Jazzercise Raleigh Fitness Center, Raleigh

Though many a dance-fitness fad has come and gone in recent years, Jazzercise's popularity has never wavered. As the first contender in a now-booming industry, the revolutionary fitness regimen was founded in 1969 by dancer Judi Sheppard Missett. She repurposed her love of jazz dance into a global phenomenon, and today the Jazzercise program spans 32 countries and roughly 32,000 weekly classes.The Jazzercise method engages and exercises the entire body during high-energy workouts. Certified instructors ensure that no student, whether just beginning or advanced, gets left behind with aid from step-by-step instruction and an online roster of [moves](http://jazzercise.com/about/learn-the-moves). They blend dance aerobics with resistance training, Pilates, yoga, and kickboxing to tone and limber up entire muscle groups. Each class kicks off with a warm-up to get everyone’s blood flowing and shake the cobwebs latticed between the fingers of their jazz hands. Instructors then lead students through 30 minutes of cardio, strength training with weights, and a stretch-filled cooldown, all set to infectiously popular tunes. Jazzercise instructors are so committed to their students' health and confidence that they've archived nutrition, fitness, health, and beauty articles online to help keep Jazzercisers motivated and positive.