Exercising Love
I had been a loyal patron of my local gym for a month when I decided it was far too mundane. Thirty minutes on the elliptical, 30 minutes on the treadmill, and 30 minutes of arm and ab work - the same order, for the same time period, six days a week. I wasn’t getting the results I wanted and I was miserable but I had made the promise to myself that I’d stick with exercising and I wasn’t going to break it. I complained to my dad, who had been my trainer, and asked if there was some sort of alternative. He told me I should look into taking different classes but they were all so expensive and they were only offered twice a week at a set time. I was in the middle of researching when I received a phone call from him, telling me that he’d found something for me - Jazzercise. Intrigued, I visited their website, watched the videos, and read all about the fitness program. The next thing I knew, I was looking up a studio near me, hopping into my car, and attending my first class. I was nervous as I walked through the door but the moment I stepped onto the floor, I had never felt so at home. “Don’t worry if you don’t know the steps just yet,” one of the ladies told me. “We’re all just here to have a good time.” I haven’t forgotten her words since. The truth is, I have never met a more amazing group of women in my life. As soon as they throw on their playlist comprised of Top 40, Country, Rock, and more, a smile spreads across their faces and they’re prepared to light up the room. They take you through an hour long sequence of moves - jazz squares, grapevines, lunges, etc - combining both cardio and muscle work. Women of all different shapes, sizes, and backgrounds gather and follow along. They attend for all different reasons. Some have been there for 20 years, others have just begun. Some go because they want to get into shape, others because their best friends are there, and some because they’ve lost a best friend, spouse, or child and it’s the only thing they get out of bed for. At Jazzercise, it’s not about losing weight, it’s about feeling amazing in the beautiful skin you’ve been given and doing something that happens to be the highlight of your day. My intentions going into Jazzercise are now completely different. I went into it hoping to lose weight. Though the program helped me do this, I now attend class hoping to get a smile of it. And I do - every time. I write a lot about love and relationships; how to say “I love you,” how to spoil him, the list goes on and on. But now it’s time for a new kind of love - love for yourself. It’s the most important lesson I’ve learned since I started taking classes. If you don’t love your body, more importantly yourself, no one else will. I may not be able to see your faces or experience your personalities but I know you. You’re a ChickSpeak reader which means you’ve got big dreams, strong morals, and a desire to succeed. If there’s anyone who should be proud to be who they are, it’s you. Jazzercise is more than just a fitness class. It teaches you the moves, yes, but it also encourages you to embrace how fabulous you are. It’s not for everybody but if you give it a try, it may just be the next best thing. Chelsea Tirrell is a sophomore at Hofstra University. She’s passed her movement screening and is now in the next steps of becoming a Jazzercise instructor. She can’t wait to get her certification and be a part of the community.
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