Pretty fucked up that jazzercise doesn't have any Miles Davis or John Coltrane.

Excellent! I work with Andy at Dance with Joy Studios & we have a stellar crew If I do say so myself & if you actually look into it - there are many, many articles about Zumba Fitness being an amazing cardiovascular & interval workout comparable to jogging - I've met so many inspiring people that have lost hundreds of pounds doing just Zumba! Amazing! Thanks for coming to our studio & shaking it with Andy!

I was a long time Jazzercise student and I recently became an instructor so I guess I am a little biased.:) I did take one Zumba class and while I thought the dance routines were fun and similar to Jazzercise, it didn't seem as challenging and I missed the strength training aspect. I am a big proponent of just getting out there and moving, so if Zumba is what does it for ya, great! But, don't let the stereotype of Jazzercise stop you from checking it out. The author of this article did a great job of explaining what a class is like. It's fresh in both it's music and fitness trends. There are no mirrors in most facilities. The people are welcoming and there is no judging. All fitness levels can experience a challenging, yet incredibly fun workout. It's the only one I have been able stick with...almost 20 years and still going strong!

I have to work extra hard to get a workout at Jazzercise and they do the same songs (or at least one instructor does) so I'm usually bored out of my mind after a class or two. Zumba keeps my heart rate up the whole hour which means I probably burn more calories. I can do weight training in my other classes.

I am a certified Jazzercise instructor and have been for over 5 years. Jazzercise is a program that has been around through the years and continuously improves their image and products. All if their instructors have to certified, take written physiology exams, are CPR certified and are yearly monitored to ensure that all instructors lead a safe and effective class. It has been proven that over the years, Zumba can be damaging to the knees and with their instructors not properly trained or required to follow a well choreographed routines, it makes this all more possible. Jazzercise brings new routines with the most current music (about 150 new routines per year). So if you have ever taken a bad class , try a new instructor!!

I think both are great cardio but Jazzercise is a better over all workout because of the strength resistance training and stretching. That being said with either you get out of it what you put into it

Jazzercise routines are challenging and fun. I am in the best shape of my life. My muscles and bones are stronger, my posture is better, I'm stronger. The instructors demonstrate the correct positions to achieve the maximum benefit from every move from every routine. I crave the workout and challenge myself to do better every time. I am 70 and look and feel better than I have in earlier years.

I tried a Zumba class, and afterwards went right back to my Jazzercise class. I started Jazzercise in my 30's and 25 years later I am still in great shape because of it. Jazzercise is the only 1 hour "total body" workout. Not to bash Zumba--it is a good one hour dance aerobic work-out. Jazzercise incorporates weights, bands--balls and floor exercise, to work the problem areas in the last 20 minutes of class, to keep us strong and balanced. It's also a great way to make new friends.