Health: Dance Workout Created By South Jersey Mom As A Way To Help Cope With Personal Tragedy
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A growing number of people are shaping up with a popular new dance workout that's kind of like being at a house party. It was created by a South Jersey mom as a way to help cope with a personal tragedy.
Brooke Blair's 10-year-old son can't move or speak. He's been in a vegetative state since he nearly drowned eight years ago. Brooke says, "It's extremely heartbreaking."
Brooke says her life and health fell apart after the accident and there's still constant turmoil with her son's health. "Everything tumbled really fast, but at the same time, I had no choice but to be strong for him," Brooke says.
She found strength working out and dancing, and turned her heartbreak into a new business.
This is house party fitness, an interval dance class created by Brooke. She says, "When you're dancing, you're not thinking about working out. House Party Fitness is just like anything you would play at a house party, like the music." It's high energy dance moves combined with weight training and resistance bands.
Anne Kopp who takes the class says, "We act like we're in a Beyoncé video and we laugh and have fun." Kopp, a Cherry Hill mother of four, says house party fitness has helped her lose 25 pounds. "Kids are always a priority, but this is one hour to myself where I get to work out, burn calories, do a fierce workout, and have a lot of fun," Kopp says.
After taking her first class, Stefanie Paglione says, "I loved it, it was great high energy. A lot of fun and a great work out."
Brooke has franchised her music selections and choreography. She's trained dozens of instructors and the classes are now in dozens of locations. Brooke says, "It's been great, it's doing very well, we're in different states."
Brooke says she's always thinking about her son, but house party fitness has given her a healthy outlet. "At least I have this 2nd child that I gave birth to. It just helps to heal the wounds, even if it's just for an hour it gives me something to dive into," Brooke says.
Brooke is a certified personal trainer.
