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Workout I Did: Cardio Dance Party with Jennifer Turner

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Super boring picture, I know. But I was having too much fun and sweating too much to get a shot of the class in action!

When I headed to NYC to attend the Fitness Magazine Meet & Tweet event, I made a day of it. After the panels, I had the opportunity to pick from a group run, a yoga class or a cardio dance class. Runner I’m not. Yoga is great, but I wanted something totally fun. So I went with door No. 3, a cardio dance class with Jennifer Turner of Mad Cool Fitness.

Jennifer was super cool and super fit. And she’s got a great story, having turned to fitness from a life of chicken wings, an eating disorder and unhealthy habits. She’s now completed seven marathons, 12 triathlons and is an Athleta sponsored athlete. You’d never dream that she hasn’t always been this much of a bad-ass health nut.

Jennifer’s cardio class was super fun and a great cardio and strength workout. The tunes were thumpin’, Jennifer had crazy high energy and the entire class had a lot of fun. Similar to Zumba, I thought it was actually easier to follow with slightly less intricate moves that were more athletically dance-based, if that makes sense. The dance class worked toning and strength into the mix with tons of squats, standing ab and oblique work, and plenty of grooving. Jennifer was a great instructor—motivating and energetic while also meaning business. Like, you didn’t want to slow down because she might yell at you. And I mean that in the best way!

And the room we were in, pictured above? Afternoon sun. Right in the room. Talk about HOT.

If you’re interested in trying this type of workout but aren’t in the NYC area, you’re in luck, as Jennifer has a workout DVD featuring a very similar cardio dance workout. It’s set in what looks like an abandoned warehouse-type building, and features real women and pigeons. Yep, pigeons. It’s no live class, but if you want a dance DVD you can easily follow that will also tone your body from head to toe, give it a shot!

Would you have picked the running, yoga or a dance party? —Erin

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