time, I had never engaged in a regular exercise program. Indeed, because I was not flexible or graceful, I entered both of my children in dance school at a young age, so they would be both flexible and graceful. My daughter began her Jazzercise classes in 1983, and the results were both immediate and positive, so she coerced me into trying the class, which I immediately hated! After many, many heated arguments with my daughter about my attempts to quit, I settled down to a regular routine of Jazzercise, and proceeded from there to be her class manager when she became an instructor. She taught nine lessons weekly, and I accompanied her to all of them, all the while working a demanding, full-time job. I have never become particularly flexible or graceful, but can hold my own with the rest of the class. After retirement, we moved to the Melbourne area, as did my daughter and her family. We immediately began attending Jazzercise at two locations. I decided to challenge myself by attending as many classes as I could in each calendar year, and succeeded in reaching 300 for three years straight, which has pleased me. I learned early in December, 2007, that I needed surgery to remove my gallbladder, and turned to a fellow Jazzerciser, Janet, who is a volunteer at a local hospital, for the name of surgeons she could recommend. I decided on the surgeon and date, and underwent the surgery on January 8, 2008. The surgery went smoothly, and I was able to walk unaided down the corridor to the restroom one half hour after the surgery was completed. The nurse was really impressed, and I am truly grateful to Jazzercise for the physical fitness that allowed me to recover so quickly. After eight days, I was able to return to Jazzercise. As an aside, my fellow Jazzerciser, Janet met my surgeon while she was volunteering, and he asked if she Jazzercised with his patient - me. When she answered “yes,” he said “I guess there’s something to this Jazzercise!” |
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BJ Jones
I am now a firm believer in making sure that we build our core to support our backs. For the last couple of years the Jazzercise instructors have been cranking out the routines to strengthen our cores. We have been doing the routines but have been hearing "blah, blah, blah" in our heads when the instructors are emphasing how important it is to have a strong core to support our backs. Well, I am here to tell you that I put the theory to the test past this weekend. I normally have my husband do the vacuuming these days because the vacuum cleaner is cumbersome and hard to push for a long period of time. Even though he does it, I feel like a wimp because that is the only thing I have to have someone else do for me. When he doesn't get to the task quickly enough, I have been using my Dirt Devil hand vac and crawl around the floor to do "spot" vacuuming. This weekend I decided to put all that "core rhetoric" to the test and vacuum my carpets myself. I waited until my husband was outside to power it up and give it a shot. From the moment I turned the vacuum on, I was clenching my abs big time ....and it worked! I had no back strain or twinges in any part of my torso. I did the whole job without feeling like a wimp! My husband came back in the house just as I was finishing up and gave me a quizzical look because I had not put in a request to vacuum the carpet. I just smiled at him and announced that I was almost done. I was so proud and there was no pain ... I could have done a few more rooms just to show off, hahaha! From now on I am holding in my abs for everything just to keep them in shape when we are not being pounded on in our Jazzercise classes. So everyone, tighten up those abs all during the day and challenge your body in ways that you have never tried before ...I know I did! BJ |
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Karen Sycks
"Imagine" "Dancing in the Street" That just how I feel about Jazzercise. I wanted to share my journey with you on how I "Got My Mojo Working". I started taking Mo's Personal Touch classes back in the beginning and I knew right away "The Times They Are a-Changin". From the very first moment I got "Good Vibrations". Yet after the first class I was saying "Mercy Mercy"! Mo is such a power house of energy that you can't help feeling "Eight Miles High". She took a "Piece of My Heart" from the very start. She knows muscles I still only dream of moving. Yet someday, "With a Little Help From My Friends" I know I'm gonna feel like "Iron Man"! With every new inch of strength I gain its "More Than a Feeling", and I am so glad to be apart of her Personal Touch classes. "Do you Believe in Magic", "I'm A Believer". I'm "Groovin" on the way Mo says "Let Me Hear Your Body Talk". And believe you me my body is going "Yakety Yak". Yet "In the still of the Night" when my heart and lungs are feeling like a "Free Bird" and I "Fly Like and Eagle" I "Cherish" having Mo's Personal Touch class and Jazzercise in my life. I truly wish that every one could experience "MO"town. Not only Mo, but with ALL my Jazzercise friends I feel like I'm on the "Stairway to Heaven". And Renee', I thank the "Spirit in the Sky" that you are "Just the Way You Are", because if you weren't, none of this would have been possible. You "Rock my Soul". Jazzercise has taught me how to "R-E-S-P-E-C-T" myself and given me the strength to become more than just "Another Brick in the Wall" . "Good Golly, Miss MOlly" this "American Girl " sure is glad there's "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On". And even though I was "Born to be Wild","You've Got a Friend", who's one "Proud Mary" Karen Sycks P.S. "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" put another dime in the juke box baby......... |
