Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Singer.
Andrea, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I grew up in South Florida and attended the University of Florida (GO GATORS). After graduating with my Master’s in Special Education, I developed an ear infection and strep throat, the summer prior to my employment as a High School Special Ed teacher. For some reason, my hearing would drop off for a week and return, each time with less sound. I could no longer effectively teach in a classroom setting. I had my first child and was able to tutor on-on-one. We moved from Chicago to New Jersey. After exhaustive searching for a diagnosis over the span of almost 20 years, it was determined that I had an autoimmune disorder due to that ear infection. Dual hearing aids provided no help, as my hearing had dropped to 10% in one ear, and only 30% in the other.
It was there that I discovered a Jazzercise class where I could follow the moves and make out the music. My background had been in dance and it was the only fitness program where I could get a great workout and I really loved the music and moves. I became a Certified Jazzercise instructor and used multiple speakers to help me hear the music while teaching.
Now, to tell how I got to San Diego! My daughter attended college here and every time my husband, son, and I visited, we were so happy! The cold and long commute in NJ was wearing thin for my husband, so we decided to move here to Paradise! But I wanted to meet people, since we knew no one in San Diego. I also wanted to teach Jazzercise, and as a franchisee, I was looking for a place to hold classes. I was so fortunate to find the Soledad Club, at the border of Pacific Beach and La Jolla, across from Kate Sessions Park on Soledad Road. It is owned by the City of San Diego but is primarily a Bridge Club.
I became the owner of this Jazzercise location after 19 years as an “Associate” in New Jersey and worked hard to build our membership. I rent the Soledad Club to hold our 8 weekly classes and have an amazing team of instructors and a real Jazzercise Family there. I am proud to say that this month is our ten year “Jazzerversay” at the Soledad Club!
All ages and fitness levels are represented and welcomed- it is a judgment-free zone and we really have a love for each other. We look forward to our classes because they get results and are actually FUN- and why do something that isn’t fun when you have that choice?! Jazzercise Soledad Club is my happy place, where I found some of the best friends I’ve ever had! Now, I rarely go anywhere without seeing someone from Jazzercise!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Being hearing-impaired, it has always a struggle to learn the professionally choreographed and physiologist-tested routines that we receive every 10 weeks – over 30 dance-based cardio and strength training routines set to the hottest hits. That is a lot of choreography and technique for anyone to learn. Practicing took many hours to “hear” the beats and learn the routines properly. It was a huge challenge, but the rewards of a great workout and smiling and grateful class members made it so worthwhile!
About 16 years after my teaching my first Jazzercise class, I underwent surgery for a cochlear implant. The cochlea is destroyed, an electronic implant with a magnet is placed in the skull, and a speech processor with another magnet is worn externally to allow them to connect. Recovery involved learning how to interpret the sounds and recognize them as speech- not so easy, since they are not “natural hearing”! After some time, I was able to hear sounds I hadn’t heard for so long: wind chimes, a bird chirping- I even had to ask “what’s that sound” since I didn’t recognize them anymore.
The cochlear implant allowed me to hear speech, but it is by no means natural hearing, and music continues to be a challenge on that ear. I have about 15% natural hearing in my other ear to hear the quality of music, such as bass. It also allowed me to function more wholly again, participating in social settings more comfortably. I must still do lip reading to really get into conversations. However, back to the music in Jazzercise class- the cochlear implant helped me heart music more fully, and with my high-quality sound system, I am happily teaching my 29th year! This has taught me to always be grateful for what you CAN do!
We’d love to hear more about your business.
As a Certified Jazzercise Instructor, I am a franchisee- making me a small business owner. I am super proud to say that my franchise, Jazzercise Soledad Club, is celebrating its 10th year anniversary! I built this franchise from nothing as newcomer, and currently have ~75 members!
Jazzercise, Inc. is run by strong, active women with our corporate headquarters in Carlsbad. We have 8.300+ franchisees teaching 32,000+classes each week WORLDWIDE and have just celebrated our Golden “Jazzerversary”!
Jazzercise is committed to giving our members the best workout that’s actually fun! We are continuously assessed to assure quality classes and the certification process requires time, commitment, auditioning, studying, and effort. You must work hard to become a certified Jazzercise instructor. It is NOT a one day, pay your fee and you’re done type of program. We are Fitness Professionals!
Our Jazzercise classes fuse cardio, strength, Pilates, hip-hop, yoga and kickboxing moves with the hottest hits. We pay music royalties to maintain the integrity of the music and compensate the artists, and all routines are professionally choreographed, copyrighted, and tested for safety and effectiveness by exercise physiologists. This makes our program stand out from the crowd.
Professional, effective, and most of all FUN! That’s what I love about Jazzercise- the original DANCE PARTY- still rocking’ and evolving as a pioneer in fitness over 50 years, because it WORKS! Our company helps to enable women to own a small business and create a village and I am so proud to be a part of this amazing community. And I LOVE what I do.
Jazzercise instructors and their members are known for giving back to a wide range of causes. I am most proud of a local event called Jazzercise Dance for Life- Rockin’ the Midway to Benefit Komen for the Cure, held on the flight deck of the USS Midway in San Diego Harbor. Each year, over 1000 people dance for a cure. I have held this labor of love position as co-chair for eight years here in San Diego and we have raised over half a million dollars for breast cancer research thanks to our Jazzercise community and supporters!
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I am very fortunate to have a supportive and patient family! My husband Nathaniel has always been my rock and sounding board. My children grew up with Jazzercise and Mommy going to teach classes, sometimes with them in tow. My children also grew up with a love of fitness, and were proud when I brought Kids Get Fit and Junior Jazzercise classes to their elementary school. My daughter Mallory also became a Certified Jazzercise Instructor while teaching Special Education full-time.
My family was there for me always, and also helped my dream to have a breast cancer awareness and research fundraiser come to fruition. It started in New Jersey and made its way to San Diego. Once I was in San Diego, I reached out to fellow Jazzercise instructors and found Susan Shofner, owner of Jazzercise El Cajon, As a two time breast cancer survivor, Susan shared the same dream and had been doing her own fundraisers for breast cancer research. It was the perfect match for us to join forces and create Jazzercise Dance for Life-Rockin’ the Midway. Her team and local knowledge, and friendship helped make it happen for me to do this locally, as a newcomer to the area, and for that I am so grateful.
My instructor and class manager team are the best- Thanks to them, we have amazing classes that run smoothly! Currently, they are: Amy, Melissa, Keith, Beth, Jessica, and Patti dee. Also: Ashley, Angela, and Mallory -hopefully when we return to our full in-person regular schedule.
Our Jazzercise Soledad Club “Family” make my business successful and fun! Lifelong friendships develop at our classes. Especially during this pandemic of isolation, we communicate and check on each other, and offer live streaming of our eight regular scheduled classes with our own instructors to keep fitness and fun in our daily lives. This is available for our current members on our private Facebook group. The running comments and photo posts on those live streams are very entertaining and allow us to communicate a bit with each other!
Pricing:
- $75 month-to-month unlimited classes
- Fall special for new customers only -$120 for 2 months (limited time special )
- $120 class pack of 10 with 2 month expiration
- $20 walk-in
Contact Info:
- Address: Jazzercise Pacific Beach Soledad Club
5050 Soledad Road
San Diego, CA 92109 - Website: http://jazzercise.com/location/soledad-club
- Phone: 973-460-1059 (Andrea)
- Email: jazzfly00@gmail.com
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/pages/category/Gym-Physical-Fitness-Center/Jazzercise-Soledad-Club-345422765505638
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