Rachael Lenzmeier Jencks

I began teaching aerobics in 1993 when I was a senior in high school. I had been involved in the Dance Team throughout high school so fitness was always a part of my life. I had been doing aerobics in some form since I was in 3rd grade. Being an aerobics instructor was something I always wanted to do. I was very excited when I got my first opportunity to lead an aqua aerobics class at Northland Fitness. I left Northland when I went to college in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Unfortunately, I was unable to find a place to teach aerobics until 1994. I began teaching at Body N’ Muscle. It was at this position that I got to learn about teaching land classes and all about music phrases. I was familiar with the 8 count from my years of Dance Team in high school so I got to put my prior knowledge to use teaching step aerobics and Hi/lo. Through a contact at Body N’ Muscle I got the position teaching Hi/Lo to college students in the intramural program at the University I was attending. I held both of those positions until I graduated in 1996. In the fall if 1995 I was ACE certified and remained certified until 2001. During summer and Christmas break I taught step and Hi/Lo at Appletree Fitness Center in my hometown. In August of 1996 I started Law School and also began teaching at a new health club in Bloomington, Minnesota. At Lifetime fitness I taught several classes a week including Aqua Aerobics, Step, Hi/Lo, and Muscle Strengthening. When I started Law School I had a part time job along with teaching a few classes a week. I realized early on that I could have a lot more fun teaching more aerobic classes every week and leaving the part time job, so that was what I did. I taught 8 – 10 classes a week and was loving it. I was able to make money, stay in shape, and relieve a little stress, it was a great arrangement. Due to moving, I left Lifetime Fitness and went to work for Northwest Athletic Club and eventually added classes at The Sweatshop to my schedule. I taught several weekly classes in step, hi/lo, and muscle strengthening at both of the health clubs. In May of 1999 I graduated from Law School and moved to Luverne, Minnesota. It took me some time to find a class to teach because Luverne is town of only about 7000 people. I eventually talked the Park and Recreation Department into offering a class twice a week. It was a simple Hi/Lo class but both the participants and myself had a lot of fun. We had no equipment so we had to be creative. In June of 2000 I moved to Madison, South Dakota, where I now reside. Lucky for me, in the fall of 2000 The Madison Community Center Opened. I was again able to teach Aqua Aerobics and eventually added some Step and Kickboxing to my class schedule. Unfortunately in January of 2001 I took a legal job that was a half an hour a way and after a year of commuting I had to let my position at the Madison Community Center go. It was at this time that I let my ACE certification lapse as well. Since that time I have once again changed legal jobs and am now working much closer to home. My husband and I have our own legal practice 10 minutes away from our house. I also teach accounting classed at the local University. I have also had 2 children who are 2 ½ years and 7 months. Although I have not been teaching group classes, fitness has remained an important part of my life. I have been exercising at home with fitness videos so I have stayed on top of the current fitness trends. I have once again become Group Fitness Certified and am working on Master Instructor Status in Pilates as well as a Turbokick certification. I am working with The Madison Community Center to add Pilates and Turbokick to their schedule. I exercise just about every day and am teaching my little girls that fitness is important. My favorite part about teaching group fitness classes is getting people excited about exercise. I love to motivate people to excel to the next level. Exercise has to be effective but it also has to be fun!