About the Instructors

Kristina Wood

I’ve always loved to dance. As a little girl, I longed to dance as a ballerina en pointe. In ninth grade, a friend and I took jazz lessons for the first time and fell in love with it. We made the dance squad in high school, and I became the captain my senior year. I continued to pursue dance in college through ballet, jazz and ballroom classes.

After two pregnancies and two babies in 2002 and 2004, I was ready to get back in shape. I did kickboxing, yoga, Pilates, and the elliptical off and on during that time. When we moved to Orlando in August 2006, I began looking for a new health club, but was discouraged by the cost and distance from our home.

It was then that I noticed Angie’s free Jazzercise class advertised at Campus Crusade’s headquarters. “Isn’t that sort of Jane Fonda-ish?” I wondered to myself. My first class in late September 2006 was so fun. I was immediately hooked. I couldn’t believe that I had never heard of Jazzercise before. It was such a perfect fit combining my love of dance with a great workout, fun music and social interaction with other women.

After visiting another class over Christmas break, the instructor encouraged me to become a Jazzercise instructor myself. I was shocked by the idea, but the Lord kept “hounding” me with the thought.

I certified in April 2007, and am absolutely loving it. It is such a fun outlet “just for me.” I feel like I was made for this. It has been such a thrill to follow the Lord into the world of Jazzercise. I’m so grateful.

Angie Bring (Read Angie’s blog.)

I’ve always been active, but I became more cautious after my 1998 diagnoses of type 1 diabetes. Encountering a low blood sugar during a workout is always on the radar for people like me. As a result, between 1998 and 2003, I choose non-strenuous walking — just to be safe.

In September 2003, for whatever reason, I logged on to Jazzercise.com and found Daryl’s class. I was drawn immediately to her. She was warm and welcoming, and we quickly bonded over my diabetes, as two of her siblings are also type 1 diabetics.

My stereotype of Jazzercise being old and fuddy-duddy was shot. As a woman with a degree in advertising I thought, “This is the best kept secret!” It was fun dancing for an hour to great music. I always came home soaked with sweat!

As for fears of lows, I unhook my insulin pump for the hour-long class and do great. I always have quick sugar nearby just in case.

Daryl challenged me to become an instructor and I, at first, laughed it off. Then, God began to pelt my mind with thoughts about it all of the time.

I certified in October 2004 and have found that it’s brought out a part of me that I didn’t even know was lying under the surface, untouched. God has a sense of humor that I’m teaching the very thing I used to make fun of!

I would have missed out on so much if God hadn’t put Jazzercise into my life. I joke that I’m enjoying the dance squad life that I always wished for in high school.

But it’s even more fun today because I get to dance and workout with the knowledge that I’m taking care of this “temple” God has given me…and encouraging other women to do the same.