Latest news with #Jazzercise
New York Post
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Jazzercise is making a comeback with Gen Z and Millennials
Jazzercise: It is your mother's workout. At least that was the case for Madison Farfan, 25. Growing up in the San Diego area, where Jazzercise is headquartered, Farfan's mom occasionally Jazzercised while Farfan pursued competitive dance. To Farfan's mind, the two were out of sync. So when a coworker — who happened to be a Jazzercise instructor — pushed Farfan to join a class, she scoffed. Advertisement 'I had that preconceived notion: Jazzercise is not for people my age,' she told The Post. Rather, the stereotype goes, it's for grannies with unitards and leg warmers, hip replacements and Motown records. 11 If you haven't thought about Jazzercise since the '80s or '90s, it might look quite a bit different than you'd expect. Jazzercise, Inc. 11 The dancing workout tends to bring to mind leotards, leg warmers and big hair — but things have changed. master1305 – But after enduring a few months of the colleagues' insistence, Farfan, an HR professional for a construction company in San Marcos, caved. Her first class was led by Skyla Nelson — the impossibly shredded, infectiously peppy, Gen-Z granddaughter of Jazzercise founder Judi Sheppard Missett. Advertisement Wearing a monochrome set and slick bun, Nelson, 22, blasted the likes of Charli XCX and Sabrina Carpenter, leading the mixed-gen class through Jazzercise's proprietary heart-pumping choreography. 'Double lunge, right left! Right leg, ball change! Double jump, left side!' Nelson hollered between 'woos!' and swigs from her Jazzercise-branded Stanley. Farfan was 'blown away,' she said. 'Everything that I had in my mind about what type of workout it was, who takes the workout, who teaches the workout, the music that's used — totally out the window.' Advertisement Now, about a year and a half later, she said, 'I'm addicted. That's just the simplest way to put it.' 11 Women of all ages join workouts, like this one in Astoria — and there are plenty of millennials and Gen Z. Kim Max Aging gracefully Sheppard Missett, now 81 and a dancing advertisement for Jazzercise doing the body good, launched the company in 1969 after discovering why her adult dance students weren't coming back: The women — mostly moms in their 20s like her — weren't aspiring to be professional dancers like Sheppard Missett; they just wanted to look like one. 'That was kind of my aha moment,' Sheppard Missett said. She turned the ladies away from the mirror and exacting technique — and towards the good music and fun. 'And boy, it just went crazy.' Advertisement 'I've never once had to explain that Jazzercise is not what it was in the 80s to someone my age. We just know Jazzercise as our favorite fitness program — period.' Skyla Nelson Since then, Jazzercise has grown into a global phenomenon with 8,500 franchises across 25 countries that tap out fresh routines five times a year. There are classes that aim to build strength, and others that punch back at perimenopause. There's an on-demand platform for streaming at-home workouts, and new sleep programming and nutrition support add-ons. The company frequently revamps its line of apparel and posts its playlists to Spotify. 11 Jazzercise has 8,500 franchises across 25 countries. There are classes that aim to build strength, and others that punch back at perimenopause. They're even on TikTok. Jazzercise, Inc. 11 Madison Farfan, 25, (left) didn't think Jazzercise was for people her age — after all, her mom did it. Then she got hooked. Courtesy of Madison Farfan Jazzercise is even on TikTok. 'A lot of the time, I'll have older members or older instructors ask, 'How is it telling younger people that Jazzercise isn't leg warmers and leotards anymore?'' Nelson said. 'And my response is, 'I've never once had to explain that Jazzercise is not what it was in the '80s to someone my age. We just know Jazzercise as our favorite fitness program — period.'' Advertisement Not that Gen Z has step-kicked boomers to the curb. 