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Exercise Devotees Jazzed Up

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By JESSICA BAIR, The Suncoast News

Published: December 27, 2007

NEW PORT RICHEY - The women of Jazzercise have a head start on folks who'll soon be resolving to shed their excess weight.

Instructor Suzanne Carlson and her followers in fitness moved in March to a Port Richey studio while New Port Richey's $14.1 million recreation and aquatics center was being built to replace the old complex.

Now the Jazzercise group is back home on Van Buren Street, doing high-energy workouts that combine elements of aerobics, yoga, Pilates and kickboxing with dance routines.

The regimen created in 1969 by professional dancer Judi Sheppard Missett has grown into a franchise business with 5,800 instructors teaching weekly classes in the United States and more than 30 countries.

"This ain't your grandmother's exercise class," said Carlson, who has taught Jazzercise for 13 years.

"I'm 54, but I feel like I'm 22," said Aida Pera, who has been taking the classes for two years. "It's a fabulous class and really nice facility."

Anyone who is moderately fit can do Jazzercise, said Carlson, whose interest in the program was piqued when a friend brought her to a class.

"I needed to do something that was fun and that I would stick to," she said. "Sometimes it's intimidating to walk into a gym with all that equipment."

Her exercise routine used to consist of running on the treadmill, then hitting the steam room and sauna.

"But going to the gym and working out are two different things," Carlson said.

Now she's committed to helping reverse the statistic that, according to Trust for America's Health, 60 percent of the country's population is overweight or obese.
Jazzercise is designed to enhance cardiovascular endurance, strength and flexibility while improving overall wellness.

Hourlong sessions are at 6:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, 5 p.m. Fridays and 9:30 a.m. Saturdays at the recreation and aquatics center, 6630 Van Buren St.

For details, contact Carlson at (727) 560-2383 or (727) 841-4560; e-mail her at keepjazzin@msn.com; or go online to www.keepjazzin .com.

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