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Fit in Fitness, Teacher Urges Huntley Jazzercise Studio Owner Stresses the Value of Exercise

Posted on: Monday, 21 November 2005, 21:00 CST

By Amy E. Williams Daily Herald Correspondent

Nola Schlueter wishes women would take more time for themselves.

Schlueter, a Huntley resident who also owns Huntley Jazzercise Fitness Center, said she hears every excuse in the book when it comes to reasons people don't exercise.

She knows people are busy, but if they take time for themselves, they'll feel a lot better overall, she said.

"What I see constantly is women in general hesitate to make themselves a priority. We're all super-busy with our kids, extracurricular activities, work, laundry, whatever. We put fitness last on the list," she said.

"It's important to take care of ourselves, and fitness is an important part of that. We need to think of it as an investment in our future to be healthy and strong 15, 20 or 30 years from now.

"We have to do this, too, for our kids and our families, just like everything else we try to do for them. It will make you feel better mentally, physically and spiritually. You know the saying, 'If mom's happy, everybody is happy.' I truly believe fitness, whatever it is you choose to do, can help."

Schlueter follows her own advice. She's been doing Jazzercise since 1984, and says it has helped her to stay strong, focused and healthy.

But now that it's also her job to teach Jazzercise, she does take time out to do some fun fitness activities for herself. Each week she takes tap dancing lessons at a studio in Huntley, which gets her heart rate up and gives her some fun at the same time.

Schlueter says she wanted to provide the same type of fun fitness classes she's enjoyed for so many years with Jazzercise, which in part led to her decision to open her own studio in Huntley in 2001.

For years Schlueter was an architect, but all through school and her busy career she continued to make Jazzercise a priority for her enjoyment and health.

"I've gone to Jazzercise in church basements, school gymnasiums and so many different places. Some day I knew I wanted to do my own thing and teach it," she said.

Finally, in 1999, she decided she was ready. She went to a workshop, passed the training and started teaching while still holding down her job as an architect.

Soon, she realized she wanted to teach Jazzercise full-time.

"I decided to retire from architecture after being at a firm in Palatine for 15-and-a-half years. I got to a stage in my life where I needed to be home for our daughter, who is disabled, and this was just going to fit the situation."

So in 2001, Schlueter opened the studio.

"My daughter needed me to be home when she's home from school and on school breaks, and this worked out great for my family situation," she said.

"It's been a great lifestyle change for me personally. I just get a lot of enjoyment and fulfillment out of helping women reach their fitness goals in a fun way."

Schlueter said since she opened the studio in 2001, it has grown slowly but steadily.

Presently, she said, the studio offers 17 classes a week. The hour-long classes are offered in the mornings, evenings and on weekends, as well as Fridays and after school, for people ages 7 and up.

Last year, the studio added a 5:30 a.m. class three days a week - which has become quite popular.

"It's doing really well. It's popular with people who work full time and with stay-at-home moms. They find they can exercise and get back home before their husbands go to work," she said. "There really is a time famine problem with everyone. And I think they're finding they can fit it all in with these early classes."

While Schlueter strongly encourages women to give the studio a try, she says Jazzercise really is for everyone. She has many men in her classes, as well as kids at the Friday afternoon classes.

There is a misconception out there, she said, that Jazzercise is something from the 1980s, with classes strutting around in leotards doing jazz movements.

Instead, she said, it's a combination of cardio, stretching and strengthening exercises that give you a total body workout. Each of the routines includes a little bit of Pilates (a fitness system invented by Joseph Pilates), kickboxing and yoga.

"It's fun and it's constantly changing," she said. "It's very up- to-date. It provides a lot of the motivation that the students need," she said.

And with everything that people have going on in their lives, having that motivation is necessary if you're going to stick with an exercise routine, she said.

Schlueter said she's found that Jazzercise appeals to people of every age and fitness level.

"Even if you say you can't dance; it's a program that's easy to follow and to catch on. Really, it's fun," she said.

"It's very fulfilling to me when someone comes in and has that feeling like they're uncoordinated or clumsy, and I can show them that they can do this.

"It's for everyone. If you've never exercised, or you used to but you had a baby, or if you want to exercise seven days a week, you can get something out of it," she said.

Schlueter invites you to stop in to try the classes. She personally teaches several classes a week, but has other certified instructors on staff as well.

Anyone who wants to give it a try can do so risk-free for a week at her Huntley studio, which is at 10719 Wolf Drive.

However, she invites women to find the closest location to their homes to make it the most convenient. There are Jazzercise classes offered throughout the Fox Valley and the Chicago area daily, she said. To find a nearby class call (800) FIT-IS-IT (348-4748).

"I would just encourage people to try it - not just at my place, but some place. Do something for yourself," Schlueter urged.

"We are in a time crunch, everybody is, but women need to make time for themselves. They'll be better moms and wives and friends if they do.

You deserve it and you owe it to yourself to do it," she said.

Source: Daily Herald; Arlington Heights, Ill.

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