'What's really amazing is that many of those early customers stayed with the program, even as new generations continued to join in,' said CEO and chief choreographer Shanna Missett Nelson, who's the founder's daughter and the instructor's mom. 11 'We've done a great job in being able to continue doing what we do, but improve it as we went along,' founder Sheppard Missett (not pictured) said. Kim Max 11 Sheppard Missett (not pictured), now 81, launched the company in 1969. Kim Max While Missett Nelson doesn't know the age breakdown of Jazzercisers nationwide, she said the ages of the flagship studio's instructors likely paint a representative picture: Nine, including her daughter, are in their 20s; 10 are in their 30s; 13 are in their 40s; seven are in their 50s; three are in their 60s. Advertisement One — her mom — is in her 80s. 'We've done a great job in being able to continue doing what we do, but improve it as we went along,' founder Sheppard Missett said. 11 'In the competitive dance world, you show up at a dance competition, you've got the dance instructors looking at you funky and it's … not very nurturing,' said Farfan (not pictured). 'Jazzercise is the complete opposite.' Jazzercise, Inc. No judgment, just fitness Michael Stack, an exercise physiologist in Michigan and president of the Physical Activity Alliance, has a few theories as to why Jazzercise's appeal is age-blind: It's social in a time when IRL connections — and especially intergenerational ones — are scarce. Advertisement It's judgment-free in an era where even a side part can earn you a side eye. And it's noncompetitive in a fitness culture where gym rats battle over the number of REM cycles in their sleep and supplements in their smoothies. 'Gen Z in particular may be less about those highly competitive metrics, and more about that sense of belonging and enjoyment and joy,' Stack said. 'Your metric of success at Jazzercise is: Did you breathe heavy? Did you sweat? And did you dance with your friends?' 11 Jazzercise founder Judi Sheppard Missett (right); her daughter, CEO and chief choreographer Shanna Missett Nelson (left); Shanna's daughter Skyla Nelson, who is an instructor. Paul Smith Photography 11 The women who join love the noncompetitive nature in today's intense fitness culture. Kim Max 11 Many also get a sense of community and are friends with their classmates. Kim Max Advertisement For Farfan, the answer is yes, yes and yes. It's a welcome change, she's found, from the high-pressure pipeline she pursued growing up. Maybe her mom was onto something after all. 'In the competitive dance world, you show up at a dance competition, you've got the dance instructors looking at you funky and it's … not very nurturing,' said Farfan, who attends live classes almost every day after work. 'Jazzercise is the complete opposite, so it's very refreshing.' Across the country at a recent Jazzercise class in Astoria, a millennial named Elizabeth Laberge shared a similar sentiment. She'd taken ballet for years as a kid but let the interest — and structured exercise as a whole — fade as life and motherhood took center stage. Then, about a year ago, Quinn McClure, the 38-year-old Astoria instructor and studio manager, invited her to class. The women's daughters were best friends, and Laberge obliged 'to be a friend' to McClure, too. She's been a regular ever since. 'What's the name of that song? I think it's by Pink,' Laberge asked the handful of other women — ages 35 to 60 — lingering after the Sunday morning class. Some had been to each others' baby showers, birthday parties and at least one bachelorette. Suddenly, unexpected tears welled in Laberge's eyes. 'I took so long of a break from dancing,' she said. 'I've been through a lot in my life, like a lot of trauma, and so coming here and just dancing, smiling, laughing is really …' Her classmate interjected. She remembered the name of the song: 'Never gonna not dance again.'
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
This New Jazzercise Workout Melts Menopause Weight—Here's How!
