Jenny Searles: Mission Jazzercise Owner and Instructor
I have been a member of Mission Jazzercise (off and on) for 20 years! So I am beyond excited to introduce you to the new owner, Jenny Searles. In addition to all of the responsibilities that come with owning a franchise, she’s also an instructor, and I remember her from back when I started. She’s always got a smile on her face and is so welcoming as everyone comes through the door. Her super power is creating a community beyond an exercise class. She plans happy hours, lunches, and parties for all of the members and really works to create an inclusive atmosphere. Read more about Jenny and her journey to becoming an instructor and owning Mission Jazzercise.
Becoming an Instructor
As a young girl, Jenny loved dance. As she grew up she played tennis, was on the drill team in junior high school, and started aerobics during college. Then, in the fall of 1999 she took her first Jazzercise class in Overland Park, Kansas.
“Celia was born in July and I was looking for exercise. I knew right away that I was interested in teaching and I thought it would be a good fit. They would put feelers out and say ‘if you’re interested, come learn more.’ When I started at Mission Jazzercise and one of the instructors said I should be an instructor, so I went through the process. That was 22 years ago.”
The process to become a Jazzercise Instructor has been streamlined and done online, but many of the elements are still the same.
“You have to fill out a form, submit a deposit because you become a franchisee, and go through a workshop. They give you eight routines and you work with a mentor who helps you learn the routines. We had to take a physiology test and CPR training. Then you have to pass an audition to be certified.”
For Jenny, the timing was right because she was a new stay-at-home mom and was looking for something to be a part of outside of the home.
“Dan was a pilot and I knew that I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom because I knew his schedule was going to be different all the time. I also wanted to be part of something bigger. Jazzercise is international, and before everything went virtual, we used to have these big regional meetings twice a year. I really liked that and all of the people that you meet.”
Becoming an Owner
“For 22 years I was an instructor, but then I knew a lot of times I saw things that in my mind, I was like, ‘I would do that differently.’ And Dan would always say, ‘You should be the owner.’ I had talked to the previous owner about it a couple times, but she was never in a place where she wanted to sell it.”
Finally in 2021, Jenny had the opportunity to buy Mission Jazzercise and she jumped on it, but it wasn’t without some hesitation.
“I’m 54 and I thought, ‘Is now the right time?’ But it’s something I’ve thought about for a long time, so I have a lot of mental notes on how I want it to look and feel and be. So it was a long time coming, and I’m grateful that it did happen.”
When Jenny took over Mission Jazzercise they didn’t have their own dedicated space. They had been temporarily operating out of local community centers, so Jenny had to quickly jump in and figure out a long term solution. She was able to find space, sign a lease in October 2022 and renovate the space in December of that year.
“We didn’t take possession until December 1st and I knew that I really wanted to get in there by the first of the year because that’s such a big season for fitness and people’s New Year’s resolutions. Fortunately, we didn’t have to do a ton and it helped that the contractor was a family friend.”
Mission Jazzercise Grand Opening - January 2023
“We had our soft opening the third, fourth and fifth and then we had our grand opening that first Saturday in January 2023.”
Mission Jazzercise 2023
“I feel like we’ve been blessed with several wins. We were featured in the Mission Magazine (April/May 2023). We received TV coverage from hosting the Seven Days event. We got recognized by the Kansas City Star for 2023 Kansas City Favorites Fitness Center. It’s all been fantastic and I think we also got wins from all the fun with the Chiefs Super Bowl run.”
Part of that success can be attributed to the team of instructors at Mission Jazzercise.
“There are nine of us, including me. I love our team. We’ve been through a lot. With COVID we were live streaming from the Center. Then we got displaced and were jumping around to various community centers. I think all of that really bonded us. I think it’s the same for our customers that have been with us through it all. If you go through some hard times you really do have a strong connection. We’re fiercely loyal and we really care about each other.”
Mission Jazzercise Instructors
“I was nervous when I started (as the owner) because we had been peers, so I wasn’t sure how it was going to work with my new role. So far it’s worked really well. I realize that our instructors are our greatest resource. Without them to teach the classes we don’t have anything. So I made some changes right off the bat that showed them that I was supporting them and I valued them and what they bring to the table. Being an instructor for so many years I know things that I would have appreciated, so I try to give them that as much as I can.”
Outside of Jazzercise
Beyond Jazzercise, Jenny works as a personal assistant for Mindy Corporon and her foundation Seven Days and startup company, Workplace Healing.
“Seven Days is a nonprofit organization that was founded when a white supremacist killed three people 10 years ago this upcoming spring. So our goal is to overcome hate by teaching kindness and we really focus on trying to get a lot of youth engagement because our thinking is that, people are teaching hate, so we want to teach our children kindness. Mindy started it because her father and son were murdered. She's amazing. She took such a terrible thing and created something really positive.”
“Workplace Healing is a B2B SaaS that Mindy created with her work partner Lisa Cooper to help businesses support employees going through grief events and they’ve also expanded to include support for employees who are caregivers. At any given time 1 in 4 employees is grieving, so it’s important that they feel supported by their company.”
Advice for Women
Thinking about trying Jazzercise
“It's such a welcoming environment. You're gonna see people of all ages, all fitness levels. It's not a fashion show. We don't have mirrors. So just you can come in and expect that it's going to be fun. The music's gonna be great.”
“The instructor is going to be there to lead you. It's not about being perfect. It's just about moving your body. The moves will come. You don't have to be a dancer. Many people are like, ‘I can't dance. I don't have rhythm.’ That's fine. Don't worry about that.”
“You can expect to get cardio, strength, and stretching in every class. There are a variety of formats which keep things interesting. I just think it’s a lot of fun. It’s a great program that you can stick with. There’s a reason it has been around for over 50 years.”
On doing something new in your 50s
“It’s not too late to make a shift or to take a risk. I’m 54 and I was basically a stay-at-home mom for 24 years. When Luke went to school (college) two years ago I was feeling the ‘empty nest’ and was wondering what life was going to look like for me. I started putting myself out there and trying different things and that’s how I started working with Mindy. I call it my personal empty nest renaissance. Even in the middle of your 50s, you can do something exciting, different or new.”
