The participants sweating and smiling as they moved to the pulsating rhythms of Jazzercise, with the additional use of resistance bands to build strength. — Photos: AZLINA ABDULLAH/The Star
It's been almost three years since I began my journey with long Covid.
Although my physical fitness is nowhere near where it used to be, I can say that I have made progress, albeit very slowly.
Percentagewise, perhaps I’ve recovered about 60%, although I continue to grapple with post-exertion malaise (PEM).
PEM is the worsening of fatigue and flu-like symptoms following physical or mental exertion that would have been tolerated previously.
Symptoms typically worsen 12 to 48 hours after activity and can last for days to weeks.
Its underlying pathophysiology remains unclear and I’m still experimenting to see where my tolerance levels are at, as they’re constantly fluctuating.
In July (2024), I received an invitation to participate in a three-hour charity “Jazzerthon” to celebrate 40 years of Jazzercise in Malaysia.
I’ve yet to attend a structured fitness class since I got hit with Covid-19, but trepidation aside, I was beyond thrilled because as a semi-retired dancer, my forte lies in jazz dance.
For the uninitiated, Jazzercise – a combination of jazz dance and exercise – is the world’s longest standing dance fitness brand.
It was founded by American Judi Sheppard Missett in 1969.
Over the years, she has perfected the formula and designed an all-in-one result-driven workout to improve cardiovascular endurance, increase strength and enhance flexibility.
As one class incorporates three fitness components, proponents say you don’t need any other workout.
Aptly titled Sweat2Smiles, the dance fitness marathon took place last month (October 2024), which meant I had three months to get fit.
However, Covid-19 long-haulers with PEM can’t quite prepare ahead because we just cannot estimate how much to push before the body caves in.
I did my best to train by walking up gentle slopes, using resistance bands and doing bits of yoga, all while encountering multiple highs and lows.
Thankfully, my lovely colleague B – also a dance fitness buff – kindly agreed to accompany me as she understood what I was going through.
It’s always comforting to have a familiar face around.
Getting into it
One week prior to the event, I started getting anxious as the dancer in me really wanted to complete the three hours and not pass out.
'We can do this!' B and I ready to attempt the three-hour dance fitness marathon.
Yet, the sensible side of me whispered it’s okay, I could rest if the going got tough, but then again, I dislike quitting anything halfway.
This constant tug-of-war in my mind and overthinking only stressed me further and left me drained.
During such moments, and especially with long Covid, my decades of yoga training (the mind portion) tend to fly out the window.
With my weakened immune system, I also contemplated masking up throughout the event – yes, I still have not fully overcome the post-traumatic stress as a result of my double Covid-19 ordeal.
Some days are a real struggle to regain my former fearless, zen self.
Anyhow, D-day came, and surprisingly, I was relatively calm.
We arrived at the hotel venue early on a Sunday morning and it was already packed with over 200 excited, mostly women, participants.
B and I took our spots at the back of the ballroom, close to the door, just in case I needed a breather or wanted to leave early.
The moment the instructors – local Jazzercise franchisees Christina Yap and Janet Ginibun, and Raffaele Bonora from Jazzercise Italy – were introduced on stage, the boisterous crowd couldn’t contain themselves.
This Jazzerthon was unlike others as it was the first after the pandemic and participants had been eagerly waiting to let out years of pent-up energy.
Listening to the screams, I got a little apprehensive and my heartbeat quickened as I suspected the instructors would most likely take the workout a notch up.
When your participants are on a super high, instructors will deliver accordingly – that I know from my experience as a dance and fitness instructor – as we feed off the vibes of our students.
Fortunately, Yap and her team of backup instructors kicked off the morning with a low-impact routine.
Her choice of music was to our liking (from my generation), i.e. Lionel Richie’s All Night Long, Michael Jackson’s The Way You Make Me Feel and Cher’s Believe.
The choreography was kept simple so that everyone could follow the basic jazz hand gestures and feet movements.
Oh, to dance again felt simply glorious – my confidence spiked and I eventually removed my mask as Yap picked up the pace.
Next up, the petite Ginibun worked our legs and booty hard using the resistance bands and I could feel my muscles trembling.
So, I scaled back and restrained myself from going full out.
However, when Bonora came on to do his high-intensity routines and roused the Jazzercisers to give their all, I did too.
I momentarily forgot about my health status because we were having too much fun.
My never-say-die attitude (re)surfaced, which is not always the wisest outlook.
In the last 10 minutes, I was jumping and skipping along, but B was wise not to, having suffered a recent back injury.
Indeed, it was a wonderful feeling to smile while being drenched in sweat throughout, especially as I seemed fine up till this point – hooray!
We had made it through the entire Jazzerthon before my old ankle injury started to act up.
The aftermath
Bonoro (left) leading the final cool-down session with Yap (front, right) and Ginibun (on screen, left).
Once the event concluded and the obligatory photographs were snapped, we stretched our muscles before I clutched B’s arm and hobbled out.
At home, I iced the ankle and put my legs up against the wall to relieve the fatigue.
As expected, after such a long layoff, B had some muscle aches the next day.
I didn’t; I totally could not get out of bed until that evening!
The PEM hit like a tonne of bricks and I crashed – I was beyond exhausted, as well as nauseated, dizzy, unable to stay upright and needing the wall to support myself.
I couldn’t sleep, the diarrhoea returned and it was back to a porridge diet.
It took more than a week and lots of scolding from family members before I recovered somewhat.
Nevertheless, it was worth the effort and only time will tell if long Covid will ever leave me.
To have come this far is already a blessing and I’m grateful for that.
In the meantime, bring on the next dancethon!
If I’m upright and well that day, you can bet I’ll be there.
Revathi Murugappan is a certified fitness trainer who tries to battle gravity and continues to dance to express herself artistically and nourish her soul. For more information, email starhealth@thestar.com.my. The information contained in this column is for general educational purposes only. Neither The Star nor the author gives any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to such information. The Star and the author disclaim all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.