Are workouts just not working for you anymore? One big reason may be the loss of estrogen that comes with age, and how it makes the body resist fat burning. So to answer the question, 'How can I lose weight in menopause?' we turned to Jazzercise. The timeless fitness brand, which turned 56 this year, has grown with its users and is having a bit of a menopause moment right now. Its newest program targets middle-aged weight in three powerful, research-proven ways. Here, how to use Jazzercise to lose weight in perimenopause and beyond. The inspiration behind Jazzercise's new menopause workout Jazzercise was founded in 1969 by Judi Sheppard Missett, who still teaches weekly classes today at the age of 81! But it was Judi's daughter, Shanna Missett Nelson, CEO and Chief Choreographer at Jazzercise, who used her own menopausal experience to inspire a new way of working out. A few years ago, Nelson felt bombarded with her own menopausal symptoms like anxiety and hair loss. 'Then I had body composition changes that I could not rectify and fatigue that was not normal.' So Nelson started looking for answers. She learned, during menopause, the body no longer responds to exercise the same way it did in youth. She realized, 'Once you understand these changes, you can work with your body, not against it.' The result of her research is Jazzercise's new Vital Sculpt HIIT program. How age makes weight loss harder What Nelson was experiencing is backed by science. Studies show that the drop of estrogen during the peri/menopause years can lead the body to partially 'resist' the fat burning effects of exercise, explains Melina Jampolis, MD. 'The good news is that exercise itself can reverse many of these changes, but you may have to do things a little differently.' That means changing up your movements, even if you've been an avid exerciser your whole life, and especially if you were solely a 'cardio queen' as Dr. Jampolis hints. Research, including work conducted by world-renowned exercise physiologist Stacy Sims, PhD, reveals there are three key exercises that work best for menopausal women looking to burn fat and promote longevity. And all three moves are showcased in the new Jazzercise program. 3 keys to an effective menopausal workout Here, the three Jazzercise moves that are crucial to shedding menopausal weight and symptoms. 1. Jump training Jumping—especially not in place but rather forward, backward and side-to-side—after age 40 improves balance and bone density. So alternate jumping with both feet to the right and then left for 30 seconds, taking a break and then repeating. Since dance is at the center of all Jazzercise classes, keep moving to music you love while you work out. Why it works: Nelson explains, 'Estrogen activates our muscle cells when working out. But to get your body to react post-estrogen loss, you have to do something to stimulate your central nervous system, and it needs to be somewhat shocking to your system, like jumping.' This movement also helps bones reknit together. 'Jumping has been proven to prevent and even eradicate osteoporosis.' 2. Weight training Dr. Jampolis says, 'If you don't lift weights already, you should start. And if you do lift weights, you may need to increase the number of sets or the amount of weight to get the same benefit.' Try using hand weights that are 2 to 4 pounds heavier than you usually use during workouts to gently stress the system and build muscle. Try arm presses, bicep curls or tricep kickbacks for the length of one upbeat song. 'Once again, you need to stimulate your central nervous system differently to get your muscle fibers to react the way they did when you had estrogen readily available,' Nelson explains. 'Lifting heavier weights can do that for you. It should be a little challenge. The goal is to build more muscle mass, which is key for strength, balance, stability and metabolic health.' Indeed, the more muscle we have, the faster our metabolism tends to burn calories. Postmenopausal women who lifted heavier weights for more reps had 44 percenrt more muscle growth than those lifting lower weights for fewer reps, finds 2024 research in the Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics. 3. Sprint interval training 'Lastly, add HIIT: high-intensity interval training,' says Dr. Jampolis. 