Nancy Brady has been leading Jazzercise classes for three decades, 23 years at the Dana Point Harbor
By Catherine Manso and Andrea Swayne
Jazzercise Inc. franchisee, Nancy Brady, is celebrating 30 years of leading thousands of the aerobic dance classes that combine moves from dance, strength training, yoga, Pilates and kickboxing into total-body workouts set to the latest tunes.
Brady began teaching the classes in 1984 while she was a student at UC Santa Barbara, but for the past 23 years, has led students at the Dana Point Harbor-located OC Sailing & Events Center. Brady said the routines have changed over time to provide new and exciting experiences for attendees. In addition to regular Jazzercise classes, she now also offers Core, Strike, Fusion and Strength 60 classes.
“It’s not your mother’s fitness program,” Brady said. “We wouldn’t have lasted this long without constantly evolving. It’s not the same leotards and legwarmers of the ’80s. It’s a real workout, challenging but also fun.”
Brady’s business has since grown to service over 140 clients. She also leads a staff of three certified instructors and more than a dozen volunteers who help with registration and welcoming new customers, helping them to feel more comfortable starting out.
Brady’s daughter Chelsea is one of her biggest fans and when visiting from college is often among the students of all ages taking her mom’s classes.
“It’s a hard workout and most people don’t know that,” Chelsea said. “I like that I can get all my cardio in, along with strength training in just one hour. And my mom kind of rocks—just saying.”
Brady’s regular students agree.
Jeny Makofske, a 15-year attendee, said she loves the music, dancing and friends that come along with taking Brady’s classes. Another student, Meridee Thurman credits the classes with helping her to lose 70 pounds.
“It helped me lose all the baby weight after having two kids,” Thurman said.
Ever ready to share with others the joy Jazzercise has brought to her, Brady encourages her students to not only excel in their workouts and fitness goals but also to consider becoming instructors themselves.
It’s an experience that has allowed Brady to travel the world teaching. Next month she will be visiting Hiroshima, Japan to participate and teach at a Jazzercise LIVE event.
Classes are held Monday through Friday at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. and on Saturday at 8:15 a.m. Brady regularly instructs the 9 a.m. class on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, as well as the Saturday class.
In celebration of her anniversary, Brady is offering one month of classes for $30 for new and returning customers.
Brady’s Jazzercise classes are located at the OC Sailing & Event Center, 34451 Ensenada Place, Dana Point.
To find out more, see www.jazzercise.com, call 949.492.7817 or send Brady an email at nbjazzercise@cox.net.
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