If you’ve been known to burn up a weekend dancefloor without breaking a sweat, but start to perspire at the mere thought of the gym… we’ve just found the perfect new exercise regime for you.
Team Her.ie made for a colourful sight recently when we decamped from our offices in a sea of Lycra (spot prize for the first person to guess which Her.ie staffer put her pants on inside out) and headed to a Dublin dance studio to meet JP O’Neill and Sarah-Jane Wren.
JP and Sarah Jane are Ireland’s first Clubbercise instructors… and Clubbercise is our new fitness obsession.
After an hour of sweating buckets to 90s and chart-topping hits, armed with flashing glow-sticks and random “freestyle” intervals, we sat down with the pair to talk about the origins of the fitness craze and why it’s set to be the next big thing.
Amazing craic trying out @clubbercise today with team @Herdotie. Coppers won’t know what hit it @Witthefittwit! ? pic.twitter.com/ApfNmeXQGJ
— Michelle Mc Mahon (@McMahonMichelle) May 21, 2015
How and where did Clubbercise start?
Sarah Jane: Clubbercise started in the living room of three friends Claire, Laura and Sarah. They hated the gym but loved to dance, yet they couldn’t find a dance fitness class that played the music that they loved (old school 90’s). The disco lights and glow sticks were a natural addition to the music and Clubbercise was born. They launched in early 2014 with five instructors, with huge demand in recent months for classes that number has boomed to over three hundred instructors across the UK. They have a partnership with Oxfam, donating for every Instructor who takes the course. To date Clubbercise have helped over four thousand people gain access to clean drinking water.
When did it come to Ireland?
JP: The first Clubbercise class in Ireland was back in September 2014. I couldn’t wait to bring it across the pond! It’s everything I love, club classics and keeping fit, so when I read about the concept in a fitness magazine I had to find out more. Straight away I booked on the next available training session which was in Manchester and I haven’t looked back!
How does it differ from other fitness classes?
Sarah Jane: Aside from the obvious disco atmosphere and glow sticks (who doesn’t like glow sticks?!) the music appeals to a wider audience. With classic tracks from the 90’s and today’s main stream radio hits there is an abundance of choice to suit everyone. There’s no fancy footwork so participants can just focus on sweating it out and release that stress after a long day. The darkened room also appeals to those who aren’t body confident, they can just shake those glow sticks without fear of anyone watching!
JP: The quality is a high priority. Unlike some other dance fitness classes out there, Clubbercise instructors must have a dance and/or fitness background with a minimum level of qualification to be eligible for the training. We want to be the best dance fitness brand in the industry for our participants and this is possible by recruiting the best instructors. Finally we are also doing our bit for charity. Our clubbers drink loads of water at every class but sadly some of the poorest people in the world don’t have the luxury of clean drinking water. Every time a new Clubbercise instructor signs up a donation is made to Oxfam to help them provide access to enough drinking water for up to 10 people in need.
What do you like about it as an instructor?
JP: I just love the atmosphere of a Clubbercise class. There’s nothing like it! The lights go down and the music goes up and people just go wild, myself included! The moves are really easy to follow, the tracks are ones we can all sing along too and we have such a laugh in the process. People often tell me it’s the first exercise class they’ve ever done where they’re smiling from start to finish. That’s unheard of!
How many calories can you expect to burn in a session?
Sarah Jane: It varies on your height and weight. But you’re looking at a minimum of 500kcals to around 1000kcals depending on how much you wave those glow sticks!!
How much does it cost?
JP: Instructors operate independently but Sarah and myself charge €8 per class but with different discounts for class passes. Also, due to the higher venue costs I charge €2 for a pair of glow-sticks but some instructors give them free. If you check out Clubbercise.com, you can find out further info, your nearest classes and also be notified when new instructors sign up in your area.
Why do you think it has built up a fan base so fast?
Sarah-Jane: If you have kids at home, or a very heavy workload, realistically how often do you get to go out? Clubbercise gives participants that hour of “me time”, which is very much needed. It does what it says on the tin “bringing a night out to your workout” – with no hangover to deal with afterwards! My participants have met new people by coming to my class and made friends that they never would have connected with before. The atmosphere, fitness element and social aspect make it a win-win situation for anyone seeking health and happiness.
JP: One of the reasons I think it has grown so quickly is it’s accessibility. The range of music appeals to so many people and the moves are easy-to-follow because it’s the exercise class you’ve always been looking for. People have always been searching for an exercise class that doesn’t feel like exercise but at the same time gives you a workout. It’s exercise in disguise but it’s also an opportunity to rave yourself fit to guilty little pleasures like 2Unlimited’s No Limits or Livin’ Joy’s Dreamer. Now who wouldn’t like that!?
To get in touch with Sarah Jane, you can find her on Facebook, on EpicPerformingArts.com or on 0851227058.
To get in touch with JP, you can find him on Facebook and Twitter.
To find out more about Clubbercise in general, visit the official website, Twitter or Facebook.