'Many of my patients entering menopause start to back off on intensity as they age but this is the opposite of what you should do as HIIT training is even more effective than sustained endurance exercise for reducing belly fat.' One 16-week study in postmenopausal women found that HIIT training doubled weight loss compared to endurance training. Bonus: Intervals at this age are best if they incorporate functional movements that promote stability, flexibility and mobility to support independent living. For example, practice getting down on the floor and climbing back to your feet, or reaching up to the ceiling and squatting low in an invisible chair, repeating for thirty seconds before taking a break. These quick moves engage our legs, core and hips, which are important muscle groups needed to burn fat, build strength and even preserve cognitive decline as we age. Jampolis says, 'I recommend HIIT training twice a week.' Health and weight-loss results from this Jazzercise approach Using a combination of these three moves is resulting in endless health success stories. One Jazzercise member reports, 'This helped me lose 65 pounds, get stronger and remain flexible. I have severe arthritis, and it helps me with my joints. The more weight I lose the better it gets for me.' Another online Jazzercise member shares, 'I couldn't believe that my body was starting to change. In nine months, I am 32 pounds lighter. I have more energy now than I did in the last 25 years. I am no longer a type 2 diabetic. I am so happy!' And Nelson says, 'One of our members who is 70, and participating in Vital Sculpt HIIT, went for her body scan and received news her osteoporosis is gone!' Nelson herself reveals she got the results she was looking for. 'My body has responded so well to this class. I feel stronger than ever. My body composition shifted and I have more muscle and definition in my arms!' The encouragement to jumpstart your weight loss Incorporating these three Jazzercise moves into your routine may be the change your body needs to release extra weight. Nelson says, 'Don't get discouraged. Get curious. Get creative!' She explains, 'When what I was doing wasn't getting me the results I was used to, I decided to figure out what I could do a little differently.' She adds, 'I want women to know they can increase stamina, they can build and maintain muscle and gain definition in their body.' Try this Jazzercise weight-loss program for yourself for FREE Visit to find a fitness studio in your area. Or try 'Jazzercise On Demand' in the comfort of your own home. Use code: WOMENSWORLD to get one month free of workouts or nutritional support. Keep scrolling for more... 'I Don't Believe in the Word Diet': Bethenny Frankel Opens up about Her Fitness Journey (EXCLUSIVE) Contrave for Weight Loss Works Nearly as Well as Ozempic—for a Fraction of the Price Menopause and Midlife Wellness: Prioritize Women's Health This May With These Finds
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Peoria's Walk MS 2025: Join the fight for a cure
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — More than 500 people are expected to walk and rally to change the world for people living with Multiple Sclerosis as part of the Walk MS 2025 – Peoria this weekend. The event, aimed at raising money and bringing the world closer to a cure, takes place Saturday, May 17, on the Peoria Riverfront. Brian Gorsich, the MS Community Chair, and Tony Hnilicka from the MS Community Council, were on WMBD This Morning talking about the walk. 'The Jazzercise dancers will warm us all up before the walk, we'll have a Dee Jay pumping out the music, Caleb Kelch from Birds of Paradise Sound,' Gorisch said. Hnilicka will be the host MC for the event. Gorsich says the year's 'fundraising goal is one hundred one thousand dollars, and we are knocking on the door.' He continued, 'the mission of the national MS Society is to find a cure for Multiple Sclerosis, and then, with the funds raised, we provide programs, support, and services here in central Illinois.' Click here for more information or to register for Walk MS 2025 – Peoria. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Associated Press
07-05-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Jazzercise Deepens Its Commitment to Holistic Wellness, Launches New Sleep Series
Developed by Jazzercise experts and alumni, this series links restorative sleep to fitness, empowering women to stay energized, grounded, and resilient 'The Sleep Series is a natural evolution of our wellness philosophy—because true health isn't just about movement, it's about how we rest, reset, and rebuild' — Shanna Missett Nelson, Jazzercise CEO and Chief Choreographer CARLSBAD, CA, UNITED STATES, May 7, 2025 / / -- Jazzercise , the dance fitness leader company, is expanding its commitment to total-body wellness with the launch of the Sleep Series , a new multi-part video and audio program designed to support deeper rest, smarter recovery, and better overall health. 'As women continue to prioritize their fitness, it's essential we support them in recovery too,' says Shanna Missett Nelson, Jazzercise CEO and Chief Choreographer. 