(Disclosure: Indianapolis Moms Blog received product or payment in exchange for this review; however, all opinions shared are those of the contributor who wrote them.)
I’ve been an avid equestrian for the majority of my life, and I assure anyone who asks that, yes, horseback riding is indeed a sport. That being said, I’ve typically gone a pretty traditional route in my quest to stay strong and in good enough shape to keep up with a 1200 pound animal with a mind of its own through running, walking, yoga, and weight lifting. I feel like I’ve pretty much done it all, but nothing has ever kept my attention for very long. I’ll run for a few weeks and then lose interest for a few months before starting and stopping again.
And then I was introduced to Jazzercise. Yes. Jazzercise.
I know what you’re thinking – or rather, picturing. A flashback to the 1980s. Teased out and hairsprayed hair. Body suit and tights and scrunched up leg warmers. Shakin’ your thang to Olivia Newton John. A real-life Beverly Goldberg.
Now that you’re done laughing at me, dear reader (like so many before you have done), let me tell you that their #thenewjazzercise and #notyourmamasworkout hashtags don’t lie. Jazzercise has been the workout that I can’t seem to quit – and trust me: I’m no dancer. I have zero rhythm and little ability to follow along with someone showing me dance moves. Let’s just say that I was never a candidate for the dance or cheer teams in high school.
And then, one of my friends, a Jazzercise instructor, talked me into giving it a try. I assumed it would be a giant disaster and I would never return. I was half right. My first class was a giant disaster. It was difficult for me to keep up with the rest of the class, and I spent the majority of the time very literally laughing out loud at my clumsiness. A little one-on-one instruction after class on the typical moves that are involved in a Jazzercise workout helped me greatly, and my next class went much better. So much better, in fact, that I bought a package of classes and continued on with Jazzercising. And when that package of classes ran out, I continued to Jazzercise on with one of their monthly-pay plans.
A combination of jazz dance, hiphop, yoga, pilates, HIIT, and kickboxing, Jazzercise classes are designed for cross training. They are high energy and feature a variety of music – Pitbull, Taylor Swift, country, oldies, you name it and they’ve probably played it. It’s a workout that anyone can do at any physical fitness level or age. The moves are easily modified and there’s no shame in taking a break if you need it (my mom bladder often needs it!). And it’s fun. I’ve seen everyone from teenagers up to 80-year-old women in the classes that I’ve taken and everyone leaves with a smile on their face.
Instead of feeling like a chore, Jazzercise has proven to be a workout that can keep my attention and leave me feeling awesome – two things that have been a challenge for me to find in a workout. And the strength, flexibility and toned muscles that I’ve gained in class? Just the icing on this girl’s jazzy cake.
Burn up to 800 calories in any one of these sweat-inducing 60 minute Jazzercise classes that will leave you feeling like you actually worked out:
DANCE MIXX: A high intensity mix of dance-based cardio and strength training that targets the 3 major muscle groups—upper body, abs and legs.
INTERVAL: These High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) classes bring the intensity with circuit-based bursts of cardio and strength training. Come HIIT it hard with Fusion, Interval Fusion and Interval Dance Mixx.
FUSION: A High Intensity Interval Training (HiiT) workout that fuses cardio with strength training. Fusion challenges your body at every level with alternating blasts of heart-pumping dance moves and muscle work. The circuits and level changes maximize the intensity.
CORE: Cardio and strength moves are combined for a total body, high intensity core strengthening class. You get all the dance moves and muscle work plus a core focus without the boring crunches.
STRIKE: A dance-based kickboxing class without the gloves. This total body workout is focused on cardio and muscle work.
Check out www.jazzercise.com for class descriptions and times or give these Indy-area locations a call to get in on #thenewjazzercise action:
Carmel/Westfield – (317.867.5305) *Junior Jazzercise classes are offered for kids 4-12 at this location!*
Geist – (317.826.0712) *Junior Jazzercise classes are offered for kids 4-12 at this location!*
Fishers – (317.219.5512)
Northwest Indy – (317.329.2737)
Downtown Indy – (317.201.3390)
Mention ‘Indianapolis Moms Blog’ and new customers can try one complimentary class at one of the five above-mentioned Indy-area locations. Also, stay tuned to our Facebook page to see how you can win one month FREE for one person AND a friend, good at one of the five Indy locations mentioned!
