For those intimidated by a new exercise programme, Jazzercise instructor Lynette Colvin feels her lighter version of the aerobics programme is something worth taking a look at.Ms Colvin became a certified Jazzercise Lite instructor last March after an intense three-day workshop in Bermuda. Now she has begun teaching classes four times a week at the Sabor Dance School at the old Berkeley on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 5.30pm and at the Jackson School of Performing Arts on Thursdays, at 6pm, and Fridays at 6.30pm. She is keen to spread the word about a programme that has been around for more than 40 years, started in 1969 by Judi Sheppard Missett.“People need to know it is out there and to come and try it,” urged Ms Colvin. “I know a lot of people are quite intimidated about doing aerobic exercises, but because this a light version of it they shouldn’t feel like that.“Everybody always gets the idea that everybody is going to be svelte when they go to these classes but you have to start somewhere. I’m going for a goal every single day and don’t beat myself up about anything, I’m taking one day at a time and that is what a lot of us need to do. Now that I’m teaching I have to be extra motivated because I’ve got to learn the new steps in order to teach them.“I just got certified last March but have been doing Jazzercise class since 2010. If you want to go way back to the 1980s at home with the videos, I was doing it then, too.”To become certified Ms Colvin was required to learn approximately 15 Jazzercise routines for her audition, pass a written exam on basic anatomy, exercise physiology and nutrition and learn Jazzercise business practices. She also had to be certified to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) prior to the workshop.Jazzercise Lite incorporates all of the conditioning components of regular Jazzercise and is targeted to meet the needs of active older adults, pregnant women and those who may be intimidated by or are new to exercise.Most of those who participate in Jazzercise are women, as many as 98 percent according to research figures from 2007, but Ms Colvin says the classes are open to men, too. Her youngest participant is aged 12, while the oldest is 59.Jazzercise combines effective exercise with jazz dance-based choreography and popular music. Each 60-minute high-energy class includes a warm up, aerobic segment, muscle toning and flexibility exercises and a cool-down.Fresh choreography is continually introduced into the programme as founder Sheppard Missett creates new routines every ten weeks. Jazzercise was the first aerobics programme to become a franchise. It now has 7,800 franchised instructors in 32 countries who hold 32,000 classes weekly. The company employs some 225 employees from its Carlsbad, California headquarters.“When it comes to aerobics or cardio it is about the whole body, not just about losing weight. It’s about your physical being as well. In the long run it (appearances) will take care of itself. I go to my doctor and I’m not at my ideal weight. I don’t worry about that anymore. I worry about what my blood pressure is, what my glucose is, what my cholesterol is. I look at my numbers and each time I go to the doctor they are lower and lower and that’s what matters at this point.“It worries me the number of people in Bermuda who have diabetes and don’t do anything about it, they think it’s natural. They need to start doing stuff that is going to help them stay healthy.”The comprehensive programme is designed to enhance cardiovascular endurance, strength and flexibility and has helped millions of people of all ages and fitness levels reap the benefits of exercise and improve their well-being.Ms Colvin can be reached at 734-5673 for further information about her classes.Useful websites: www.jazzercise.com and Facebook.com/jazzerciselite