Today we’d like to introduce you to Terry Doherty.
Hi Terry, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I took my first Jazzercise class in 2012. I was a self-described exercise nomad because despite numerous attempts to “be healthy,” I couldn’t find a program that didn’t bore me after a few bouts. I didn’t know what to expect … but I found my forever exercise home.
Fast-forward 14 years. I certified as a Jazzercise Instructor in 2016 and became a studio owner in 2024. In February 2025, I took the next step and became the owner (I prefer steward) of Jazzercise Charlottesville.
What stood out for me with Jazzercise is not just the quality of the workout. It’s the opportunity to lower the #1 barrier to exercise: helping people like me who get bored and/or don’t like to exercise. Jazzercise is never boring. We help help women build strength for the lives they want to live and creating a place where people feel welcome the moment they walk through the door. Walk into our studio and you’ll instantly feel part of a community centered around movement, strength, and connection.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Wearing my small-business owner hat, I would love a little more “boring,” but that is not how owning a business works. I started my Jazzercise career at Jazzercise Charlotttesville — first as a customer, then an instructor. So returning to the studio as owner was both familiar, but daunting.
Jazzercise Charlottesville is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. That is an amazing legacy to inherit. I’m very mindful of opportunities that allow me to honor our history, and, at the same time, continue to grow. The post Pandemic era has changed the landscape. The need to adapt and evolve must (IMHO) always be balanced with the needs and interests of those who have invested so much over so many years.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I have to thank my (then) teenage daughter for launching my Jazzercise career. She would come to class with me from time to time, so she had a glimpse into the program.
One day I mentioned that I was thinking about becoming an instructor, and she laughed. “Mom, you can’t do that. You’re too old.” Up until that point I was, honestly, on the fence. But after she said it, I knew then and there this is what I want to do: model for my daughter that you are never “too old” to stretch your comfort zone and learn new things.
Background: Prior to becoming a SAHM, I worked 16+ years as a national security analyst for a government agency. I started as an intern, became an analyst, then moved onto the managerial ladder. Those experiences, in their own way, help me with my leadershp style and decision making I do today — albeit in a completely different context.
How do you think about happiness?
Digging in the dirt. It’s not just the “gardening” part. It’s getting dirt under my fingernails and feeling the cool ground. I love the mystery — and surprise — of planting seeds in the spring. I’ve got marigolds that are descendents of the plant my daughter gave me as a Mother’s Day present in preschool (she’s in her 20s now).
Daisies and zinnias are among my favorite flowers, so I love being able to go out into the garden, cut some, and bring them into the house.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jazzercise.com/studio/va/charlottesville-fitness-center
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/cvillejazzercise
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/jazzercisecville
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CvilleJazzercise