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BJ JONES
I have been a Jazzercise student for almost 25 years. At the tender age of 26, I realized that I was breathing heavy after climbing a single flight of steps. I panicked ..I needed to get in shape and soon! Fortunately, Jazzercise had just been introduced in this county and I jumped on board. I was horrible at first but I persevered. After hanging in there for 6 months, I was proud to note that I could breathe again after climbing the stairs at work. So I revised by short term goal of successfully climbing the staircase to a long term goal of never getting out of shape again. In order to do this, I needed to stick with something that would get the job done ...and Jazzercise did it for me. So Jazzercise has become the excercise part the of my life routine and I have never switched to any other program. The best part of Jazzercise is the variety of new exercise routines that are introduced throughout the year to keep us interested and to isolate various muscles of the body that need to stay toned. An additional bonus is the staff of energetic instructors who keep the class pumping. And let me not forget the class managers ...they are a special group of people who are concerned about the entire class and do whatever is necessary to help the instructors keep the classes running smoothly for all of us. All in all, we get a big bang for the buck from Jazzercise! |
Cathy
As part of my personal divorce recovery plan for my mental well being, I became an avid power walker in 1999. After about two years, and 40 pounds lighter, I realized that I needed some variety and toning. I didn’t know what to choose from the smorgasbord of fitness activities available. One night while power walking around my apartment complex, my answer waved at me. A female neighbor joined me in my walk, and enthusiastically recommended I come as her guest to Jazzercise at Rodes Park. I admit I hedged a bit. I am an introvert and not one to join anything voluntarily. Still, she pleasantly persisted, and I decided to think outside my comfort zone. I am so glad I did! I loved Jazzercise from the get-go. It was a wonderful addition to my aerobics program, and provided the toning that gave me better shape, posture and self-confidence I so desperately needed. But, more than that, it was just awesome fun. I felt welcome and fit right in with the most wonderful group of laughing, smiling, down-to-earth ladies I had every met. No prima donnas there. Nobody cared if you moved left when others moved right—just as long as you kept moving. Renee was not just a gifted instructor, but she radiated an enthusiasm and encouragement from her heart and soul. Her dedicated managers followed suit. If you knew my whole story, you would appreciate just how this significantly contributed to my mental and emotional well-being. They physical benefits of Jazzercise were obvious, but the mental health benefits were even more critical. During the next two years, as I shaped my body, I shaped my spirit and my smile. It was nothing short of an awesome transformation, inside and out. Reluctantly in 2004, I was forced on hiatus from Jazzercise due to a foot condition and a torn muscle above my knee (not Jazzercise related). As life went on for me over the next couple of years, I encountered more major life changes, resulting in some heartaches that weighed heavily on me. Not one to wallow, I knew I needed a plan. My feet had long since recovered and I had resumed walking as my major source of exercise, but like before it wasn’t enough. It was too solitary, and I knew that this was not good for me. I knew I needed the diversion of laughter, fun, music, encouragement and enthusiasm from Jazzercise again. With a doctor’s clearance, but for lower impact activities, I contacted Renee and returned. Once again, I can tell you, that within weeks, my spirit was soaring and my clothing was getting bigger again. And for those shining moments when I’m in class, as I focus on the routines and fun, I have a respite from my over-analytical mind trying to solve all my challenges. I am not only refreshed for the moment, but I sleep better, and have something truly fun to look forward to every week. Do you remember the theme song from the TV show Cheers: “…sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came…” Well, that defines Jazzercise class! I encourage anyone to give Jazzercise a try for the primary benefit of your mental and emotional well-being. The calories you burn and the inches you lose are only close secondary benefits. And the people you’ll meet will warm your heart and make you smile. |
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