Health TipsFitness & Health News
So You Think You Have Willpower
Willpower. It’s that ability to deny yourself a slice of homemade apple pie or a new pair of Lucky jeans that you really don’t need. It’s also that drive that forces you to crawl out of bed in the wee hours of the morning to attend your workout class. According to experts at Northwestern University , most of us greatly overestimate our willpower.
Research shows that our brains actually have a limit for self-regulation. Believe it or not, exerting self control in any particular circumstance actually decreases the amount of blood sugar in your brain, which then lowers your ability for additional self control in other areas. Read entire article
Getting Started
Whether you're new to Jazzercise (First Timer Tips - PDF 24 KB) or are a long-time participant looking to refesh your memory on proper technique, click on Learn the Moves.
Why do I need to warm up and cool down?
To prevent injuring your body. Warming up increases the body temperature and is the best time to stretch your muscles. Cooling down removes lactic acid (which can causes soreness) and other by-products from your muscles.
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Warming Up
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Cooling Down
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| Warms up muscles and joints |
Prevents stiffness and pain |
| Decreases stress on the heart by:
- lowering blood pressure
- increasing blood flow to the heart |
Reduces stress on the heart by:
- lowering levels of adrenaline
- lowering the heart rate |
Read more and get the facts: Warm Up and Cool Down (PDF file 36 KB)
Overall Fitness
Most fitness professionals agree that cardiovascular endurance, muscle strength and endurance, flexibility and body composition are the essential components to health-related fitness. Let's see how Jazzercise measures up to the guidlines set for by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).
| ACTIVITY |
ACSM GUIDELINES
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JAZZERCISE
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| Type of activity |
Any activity that uses large muscle groups, can be maintained continuously, and is rhythmical and aerobic in nature.
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Jazzercise is an aerobic program.
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| Frequency of Aerobic Activity |
3-5 days per week.
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Many areas provide Jazzercise classes on a daily basis.
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| Intensity of Aerobic Activity |
Intensity of aerobic activity: 60-90% of maximum heart rate.
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Jazzercise routines are choreographed to get your heart pumping in the “training zone.” Recent, in-house research studies indicate that students, regardless of fitness level, have little problem maintaining 60-90% of maximum heart rate throughout the aerobic segment.
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| Duration of Aerobic Activity |
Duration of aerobic activity: 20-60 minutes of continuous or discontinuous activity.
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Jazzercise provides a minimum of 25 minutes of aerobic conditioning (up to 45 minutes in some formats).
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| Resistance Training |
Resistance training: A minimum of 8-10 separate exercises that train the major muscle groups, a minimum of two days per week, to a position of mild discomfort.
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Jazzercise provides calisthenic-type and weight resisted exercises which work the major muscles of the body, i.e., abdominals, gluteals, quadriceps, hamstrings, chest, arms, back and shoulders.
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| Flexibility Exercises |
Flexibility exercises: At least 3 days per week, to a position of mild discomfort, 10-30 seconds for each stretch, 3-5 repetitions.
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Dynamic stretching movements are provided during warm-up and cool-down routines. Static stretching exercises are provided during stretch routines and after muscle strengthening routines.
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Learn more how Jazzercise Measures Up Under ACSM Guidelines (PDF file 31 KB)
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