FItness instructor fuses twerking with exercises

Julieta Rodrigo // Staff Writer

Personal trainer Tiffany Jackson wants students to twerk their way into shape. And with her Booty Work class, you’ll do just that.

Offered at the BBC Recreation and Wellness Center on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 to 2 p.m., Booty Work is a high-energy fitness program that works your glutes, your abdomen, and your thighs to today’s hip-hop hits.

The class was created three years ago to offer a mix of dance and aerobic fitness to students, according to Jackson. Featuring beats from Trey Songz, Beyonce, Fabolous, Drake, Tory Lanez and Waka Flocka, the class is a way to exercise, or, as Jackson likes to call it, “twerkicize.”

Incorporating dance and fitness instruction, Jackson leads the class by breaking down routines into easy-to-follow eight count steps. Repetition of the routine helps students perfect their form while increasing their confidence in front of a mirror.

As a fitness instructor, Jackson said she is always looking for new ways to incorporate urban beats and dance routines into her classes. Dance moves in popular songs like “Hit the Quan” and “Watch Me” subtly feature typical exercises that work to tone your arms, booty, hamstrings, calves and core.

Jackson uses these moves as the foundation for many of her dance sequences, and seamlessly combines them with typical lunges, thigh lifts, and kickbacks for a more intense workout.

“What women fail to realize,” Jackson said, “is that when they’re twerking, they’re actually in a squat position and are working their lower abs without knowing.”

Participating students laughed and cheered each other on when a dance routine was successfully completed, with many students opting to video record the class on their phones for future sharing on social media.

Tahina Jules, a sophomore nursing student, said she loves Jackson’s bright and energetic personality.

“She doesn’t judge anyone,” Jules said. “She’s a beautiful spirit and brings out the best in her students.”

Jackson said students’ main focus should be having a good time when taking her class.

“This class is about having fun, letting your body move, listening to good music and vibing out with other people with good energy.”

For more information about Booty Work, follow Tiffany Jackson on Instagram at msbootywork or contact the FIU Wellness Center at (305)919-5678.

A routine during the Booty Work class can be watched here: