Jazzercise, the largest dance-fitness program in the world, recently honored local instructors Victoria Foster, Cindy Talerico, and Jill Stone, with the Masters F.I.T. certificate.

The F.I.T. (Further Instructor Training) Program was created by Jazzercise as a means for instructors to track their continuing fitness education on a regular basis. Jazzercise both encourages and requires instructors to be committed to staying current on fitness, health, nutrition, injury awareness, as well as business skills. Instructors may earn F.I.T. credits by reading books, magazines, journals, newsletters, articles; attending seminars, workshops, or conventions; organizing or presenting lectures; and writing educational articles, newsletters, outlines pertaining to these topics.

Jazzercise instructors are required to earn 300 F.I.T. credits as well as to complete the F.I.T. self-exam annually in order to maintain their Jazzercise certification. Masters F.I.T. certificates are awarded only to those franchisees who earn in excess of 600 F.I.T. credits.

"We all agree that the ongoing fitness education that Jazzercise instructors participate in is one of the many value-adds that we deliver to our customers," says Jill Stone, local Jazzercise owner.

Judi Sheppard Missett, who turned her love of jazz dance into a worldwide dance exercise phenomenon, founded the Jazzercise dance fitness program in 1969. She has advanced the business opportunities of women and men in the fitness industry by growing her program into an international franchise business that today, hosts a network of 6,800 instructors teaching more than 30,000 classes weekly in 30 countries.

The workout program, which offers a fusion of jazz dance, resistance training, Pilates, yoga, and kickboxing movements, has positively affected millions of people worldwide. Benefits include increased cardiovascular endurance, strength, and flexibility, as well as an overall "feel good" factor. For more information on Jazzercise, visit www.pcjfitness.com or call Jill Stone at 772-485-5581.