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A podiatrist diagnosed the problem asplantar fasciitis.
We tried cortisone shots, heel cups, stretching, pain pills.
Any relief was temporary.
…
I knew I had to find a new form of exercise.
My neighbor was always posting online aboutJazzercise, which Id dismissed as too retro.
I dont know what I was expecting.
Maybe leg warmers, a disco ball, and Barry Manilow on the sound system?
What I saw instead was an energetic class full of women ranging from their 20s to 80s(!
), dancing to Justin Bieber.
I had no idea what to wear or what shoes Id need, really no idea where to begin.
It had been years since Id been in a dance or fitness class of any kind.
I went to Lululemon, looked at the prices, then went to Target.
…
I started the next day.
Terms I hadnt heard since my elementary school days of tap and ballet class (plie!
brought back happy memories, and muscle memory soon kicked in.
I went almost every day for those two weeks and my foot didnt bother me.
That was more than three years ago, andJazzerciseis still a priority for me every day.
Here are six reasons that I now rely on this54-year-old fitness program.
you’ve got the option to jump and move as much or as little as you want to.
No two people in a Jazzercise class have the exact same workout.
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When the instructor shouts, Chasse right!
you cant be worried about your broken A/C; you will literally get run over by the other women.
You simply have to be in the moment.
The instructors remind us, This is your time, ladies!
Everything else can wait.
One day after class, a woman behind me commented that my back muscles were looking good.What?
(Seven pounds, here I come.)
Ive noticed this physical strength in other areas of my life, too.
I can squat easily now to change kitty litter.
I can touch my toes, balance on one leg, and zoom upstairs at home without panting.
My endurance increased
Some Jazzercise moves were familiar to me, like leg lifts and crunches.
But Id never done kickboxing, yoga, or Pilates before.
Different moves work different muscles, and there were days I could feel it all over.
I couldnt do it.
I phoned that one in.
I had built up my endurance, little by little.
Now I can keep up with my husband on our occasional hikes.
The older I get, the more I value female companionship.
People noticed Id been gone and welcomed me back.
This group of women provides a sense of community and camaraderie.
Thereve been days when an instructor will yell out, We got this!
or, you could do hard things!
and its just what I need to hear.
Many of us show up to class with a lot on our minds.
But once the music starts, everything else fades away.
And theres no judgment.
One woman had had enough one day and just sat down on the floor in the middle of class.
We made sure she was okayand then kept on dancing.
She needed a moment.
And we all understood.
Now that Ive found something I love to do, I do it consistently.
There are women in my class whove been doing it for 40 years.
I miss dancing, she said.
I get to go to a dance party every day.
Want to get your own groove on?
…
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