'The Sleep Series is a natural evolution of our wellness philosophy—because true health isn't just about movement, it's about how we rest, reset, and rebuild.' Presented by Jazzercise wellness experts Toni Pitruzzello—a Reiki Master Teacher and Clinical Hypnotist—and Emily Newlands—Pilates instructor and Master of Science in Nutrition and Integrative Health—the Sleep Series is available exclusively on Jazzercise On Demand. The program offers a curated mix of calming guided stretches, breathwork sessions, and sleep science workshops, all designed to help the body and mind transition into high-quality rest. Key Benefits include: Physical Benefits: • Wake up energized • Improve workout recovery • Support metabolism & hormone regulation • Boost immunity Mental & Emotional Benefits: • Enhance memory and learning • Increase resilience and emotional regulation • Support a shift from stress to calm via the nervous system (from sympathetic to parasympathetic) • Foster feelings of safety and groundedness To celebrate the launch, Jazzercise will host a free livestream event on May 7, 2025, at 12 PM PT via its official Instagram channel, @jazzercise . The 20-minute session includes: • A 10-minute calming stretch led by Emily • A 10-minute breathwork session led by Toni Participants only need a yoga mat or towel to join from anywhere. The full Sleep Series will be available for purchase starting May 7, 2025, at and on the Jazzercise On Demand app. Valentina Cortes Acuna Bright Red Agency +1 912-419-6906 email us here Visit us on social media: Instagram Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Your Stories Q&A: After years of no construction, is Pizza Hut still returning to Cortland?
CORTLANDVILLE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — You ask, we answer! An update to a story we first brought you more than two years ago on Pizza Hut returning to Cortland. In 2022, the Town of Cortlandville approved a plan for Pizza Hut to move into the former Jazzercise building on Groton Ave. Viewers have been emailing the Your Stories Team wondering why construction hasn't started. Has Pizza Hut changed its mind? Town officials told us they're not sure where the project stands but have not been told by Pizza Hut that it won't move forward. Once the project gets approval from the town, it's out of their hands. The town did add that there's currently no active construction permit on file. One would need to be obtained for construction to begin. The YS Team reached out to Pizza Hut's media relations for an update, but we have yet to hear back. According to planning documents that were approved years ago, the plan for the new Pizza Hut was to be pickup only, no seating or dine-in option would be available. If it does end up being built, this will be a return to Cortland for the chain. Many people who live in the area have fond memories of dining at the former Pizza Hut located off Tompkins Street, near the Crown City Cinema. We'll keep you posted! Submit a form. Your Stories Q&A: After years of no construction, is Pizza Hut still returning to Cortland? Your Stories Q&A: When is CopperTop Tavern opening its new location in DeWitt? Your Stories: Change is coming to a 'dangerous' intersection in Clay Your Stories Q&A: Firehouse Subs closes another location in Central New York Your Stories Q&A: When will the new Joey's restaurant open in DeWitt? Your Stories Q&A: Why do I pay a county water tax when I'm not an OCWA customer? Your Stories Q&A: Can businesses refuse to take $100 bills? Your Stories Q&A: What's the latest on Manlius getting an upscale Taco Bell? Your Stories Q&A: When will construction begin on broken Hanover Square fountain? Your Stories Q&A: New plans for The Inn Between Restaurant in Camillus Your Stories Q&A: New restaurant to open in closed Daniel's Grill in Marcellus Your Stories Q&A: A new hotel proposed to be built on former Clay Golfers Dome site Your Stories Q&A: How do school districts decide when to take a snow day? Your Stories Q&A: Closed Cicero Rite Aid to become Ace Hardware Your Stories Q&A: Pickleball center to open this week in former DeWitt Sky Zone location Your Stories Q&A: Former DeWitt Friendly's demolished to make way for popular burger chain Humana members and Medicare changes: What you need to know about St. Joseph's health coverage after Excellus deal Your Stories Q&A: Whose job is it to fix the large potholes on what appears to be a forgotten stretch of road? Your Stories Q&A: Cannabis dispensary moving into old gas station in Chittenango Your Stories Q&A: Hotel slated to be built behind the closed Outback Steakhouse in Clay Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
