Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Shari Nastri. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Shari, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

Hi! I’m Shari Nastri, Owner/Lead Instructor of Jazzercise Lakewood Ranch. I was born & lived most of my life in Connecticut. I married my high school sweetheart & raised 3 great kids in beautiful Avon, CT. In July 2022, we took a leap and followed our dream of moving to Florida.
As a 17 yr certified Jazzercise instructor, I realized soon after our move here that our new community was missing local Jazzercise classes so as a brand new resident I’m took another leap & followed a long time dream of owning my own Jazzercise classes & opened them in January 2023 right here in the heart of Lakewood Ranch.

My Jazzercise story is a fun one – I tried a class with a friend having no idea Jazzercise was still a thing. I loved fitness & was always up for new things. I fell in love after my first class & became an instructor almost immediately! And so my journey began of teaching, mentoring/evaluating other instructors, instructor development, small group & one on one personal training & I furthered my career in fitness becoming a certified barre instructor!

This all ties in to my mission for Jazzercise Lakewood Ranch, helping people live their healthiest, fittest lives. My motto – there’s no place for perfection in fitness! Working out should challenge you but you should feel comfortable in your own skin while you do it! Jazzercise meets you where you are which is why I love teaching all our class formats so much. We curate our classes for every fitness level, ability & stage of life!

This mission is personally so special for me having lost my Dad to cancer at a very young age and my Mom at 72 to congestive heart failure. I am a strong believer that we have to keep our bodies moving. We should exercise because we can not because we have to.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’ve always loved fitness. As a young litigation attorney, I didn’t have much time for it though. Once I became a mom, I retired, I thought temporarily, as a lawyer to raise my kids, It was then that I decided to really get back into fitness. I took my first Jazzercise class and decided to start a new career as a fitness professional. I soon learned this was my true passion – getting to know my clients and helping them become stronger to be able to do all the things they wanted to do. I learned the importance of functional fitness. I also learned what was wrong with the fitness industry, especially with regard to women. The diet culture, burning calories, changing your body – the quest to perfect your body, Women had these ideas thrown at them and what was lost was that exercise should make you feel happy and more comfortable in your skin. There is no perfection. Jazzercise as a company embraced this idea which I loved. I spent the next 16 years on this mission, along with training other instructors. Fitness became a community for me. When I moved to Florida, I had the opportunity to take my mission to the next level by opening my own business. And now almost one year later, Jazzercise Lakewood Ranch is thriving and growing beyond my wildest dreams.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

As a 16 year fitness instructor, I’ve always worked for other people. I thought the ship had sailed for me to own my own fitness studio. However, when my family moved to Florida, I realized it was my time to finally take the leap. I opened a studio from scratch, knowing no one here. The part I didn’t expect was that not only did I open a fitness studio but I created an amazing community. We now have 4 instructors in addition to myself and a growing membership base.

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

Involvement with my members is the most important part of my business. I believe in the importance of community. You feel this community the second you walk through our doors, We are not a faceless gym – we know each others names, families and stories. We uplift, support and cheer each other on. If someone hasn’t been in class lately, we check in. If someone new walks in, we welcome them immediately. We’ve created a sense of belonging here, We pride ourselves in providing the most effective, safe workout there is for all ages and stages but it’s truly the community that keeps people loyal.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jazzercise.com/location/jazzercise-lakewood-ranch-town-center-parkway-21581
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/jazzerciselakewoodranchfl?igshid=NzZlODBkYWE4Ng%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087248875577&mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shari-nastri-3b1018257?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
• Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCuC_YaUhklWh_fOv1W728Kw