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Stephanie, age 53
Bellevue, Washington
Jazzercising since 2003
Nurse, NPO Overseas
I
work as a nurse in a remote area of a third world island nation where
personal safety is a daily concern: from malaria to armed
criminals. I was evacuated from my place of work back to the USA
as a result of a nervous breakdown from the stressors and anxieties of
living in those conditions, and grief from losses in my work.
There is just as much pressure and stress here in the USA...just
different forms...and I found myself in reverse culture shock in the
adjustment. I discovered that stress made me 3x more likely to
have a heart attack than a smoker!!
In 2003 during a brief stay in the USA I found Jazzercise with Kris
Rooke and
loved it for the two months I participated. So in the summer of
2007 I sought
out the same Jazzercise class for my mental health as well much as my
physical
health. I became hooked immediately...again. It was such a
fun class:
encouraging instructors, great music variety, fun participants! I
have found it
an effective way of checking my weight with medications that tend to
cause
weight gain.
I attend 5x week. Even if I've had a "bad" day, going to
Jazzercise ALWAYS
makes me feel better whether I push hard or not. I have made new
friends from
different walks of life and really enjoy dancing with them. In the
beginning my
kids would say "Oh, Mom!" when I'd be movin' around the house to a
Jazzercise
song, but they saw such a difference in my mental state and attitude
that my two
teenage daughters decided they wanted to do Jazzercise, too!
Jazzercise, and all that goes with it, has been an integral part of my
recovery
this past year, and maintaining a healthy mental state in the coming
year. I
love to "pretend" I'm dancing with the stars, and as Marisa, Broadway
star of
"Hairspray" says, "Do something fun, and shake what your momma gave
you!"
Parul
Bellevue, Washington
Jazzercising since 2008
I have been Jazzercising at the North Bellevue Community Center since 2007. I want to share my weight loss experience and how Jazzercise helped me. I'm a mother of two, and after my second child, I wanted to reduce my weight but was not concerned until I saw one of my photos, which was a wake-up call, and triggered me to do something about it. I read on the internet that if you want to reduce your weight you need to combine exercise with a proper diet, eating less and exercising more. I made small goals, initially 5-10 lbs., and kept going. Initially it was very hard to control the diet, but loosing a little motivated me and kept me on track. Here I am now, and I have lost 40 lbs. It is about changing your lifestyle.
Paul, age 51
Bellevue, Washington
Navy Veteran, Jazzercising since 2003
Maria
Bellevue, Washington
Jazzercising since 2001
Jazzericse has made such a positive impact on my life!
My doctor just read the results of my bone density scan and has credited my great improvement to my medical regiment AND Jazzercise. All of the women in my family have osteoporosis, as do I - but my decline in density is reversing quite dramatically. Jazzercise, combined with modern science, is working wonders for people like me.
My facial muscles have greatly improved too! One cannot attend classes at the North Bellevue Community Center and not smile/laugh. Instructor Kris Rooke infuses the room with the feelings of well-being, camaraderie, and most of all FUN!
Chrishelle,
age 27
Oregon City, Oregon
Jazzercising since 1995
When
I was growing up, I could eat ANYTHING and stay very thin. In fact, a
few times I even tried to GAIN weight. Well, that all changed when I
became pregnant with my first child and gained 70 pounds. When he was
breastfeeding, I continued to eat like I had been while I was pregnant.
He was gaining weight extremely well and I didn't want to jeopardize
that, but I was miserable. I was tired all of the time, I felt fat and
ugly, my back hurt, and I had lots of headaches.
When my son turned nine months old I decided to make a change. I drove by the local school, saw a Jazzercise sign, and decided to give it a try. I am so glad I did! I absolutely loved it! I went to class 4-5 times a week and lost all of the weight that I had gained in only three months. I not only looked better, but I felt so much better! I had more energy and I slept better.
I gained only 24 pounds with my second child and 28 pounds with my third child and felt terrific. After each pregnancy I went back to Jazzercise, lost the weight, and kept it off.
I'm now playing on a softball team for the first time in ten years. It's been seven years since I found Jazzercise and I believe that it has made my life so much better. I feel so good about myself, mentally and physically, and that makes me very happy. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Shari, age 41
Nashville, TN
Jazzercising since 2005
Last winter, I went to the doctor who recommended that I find a way to
bring exercise back into my life. Exercise...I had never enjoyed it.
It was always a dreaded line on my "to do" list that I marked off with a
"whew."
