JUST SAY YES
Just Say Yes.
It’s so easy – and also essential in this ongoing pandemic – to just keep saying yes to Jazzercise! Like in “Love Story”, one of our favourite new cardio routines, written by Taylor Swift and sung by Disco Lines & Cassidi: “It’s a love story, baby just say yes.”
It’s a love story for our bodies, brains and troubled psyches. And with 23 classes available per week via livestream and Zoom, there are many times throughout the day in which to get your Jazzercise fix from the comfort and safety of your own home.
What would we do without it, huh? Says Nuvance Health, a not-for-profit health system in New York state: “Public health officials say that exercise – while undoubtedly crucial under normal circumstances – is essential to your physical health and mental well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
In times of crises – and who among us hasn’t felt the weight of multiple chaotic world events, including the recent violent insurrection of the US Capitol? – we feel our lives spinning out of control. But when we pull away from the news cycle and assess, we know that all we really have control over is our response. And, as long as exercise is an almost daily tool in our response kit bag? We will survive!
Here are some of the ways Jazzercise positively impacts your life right now:
- boosts the immune system to help your body fight off infections, including COVID-19
- may prevent weight gain which might be influenced, somewhat, ahem, by the extra hours at home spent snacking, “stress baking” (anyone?), or preparing high-calorie, comfort-food meals
- reduces stress and anxiety and can help build emotional resilience
- improves sleep which comes back around to boosting the immune system
And, of course, we all know that aside from boosting energy and giving us an overall feeling of well-being, our Jazzercise workout improves balance, flexibility, strength, mobility, and cardiovascular health.
Also? Keep in mind that during tumultuous times, while our natural human reaction is to want to run around and “fix” everything out there, the best thing we can really do for the world is nurture what’s in here. Self-care, right?
Perhaps consider adding meditation to your practice, to give yourself “space” to observe emotions. While many winter sports are shuttered at the moment, walking is almost always a good available option and can provide a pleasant lift in spirits.
I know we miss seeing each other in person with our funky masks covering up the best part or ourselves – our smiles! But at least meeting once a day on Zoom, smiling and without masks, gives us that much needed social interaction we’re craving.
We’ve discovered that enduring a pandemic has many negative aspects: social distancing, lockdowns, economic concerns, mask-wearing, raw hands from constant washing, fear of catching a virus that has confusing traits and is mutating.
But we’ve discovered a pretty sweet positive aspect: Jazzercise! The new tunes and routines keep on coming. So, since we’re just hanging around the house anyway? We might as well keep throwing on the spandex, tying up the workout shoes and heading to our devices for another fun workout.
