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Jazzercise Is
Part of Lose and Win
Jazzercise is a dance aerobics program that
has been around for 35 years and has stood
the test of time. It combines kickboxing,
yoga and Pilates principles into fun dance
routines set to the freshest music of
various genres, music you hear on the radio
by the original artists. This includes pop,
hip-hop, rap, jazz, old standards,
classical, Latin and African music.
Lose
and Win instructors are shown here
following a successful Jazzathon for
the American Diabetes Association.
Left to right are: Debbie Greene,
Janice Woychik, Cary McCown and
Leslie Barroso. |
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Photo
Courtesy Janice Woychik |
The
routines are professionally choreographed by
the founder of Jazzercise, Judi Sheppard
Missett, and reviewed by an exercise
physiologist. A normal 55- to 60-minute
workout includes a warmup, routines of
increasing intensity, 12 to 16 minutes of
moderately high or high intensity work and
then routines of decreasing intensity.
Also
included are at least three strength
routines with optional hand weights that
includes an upper torso, lower torso and
abdominal workout and ends with a cool down
and stretch. Low-impact options are
demonstrated and people work at their own
pace.
The
instructor faces the class and cues the
moves using a microphone, so no memorization
is necessary and new students can “jump
right in.” Routines change steadily but not
all at once so things don’t get dull and new
muscles are targeted because the
choreography changes.
For
Lose and Win, the time is cut to a 30-minute
workout. Unlike a longer set, there won’t be
any floor work. And because of the large
number of people likely to attend, no one
will be expected to use weights unless
someone wants to use a full water bottle as
a substitute.
The
steadiest, simplest routines will be used to
help everyone have fun. Fun really is the
key to successful exercise. If you have
something intrinsically fun in a work-out
you are more likely to stick with it. With
Jazzercise, the workout feels less like work
and more like dancing to music. If music
moves a person, Jazzercise is a good choice
for an exercise regimen.
The
Bar Harbor/ Ellsworth franchise of
Jazzercise was started by Janice Woychik and
Leslie Barroso. Woychik moved to the area
four years ago from California and missed
having Jazzercise classes to attend. Barroso
had attended Jazzercise in Michigan and
enjoyed it also. Together they studied and
went to mentoring in Waterville and Boston
at Jazzercise classes there, and finally
they had a successful audition in Boston, a
six-month process. Later, they were joined
by Debbie Greene, a professional dancer
re-entering the world of work after her
children had reached school age; and Cary
McCown, another Jazzercise student who
missed having Jazzercise in her last port of
call (her husband is in the Coast Guard and
their last location in Alaska was
Jazzercise-less). McCown is determined that
if she has to relocate she will always be
able to attend a class or teach one.
All
of the instructors are Certified Jazzercise
Instructors. All instructors must be current
in CPR training and pass a written test in
nutrition, physiology, anatomy and other
subjects. And all have to keep up to date on
new developments in fitness.
Currently, there are Jazzercise classes in
Bar Harbor and Ellsworth. In Bar Harbor,
classes are held on Monday, Thursday and
Saturday at 8:30 a.m. at St. Saviour’s
Church, 41 Mt. Desert St., and classes are
held at Mount Desert Island High School
through Adult Education on Tuesday and
Thursday at 5:30 p.m. In Ellsworth, classes
are held on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at
8:45 a.m. and on Monday, Wednesday and
Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at the Ellsworth
Tennis Center, 34 Eastward Lane.
The
cost for a walk-in is $10 and eight-week
passes for unlimited classes are $96 (any
class in any location). Jazzercise also
offers Junior Jazzercise for kids in grades
four through six in Bar Harbor.
For
more information, call Janice Woychik at
288-2236. For more information about
Jazzercise, call (800) FIT-IS-IT or log on
to
www.jazzercise.com.
This article was provided by Janice Woychik. |
