Jazzercise

So, let me begin by saying that I am an exercise class queen. I started on Richard Simmons when I was six years old and I haven’t looked back. On it’s face, Jazzercise is your typical dance/​aerobics place. Most classes are about 30 – 35 minutes of cardio followed by 30 minutes of strength, they are set to fun Top 40s songs, and they get your heart pumping. The thing that makes Jazzercise stand out for me is its Midwest charm. I moved here from Los Angeles last year and it’s refreshing that all the instructors not only know my name, but ask about my life. I like that when I don’t show up for classes for a while some of the other students give me crap for my laziness.
This is not the place to go if you are looking for an intense P90X-​esque workout, however if you want to incorporate a little more movement into your life, with fun music and friendly faces, Jazzercise is a great little spot.
The Pros: Fun instructors, playful top 40’s music, variety of exercise routines, and a great community
The Cons: No Saturday afternoon classes, no locations in the KC metro area, you will never be able to hear Ke$ha or PitBull songs without breaking into a Jazzercise routine.

I started doing Jazzercise while I was in college in Charleston, SC and became a huge fan. The workouts are an hour, with about 40 minutes cardio and 20 minutes strength training. Each hour class is broken up into routines, all set to a song. They are constantly making new routines to new songs, so it’s fun to hear some of your radio favorites and dance to them!
If you’re worried about being coordinated, there’s no need! The routines are each repetitive and the instructors are great about showing you the moves at the beginning of each song. It’s easy to catch on, especially after you’ve gone to a few classes.
I also love Jazzercise because of the encouraging environment. It’s usually all women and the instructor is very encouraging and you never feel silly or judged. Each routine has high impact and low impact options, so the instructor will show you how to fit the routine to your fitness level.
Although I’ve been to many locations, this one is one of the best. They have a ton of class options every day to fit your schedule and I’ve never come across an instructor that I didn’t like. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! So much fun!

Fun dance/​strength classes that you can adapt to any fitness level. Instructors give plenty of cues, so you know exactly what to do. They also keep you motivated with contests, milestone recognition, and hand-​written postcards. Classes start at 5:45 a.m. and go until 6:45 p.m. 35 minutes of aerobic dance and 25 minutes of strength training. It’s a great work-​out; the best part is, it’s so much fun, you don’t even realizing you’re exercising!