Inspired by my friend Shannie_Mac...
thr33martins
Posts: 192 Member
So, Shannon posted the story about where she was in life when she first came to Jazzercise, and I thought it might be a fun topic for the rest of us! In my experience, there are a huge variety of reasons that people first decided to walk through those doors. For me, the beginning of the story is one of the biggest reasons that Jazzercise is still one of the most important things in my life.
When I was dating my (now) husband, we were in love at first sight, and we moved in together pretty quickly. Less than a year into our relationship, he was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma. I was a train wreck - I was given a two-week paid leave of absence from work (out of the goodness in their hearts), and spent my days sitting by his hospital bed as he went through a barrage of tests and biopsies. He was so drugged out half the time that I didn't want to miss any visits from doctors, nurses, etc. that might have some information for us - I just sat there all day by his bed and drank coffee. When they finally kicked me out, I would go home to where my mother had dropped off some dinner in my fridge, and often a bottle of wine, and sit in front of the TV, self-medicating with casseroles and merlot until I fell asleep, only to get up and repeat the whole thing again.
He was released, we were given our marching orders for chemo and follow-up visits, and I went back to work. So depressed, managed to gain almost 20 pounds in a month. When things started to fall into a routine, I decided I needed to get back into working out, and someone had recently asked me if I had ever done Jazzercise. So I called and left a message.
The woman who called me back was named Kim, and she was the owner of the center where I first went to class. She asked all the right questions and we were on the phone for nearly an hour, both of us crying by the end of the call. When I went in for my first class, I was hooked. I credit Jazzercise, and Kim, with pulling me out of one of the deepest holes I had ever fallen into. I have a background in dance, and even with all the extra weight, she was after me instantly to become an instructor. That didn't happen for a couple more years, and I certified in a different center, but through several moves (for my husband's job) and all kinds of change in our lives, Jazzercise has been one constant thing that has kept me sane, healthy, happy and constantly surrounded by friends.
Kim has since died of cancer, which I think is really ironic, but her spirit lives on in all of the lives she touched and made better - many of which connections were through Jazzercise.
To me, it is SO much more than just a workout. My husband (now 8 years in remission) calls it "The Cult," and in a way he is right... Wild horses couldn't tear me away. :smooched:
When I was dating my (now) husband, we were in love at first sight, and we moved in together pretty quickly. Less than a year into our relationship, he was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma. I was a train wreck - I was given a two-week paid leave of absence from work (out of the goodness in their hearts), and spent my days sitting by his hospital bed as he went through a barrage of tests and biopsies. He was so drugged out half the time that I didn't want to miss any visits from doctors, nurses, etc. that might have some information for us - I just sat there all day by his bed and drank coffee. When they finally kicked me out, I would go home to where my mother had dropped off some dinner in my fridge, and often a bottle of wine, and sit in front of the TV, self-medicating with casseroles and merlot until I fell asleep, only to get up and repeat the whole thing again.
He was released, we were given our marching orders for chemo and follow-up visits, and I went back to work. So depressed, managed to gain almost 20 pounds in a month. When things started to fall into a routine, I decided I needed to get back into working out, and someone had recently asked me if I had ever done Jazzercise. So I called and left a message.
The woman who called me back was named Kim, and she was the owner of the center where I first went to class. She asked all the right questions and we were on the phone for nearly an hour, both of us crying by the end of the call. When I went in for my first class, I was hooked. I credit Jazzercise, and Kim, with pulling me out of one of the deepest holes I had ever fallen into. I have a background in dance, and even with all the extra weight, she was after me instantly to become an instructor. That didn't happen for a couple more years, and I certified in a different center, but through several moves (for my husband's job) and all kinds of change in our lives, Jazzercise has been one constant thing that has kept me sane, healthy, happy and constantly surrounded by friends.
Kim has since died of cancer, which I think is really ironic, but her spirit lives on in all of the lives she touched and made better - many of which connections were through Jazzercise.
To me, it is SO much more than just a workout. My husband (now 8 years in remission) calls it "The Cult," and in a way he is right... Wild horses couldn't tear me away. :smooched:
0
Replies
-
WOW!! That is an amazing story and a HUGE inspiration!
Thank you so much for sharing that!0 -
WOW!! That is an amazing story and a HUGE inspiration!
Thank you so much for sharing that!
Now you!!
0
This discussion has been closed.