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Workouts Jazzed Up At Apollo Beach Business

Tribune photo by JIM REED

Morning classes are very popular for women who want to start their day with a good workout, says instructor Christina Blythe, who teaches Jazzercise classes at Zen Tae Ryu Martial Arts Center in Apollo Beach.

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By JOHN CEBALLOS

jceballos@tampatrib.com

Published: February 18, 2009

Updated: 02/26/2009 03:55 pm

APOLLO BEACH - There's a new physical fitness class in South Shore for those who haven't given up on their New Year's resolutions to lose weight.

Jazzercise classes began Jan. 5 at the Zen Tae Ryu Martial Arts Center, 205 Apollo Beach Blvd.

The hourlong sessions are led by Christina Blythe, who has been Jazzercising for 15 years.

"The morning classes are very popular for the ladies who want to start their day off with a good workout," Blythe said.

Her class is a fusion of Pilates, salsa, yoga and kickboxing mixed with dance moves choreographed to upbeat music.

Judi Sheppard Missett founded the Jazzercise dance fitness program in 1969 while teaching traditional jazz dance classes in Evanston, Ill. Today, more than 7,200 instructors teach more than 32,000 classes in 32 countries.

Blythe lives in Riverview and has been teaching the Apollo Beach class every Monday, Wednesday and Friday starting at 9:15 a.m.

"I have a friend who lives in this area that used to take Jazzercise classes in Brandon," Blythe said. "She suggested starting up a class around here."

She also teaches Tuesday and Thursday evening Jazzercise classes starting at 6 p.m. at the Brandon Jazzercise Center, 917 E. Brandon Blvd. She moved the evening classes to Apollo Beach on Feb. 10.

"We've had so much interest in this area early on that we wanted to give the ladies who work during the day a chance to attend class," Blythe said.

Blythe said each of her Apollo Beach Jazzercise sessions has about 10 to 12 students.

Maxine Jones of Ruskin has been Jazzercising for 25 years. Before the Apollo Beach class started, she had taken a three-year break, partly because she couldn't find classes close to home.

"It keeps you fit and it keeps you healthy," Jones said. "I'm 80 years old, and I lay a good part of my good health on Jazzercise."

Donna Guzman of Apollo Beach also has been taking Jazzercise classes for nearly 25 years, mostly in South Tampa.

"It's a full workout, and the hour is over before you know it," Guzman said. "I like being in the class with other people as opposed to on a treadmill by myself."

By contrast, Ronelle Stone, also of Apollo Beach, is a virtual newcomer at Jazzercise.

"It's been fun for me to get a different routine going," Stone said.

"The hours are convenient for me," she said. "I hadn't found very many of these types of things in the area so far."

Blythe hopes her class grows to include members of the opposite sex.

"I've seen lots of guys take the class, and when it's done, they realize that it's just as difficult and challenging," Blythe said. "We'd love to get some men in here because this class is certainly not just for women."

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Jazzercise classes

WHERE: The Zen Tae Ryu Martial Arts Center, 205 Apollo Beach Blvd.

WHEN: 9:15 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays; 10 a.m. Saturdays

COST: $36 per month, unlimited classes

INFORMATION: (813) 326-5372

Reporter John Ceballos can be reached at (813)865-1555.

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