A few weeks after my doctor appointment, I talked to my sister who is an avid Jazzerciser in East Hanover, NJ. She pumped me up to just TRY Jazzercise. A few days later, I went for the first time. I felt so welcomed by such a warm bunch of Jazzercisers. The moves are so fun...it's always fresh and exciting music (which is a big deal with constant 3 & 6 year old children's music in this household)! Sometimes I have so much fun that I forget I'm exercising. Now, I go to Jazzercise as often as I can. I'm always looking forward to the next time I can go, I love every minute during the workout and I love how it makes me feel.
A year ago I never would have believed that I would be arranging my life around my commitment to Jazzercise...doing something SO good for myself AND having a BLAST doing it! Even though I haven't been Jazzercising too long, ask me in 10 years, I'll still be there!
Sandra, age 38
Franklin, TN
My sister-in-law told me about Jazzercise and I was hooked instantly. I loved the music, and the total body workout I received. In the summer of 1998, I was diagnosed with MS. I went home and cried. I slowed down, and cut back on my exercise.
Seven years had passed since I last saw my Jazzercise instructor, Linda Cash. I was so sick, and was in so much pain that I really never thought I'd be walking much less Jazzercising! Seeing her reminded me of how much fun class had been. A class where I have no MS, no house work, no pain, no worries, no laundry, and no beds to make, no schedules to keep, and no dinner to make. Class really goes by too fast, and reality is facing me again, but this time I'm ready - feeling tired, but not defeated.
Linda Cash and her class have brought a new life into my daily struggle with MS. No longer is it, "I really don't want to go exercise," it's "I'm glad I can."
Maybe my daily struggle with weakness and pain caused by MS, can be an inspiration to someone else. Jazzercise has helped my pain management and my muscle weakness. Jazzercise helps my cognitive skills so damaged by MS. I wish I could give to Linda Cash the hope she has given me. Hope that tomorrow is going to be great, and that next week can wait.
Mim, age 62
North Augusta, South Carolina
Jazzercising since 1994
I started Jazzercising 10 years ago and haven't stopped. I have so many 100 club shirts I could start my own shop. I have used Jazzercise as my basis to improve my stamina, weight control, flexibility, cardio and strength. Because of it, I have accomplished a lot of adventures like ice skating, snow skiing, sculling, rock climbing, wall climbing, hiking, bobsledding and more. I have climbed several mountains — Mt. Hood to 10,000 ft, however didn't make the summit due to bad weather. Now I am going to climb Mt. Adams at 12,276 ft. I also do yoga, but continue to Jazzercise because without it I would have never been able to accomplish these other endeavors.
On my birthday I am going skydiving. What does Jazzercise have to do with skydiving? Well first of all, strong bones on the landing, flexibility avoiding trees, and deep breathing when descending out of the aircraft. I owe a lot to Jazzercise because without it I would be overweight, a couch potato and not enjoying life to its fullest.
Jennifer, age 34
Bailey, Colorado
Jazzercising since 2005
I have become a Jazzercise Junkie. I started in January of this year
with your typical New Years resolution. I have never been able to stick
to any exercise regimen. When I started the program I weighed 210 lbs
and wore a size 20. Since August of this year I am now 150 lbs. and wear
a size 10. It has completely changed my life! I love the class, I praise
my instructor every day, and my husband loves having his wife back.
Thank you Jazzercise, you have made me beautiful once again. I will
never turn back!
Roni, age 41
San Antonio, Texas
Jazzercising since 2002
I have been what is considered socially “seriously obese” all my life.
Who would of “thunk” that I would be that same person who would have
rather had my toenails pulled out than to even dream about doing
ANYTHING that would be considered that big ugly bad word: EXERCISE!
I remember coming to class in January 2001 due to my cousin Monica’s invitation to “try it out. You have nothing to lose. It’s a freebie class!” Dragging the feet, whining, and hesitant, I found myself quickly thinking, “I’m having fun! Surely this is not exercising.”
Let it be a gift that you give to yourself. This way you can take care of others! My one hour class became what I called my cheap therapy session from the rustle and bustle of work, school, and home. I had more energy to face the world.
Don't be scared of the Personal Touch class! (aka Commando Babes). This is the class that had me seeing some definite results. I now see muscles I didn’t even know existed!
Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever thought I would have lasted this long, spend an hour daily with dear friends and new ones too, and be among an awesome group of ladies who have motivated me through my journey.
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