Girl power: Local exercise studio provides free classes for teens

EAGLE RIVER — It is no secret that American women — Alaskan women included — struggle with body image.

We think our waistlines are too thick, our thighs are too heavy and no matter how much we diet and exercise, many of us still do not like what we see staring back at us in the mirror. So much of this dissatisfaction began in our early years - between the ages of 12-18.

The Eagle River Jazzercise is on a mission to help women and young girls gain a healthier body image.

“We give girls a place where they can come and feel empowered. It is a place where nobody will see them as any different as they truly are. It is a place where women can go and feel good about themselves is so important,” Nina Perino, owner of the Eagle River Jazzercise, said.

“Body image” is the way that someone perceives their body and assumes that others perceive them. According to dosomething.org, “Approximately 91 percent of women are unhappy with their bodies and resort to dieting to achieve their ideal body shape.”

There are few workout programs available to women that are fun and encouraging and even fewer that have a healthy and supportive environment in which women can be themselves and not worry about their “body image” while they exercise, Perino said.

Avery Brown of Eagle River agrees with that and shares her opinion of the situation.

“I know that a lot of girls don’t feel comfortable in their own skin and I think that social media makes girls think that having a photoshopped body is what the ‘perfect body’ is like,” Brown said. “Every girl’s body is perfect already.”

With the average teen girl engaging in nearly 180 minutes of time in social media per day, webmd.com says that, “In an attempt to emulate the countless media images they view, girls often take drastic measures. Many end up with very low self-esteem; some with dangerous eating disorders.”

In Perino’s view, that dangerous cycle needs to end.

It is why Eagle River Jazzercise is participating in the Girl Power campaign, giving free classes to women ages 16-21 for the year of 2017.

“Girl Force is a program dedicated to young women to empower them, and it really is a gift to be empowered.” Jazzercise owner Nina said. “We participate in Girl Force so that young women have a positive outlet which improves their self esteem.”

Having a place where young women can go and feel not only included but welcomed, is vital to any community, Perino said, adding that her goal is to provide a safe atmosphere where young women can learn how to exercise and not be judged in the process.

“We have reached out to churches and school counselors,” Nina said. “It takes a village to raise a strong woman.”

Because of their strong advertisement of the Girl Force campaign, 15 girls have signed up and begun taking classes.

This writer was joined by a friend, Alden Boland on July 10 for the 4:30 p.m. class.

It was an amazing experience for both of us.

We were greeted at the door with open arms and added into the Girl Force group in the computer system so that we could attend any class for the rest of the year for free. We received a goody bag which included a water bottle, a snack, wristband and business cards for us to take home.

Saying that we had no clue what we were doing was an understatement. Alden had never danced before in her life and the only training I had received was from three years of show choir in high school. We gave each other a very confused look because we didn’t know where to start. Alden and I must have looked like lost puppies because one of the girls taking the class kindly directed us to mats and weights and helped us find a place to be for the class.

When the music started and the stretching turned into pas de bourrées and kick ball changes, Alden and I started getting a little lost. As she was in front of me, I could see when she stepped left instead of right or when her kick ball change ended up being a step-step-kick. To my surprise, however, nobody said anything, and Alden and I soon realized that nobody was dancing perfectly either. And although nobody got all of the moves every single time, they still looked like they were having the time of their lives. All of the people taking the class – from 16 –year-olds to people who looked to be in their 60s – were enjoying themselves and were extremely relaxed.

“When can we come back?”

It was the first thing that Alden said to me when the class finished at 5:30 p.m. She loved the fact that even though she had never danced before in her life, she was able to pick up the moves and participate with everyone else – even if and when her moves weren’t perfect.

“Everyone here is so nice,” she exclaimed. “And you just kind of fit right in, I love it.”

For me, the best part was the abs and the legs workout. This entailed a series of moves choreographed to a song where we focused on either our abs or legs. My abs and legs were definitely sore the next day. What surprised me the most was that the class was a real workout. As an athlete, I like to say I am in pretty good shape, but that class had me breathing hard and struggling to do push-ups a few times.

The welcoming environment of Jazzercise in Eagle River – combined with the supportive and friendly class goers – made our experience unforgettable. I can certainly say that I felt good about myself after that class and that Alden and I will be taking many more classes in the future. Any girl would be extremely lucky to be given the opportunity to participate such an empowering exercise program as this.

Alina Cook lives in Eagle River and is an editorial intern with Alaska Family Fun online magazine. She starts her senior year at Eagle River High School this fall.