Jazzercise Lite class just wouldn't die

Women at the Wa-Ke Hatchee Recreational Center in south Fort Myers are changing their lives one Jazzercise Lite class at a time.

The recreational center recently added the low-impact workout class to its list of programming and area women are thrilled.

"It's great because by doing this we can enjoy our wine," said Patty Asci, 65, of Estero.

She is just one of 30 women who attend Jazzercise lite classes regularly at the center. The class is open to men as well.

"For me machines aren't fun (whereas) here you just keep moving," said Deborah Colbert, 53, of south Fort Myers. She is a tap dancer and uses the class to keep fit. "I'm the same size I was when I was 17 years old."

The Jazzercise lite class keeps women fit by packing moderate aerobics, dance and exercise into a 60-minute routine done to modern music.

"The Jazzercise philosophy has always been that exercise is for everyone - and by using effective exercise, jazz dance and popular music - we continually strive to make it fun for participants, too," said Debbie McGarry,the jazzercise lite instructor at the center.

Vera Ifka, 47, feels the difference after every class.

"I feel better now than I did when I started 10 years ago," said Ifka, of south Fort Myers.

McGarry became Jazzercise certified 20 years ago and first began teaching at the defunct Fort Myers Athletic Club. She then moved into her own studio until economics made the upkeep difficult. She wanted to retire.

"I didn't count on them not letting me retire ... the class was just going to dissolve," said McGarry, referring to her students, who banded together and found a new location for the class. "They wouldn't let me die ... they wanted me to teach in their garages if necessary."

But the necessity for the women to work out was more than just a fitness issue. They had formed strong bonds with fellow classmates and enjoyed spending time in and outside of Jazzercise.

"People here are nice and they make you feel comfortable," said Asci, who has taken the class with McGarry for three years. "We made new friendships and we didn't want to lose that."

That's when they contacted the Lee County Parks & Recreation department and asked for their help.

"I thought I was done until I got a call one day and here we are," McGarry said.

The location was ideal because the new space can hold three times the amount of students as her studio.

"We've got this great room that is huge and more and more people keep coming," said Anne Ramsey, of south Fort Myers.

"It's because of her."

McGarry, though, is very modest about the complements she gets from students.

"They are much too nice to me," McGarry said. "I don't think it's me so much as everything they get out of it."

Jazzercise Lite offers students many benefits no matter their age or health.

"This blends kickboxing, yoga, jazz, dance and pilates ... in one class you get everything," McGarry said. "We don't have room for boredom because we change the program every week."

Jazzercise Lite is also not the program of the past in which people listen to '80s pop and spend 60 minutes jumping around.

"If you can go shopping and walk, you can come in here and Jazzercise," McGarry said. "The program has changed but peoples perception hasn't."

At least until they take a class.

"I thought it was all dancing until I came. The difference is that she teaches you all the moves and makes sure you do them right," said Dawn Ciers, 52, of south Fort Myers who has taken the class for four months. "My blood pressure is better. I lost inches and my muscle mass is better by about 3 percent."

The class seems to improve everyone's quality of life.

"Some mornings I wake up and I don't want to work out ...," Ramsey said. "Then you go and when you're done, you feel great."