Jazzercise Encourages Women to Dance for Breast Cancer Prevention in October

Dance Fitness Program Proven to Reduce Risk of Breast Cancer And Chance of Recurrence in Survivors

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Oct 01, 2013, 06:00 ET

CARLSBAD, Calif., Oct. 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- October is a time when many "think pink" for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. While exercise has long been proven as a means to ward-off breast cancer, a recent study also unveiled that fitness programs such as Jazzercise can strongly reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence in survivors.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131001/LA89489)

Jazzercise franchisee Susan Shofner leads the "Dance for Life" annual breast cancer benefit in San Diego, Calif. Jazzercise instructors will be hosting fundraisers worldwide in the month of October to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month. (PRNewsFoto/Jazzercise, Inc.) (PRNewsFoto/)

According to researchers at The Breast Cancer Survivorship Center (BCSC) at the University of Kansas, breast cancer survivors can "move" their way into better health and decrease breast cancer risk at the same time. From 2008 through 2010, the BCSC conducted a study testing the effects of the Jazzercise dance fitness program on breast cancer survivors. Half of the participants attended Jazzercise class for six months at a time. The study showed that the Jazzercise participants lost weight and improved their fitness levels significantly, which greatly reduces the risk of breast cancer recurrence.

According to Jennifer Klemp, Ph.D. and Managing Director of the BCSC, "This research project has demonstrated that breast cancer survivors are concerned about their weight and cancer risk, and want to participate in fun forms of activity close to home. A 60-minute Jazzercise class includes cardiovascular and resistance training, as well as core strengthening, therefore providing a great opportunity for the participants to get fit while having fun, reducing cancer risk and helping them find their new normal."

Jazzercise partnered with Back in the Swing,® a grassroots nonprofit organization exclusively dedicated to providing awareness, access and academic medical research in the field of breast cancer survivorship, to conduct the study.

"We were honored to be selected for this study and pleased to learn that our program can help women win the fight against breast cancer," said Jazzercise Founder and CEO, Judi Sheppard Missett. "We hope to help breast cancer survivors get 'back in the swing' and 'stay in the swing' of joyful, healthy living after breast cancer."

Over the past decade, dozens of scientists have recommended exercise as a means to ward-off cancer. More recently, researchers are also suggesting cancer survivors engage in regular exercise to ease fatigue, minimize the risk of recurrence, and improve quality of life. The American College of Sports Medicine published guidelines that advise cancer survivors to shoot for two-and-a-half hours of exercise per week.

Many Jazzercise instructors worldwide will be hosting fundraisers to support breast cancer awareness in the month of October. Over the years, Jazzercise has acted upon Judi's philosophy of "giving back to the community." Judi and her legion of instructors have raised more than $27 million for a wide range of charities by leading special large-scale workout classes, performances at major sporting events, and local benefits.

About Jazzercise

Judi Sheppard Missett, who turned her love of jazz dance into a worldwide dance exercise phenomenon, founded the Jazzercise dance fitness program in 1969. The workout program, which offers a fusion of jazz dance, resistance training, Pilates, yoga, and cardio box movements, has positively affected millions of people worldwide. Benefits include increased cardiovascular endurance, strength, and flexibility, as well as an overall "feel good" factor. The international franchise business hosts a network of 7,800 instructors teaching more than 32,000 classes weekly in 32 countries.

SOURCE Jazzercise, Inc.