Jazzercise News Releases

Finding the Motivation to Exercise: It's Not in Your Wallet

Group Fitness Provides Inspiration for Jazzercise Participants

(CARLSBAD, CA – April 22, 2003) — Americans should be careful not to mistake their financial commitment to fitness as sufficient motivation to exercise, warns Jazzercise founder and CEO Judi Sheppard Missett. She says that without lifestyle and behavioral changes to back it up, the surge of American spending on home exercise equipment and health club memberships only represents more money spent, not improved health.

According to the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA), sales in home exercise equipment more than doubled during the past 10 years, a decade during which health club memberships also saw a 63 percent increase. A closer look reveals that the number of people who exercise more than twice a week has remained stagnant during this time, despite the increased sales. SGMA reports that fitness equipment goes unused in nearly one-fifth of equipment-owning households, and the annual health club turnover rates hover around 30 to 40 percent.

Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), however, indicate that in spite of the increased spending in equipment, the American waistline continues to expand. An estimated 64 percent of adults are either overweight or obese, and it's a number that grows consistently every year.

"Since the 1960s we've become increasingly aware of the need to exercise," Missett says, "but that awareness doesn't always translate into behavior. We all have good intentions, and invest in tools we think will improve our health, but in my 34 years advancing healthy lifestyle, diet and exercise principles, I've found that it takes more than just a financial commitment for most people to start exercising. Though purchasing fitness equipment or a club membership is a good step toward fitness, they will only be as effective as they are motivating."

Motivation Through Community
Representative of the group-format exercise industry, Jazzercise, the world's most popular dance fitness program, enjoyed its best year ever in 2002 and is seeing that growth carry into 2003. This trend suggests that people may be finding their motivation to exercise in the inherent accountability group classes like Jazzercise provide. As people become intimidated by health club machines or lose interest in their personal equipment, they find inspiration in other people striving for the same goals. According to Missett, this community support combined with a fun and effective program is a great way to motivate people to take active steps toward better health.

For Jazzercise, building supportive exercise communities has been particularly successful in helping students maintain healthy lifestyles. The company has preserved its roots in American communities by holding classes in churches, community centers and schools with instructors that project a realistic image of fitness. Most Jazzercise instructors began as participants themselves, helping them relate to the class and create a supportive atmosphere.

Patsy Houston, a nine-year Jazzercise veteran from Charlotte, N.C., is a long-time beneficiary of that atmosphere. She says Jazzercise's supportive atmosphere has been essential to keeping her inspired.

"This is the only program where I actually made friends and the instructor took a genuine interest in getting to know me," Houston says. "At Jazzercise, they want you to come to class. Other programs will take your money forever and never know if you've even been to class."

Manitowoc, Wis., student Rita Janda agrees. With 15 years under her belt, Janda credits her instructor with motivating her to adopt a healthy lifestyle. "She is a best friend who really cares about our total being. We truly are one big happy family when we are in class."

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Jazzercise, created by Judi Sheppard Missett, is the world's leading dance-fitness program with more than 6,800 instructors teaching 30,000 classes weekly in the U.S. and around the globe. Since 1969, millions of people of all ages and fitness levels have reaped the benefits of this comprehensive program, designed to enhance cardiovascular endurance, strength, and flexibility. For more information, go to jazzercise.com or call (800)FIT-IS-IT.