Hey Jamie and everybody,

finally I get to write this. (I post this here, cause I don’t have a facebook-account for some reasons, but feel free to share it in the group)
My whole adulthood (I’m 39 and a mom now) I kinda felt that I needed to find a discipline, something to stay active. But I just couldn’t find anything that kept me in the flow. I just don’t see any sense in running, biking, doing all that gym stuff…. tried, but everytime had to realize after a couple of weeks that it didn’t feel good, had to force myself to do it and logically it didn’t work for long. I wanted to feel joy while working out, the same feeling I always had when I freak out dancing in the club…. Always thought, that was a strange trait of me, that maybe I need people to look at me to have fun sweating….?! Really for me going to the club was mainly about dancing to my favorite music, all the social things were just colleteral damage ;)

However Corona came and once again I thought, ok get yourself together do something, that’s the opportunity! That’s when I tried fitness apps and doing workouts at home, which still wasn’t that much fun, but I realized that was something I could force myself into from time to time, cause it’s way more comfortable doing it at home. Saves time and feels much nicer to jump under my own shower afterwards instead of all the strangers in the gym. Again after five months or so I realized I was looking for excuses not to work out and it became rare.

Another thing I have to address here, is that more or less two years ago I started to experience depressive symptoms every 4 to 8 weeks, often coupled to my hormone cycle toward the end of the cycle. These “mini depressions” sometimes stayed for a whole week, sometimes it was just 3 days…. However, that was new to me, I had no explanation, but it really was a frightening experience, everyone who ever had depression knows what I mean. Just this black whole, having the feeling to burst in tears every second, trying to keep yourself together for the sake of your child, household, work….. And ironically I am a psychologist and a child psychotherapist. So my everyday work is to stay clear in the head and be there 150% for every single child and family I’m working with. So this was really challenging me and I was thinking about getting therapy myself or do some check-ups.

Meanwhile 2022 started. Then in march one day I thought maybe I find some workout videos on youtube that combine the work with good music. Well and that’s how I found the studio. I did the 2000s Jam workout and I was an addict from that moment on :)
I couldn’t believe that there were people feeling that same joy in dancing, sweating and just freaking out to the music. Doing these Jam sessions is such a satisfying experience to me, just to feel the own body, the music, the strength and joy. After realizing that I did 3 to 4 workouts per week after 4 weeks I signed in. And it’s still that frequency! I love Jam and sometimes when there’s enough time I do one of the short ab- or arm-workouts afterwards. You really hit my right spots with your comments and motivation :)
And it has so much effect, my body looks more defined now, had a lot of compliments lately ;) But that is not that important, for me it’s crazy how strong I feel in all the everyday situations and things we all have to manage. And it was sometime in the end of May that I realized that since I started the studio I did not have a single depressive episode. And up to this day it’s just not there anymore. I always knew that movement is important for the body. As a psychologist improving the activity is one of the key steps in treatment of patients with depression. But still it was a surprising thing to experience by myself. Just how effective these workouts (not really workout, I see it as my personal wellness-party-session) and the spirit that you put in are for my soul.
OMG, just wanted to write a quick note, instead it’s a letter, sorry to bore you! Really you made my life a little more complete, so THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!! All the best from Wuppertal in Germany!!! Keep on! Maybe I’ll drop some song requests from time to time ;)
Marta