MOVERS and shakers

Women dance away the pounds and have fun.
By ASHLEE OWENS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
It's only 9 a.m., but 17 pulses are about to beat a whole lot faster.
"I'm going up, up, up, can only go up from here," a Shania Twain song bounces brightly from speakers in the gymnasium, as sneakered feet pound the wooden floor. Women reach up, right-left-right, then circle their shoulders, right-left-right.
They vine to the sides: 4-3-2-switch. 4-3-2-switch.
"Reach out; reach up!" calls a perfectly toned instructor with a blonde ponytail, stretch capris and a gray sweat shirt. Legs extend and heels tap in time to the music.
It's fun
In an age of treadmills, elliptical machines and Thigh Masters, this "Get'n Fit Aerobics" dance-aerobics class is helping to keep the work out of workout.
"You have to find something you enjoy, because otherwise you're not going to stick with it," says Get'n Fit Aerobics co-owner Donna Fox.
The members of Get'n Fit happen to enjoy dance.
"Women, when we were younger, liked to go dance," says 44-year-old Fox, who's partnered in business with Brenda Hughes, 59. Both also teach fitness classes.
"You'd go to somebody's house, you'd put records on and you'd have fun. It's not the same movement over and over again."
It's not the same music over and over again, either.
Music mix
The always-changing exercise soundtrack includes a bit of everything -- top 40 hits, oldies, '70s and '80s tunes, country melodies, even contemporary Christian songs. After learning basic moves, such as those used in line dances, the ladies hit the floor for a combination of dance and aerobics. Occasionally, they'll do "The Macarena," or bop to ditties from "Grease," which Fox says involve a lot of slap-clap-slap moves.
Today, Christina Aguilera's reflective "A Voice Within" is next on the agenda. To the slower tempo, the women perform some warm-up stretches. They're wearing shorts, sweats, T-shirts, tanks and tennis shoes. "You don't have to buy any special clothes," says Fox. "Just whatever's loose and comfortable."
Their hair -- blonde, brown, black, red and silver -- is either short or pulled into ponytails.
Going strong
The song changes. The instructor whips off her sweat shirt, revealing a midriff-baring tank. "One, two, cha-cha-cha!" she calls.
Several women whoop.
"Oh, oh yes I wonder," a voice from the tape player croons.
CLAP-CLAP, the women fill in, bouncing on their feet.
"... what she's doin' tonight ..."
The hourlong sessions include 30 minutes of dance aerobics "designed to get your heart rate up to work your heart muscle," says Fox. The remaining 30 minutes consist of body-sculpting exercises to work hips and thighs and to tone the upper body -- chest, back and arms. A complete stretch concludes the workout.
"I think the No. 1 reason women come here to exercise is that they bond with each other. It's a comfortable place to go; they don't have to get dressed up and try to impress somebody at a health club," says Fox. "And they miss each other when they're not there."
Classes are held in rented church and school gyms in Boardman, Canfield, McDonald and Liberty. A six-week course costs $35. Early birds who register at least seven days before the course begins receive a $5 discount, bringing the grand total to $30 for six weeks of exercise.
"Which is $5 a week," Fox calculates, "and it's unlimited attendance -- any location, as many times a week as you like. There's no joining fee, no yearlong contract."
An exercise mat, a pair of light handheld weights and a stretch band used for upper-body toning constitute the necessary equipment.
Winding down
At 9:30, the women position their exercise mats on the floor. Some strap small weights to their ankles. Various leg lifts, sit-ups and other toning exercises ensue. No one misses a beat or quits before the session officially ends, complete with cool-down stretches.
When the tape player finally stops, members pack up their belongings, chug from water bottles and greet their perspiring workout neighbors.
Why are they here?
"I love to dance," says Get'n Fit member Jeri Schuler. "My husband doesn't dance, so I come here and dance."
"I had a baby," says member Patti Robb. That baby is now 17, but Robb continues to attend.
"I turned 40, and everything slowed down," jokes member Linda Awad. "And I saw Suzanne Somers say that your metabolism slows, so if you don't get up, you're going to get fat."
And what about results?
Schuler cites muscle tone.
"No back pain," says Robb. "I have more energy, stamina. I feel like I'm a better wife and mother because I come here."
XFor more information, call Donna Fox of Get'n Fit Aerobics, (330) 793-9738 or Brenda Hughes, (330) 726-8942.