Workouts: A Real Drag

SoFla gym offers cross-dressing cardio

For most people, working out is no fun, but at a gym in Wilton Manors, it's a complete drag.

At the Island City Health and Fitness gym, the Thursday night aerobics class is just as rigorous as any other, but it's the person leading the class that makes it enjoyable.

"I think you can still have fun and exercise, and that's what keeps it going," instructor Cashetta said. "If it's something that's a chore or a task everyday, you really aren't as excited about it."

Cashetta is quite a sight. Tall, with a blonde wig, fake eyelashes and heavy makeup, the spandex wearing Cashetta might look like any other fitness coach.

Except Cashetta is a man.

"We've had some crazy reaction, actually, people calling up all day long, wanting to know about it, if it's really for real," said gym owner Reece Darham.

The drag aerobics class is all too real, held every Thursday at 7:45 p.m. Attendees don't have to dress in drag themselves, but they will be subjected to Jane Fonda workout videos playing on TVs and Cashetta's hardcore workout.

"It actually is [challenging], you can really burn some calories and still have a lot of fun," Cashetta said.

At last night's class an audience even formed outside the gym, spectators who perhaps weren't brave enough to enter.

One person who did join in was Jackie Cannavan, who said she was looking for a new way to stay toned.

"It looked like it was going to be something different, something unique," Cannavan said. "You know, it's the first of the year and everybody's all into fitness and I said 'Let me come see what all the talk is about,' and it was really worth all the talk, to come tonight and see Cashetta in action."

Cashetta said the class is catching on, even if people don't know quite what to expect at first.

"They all came in and we had first timers here who had never been into this room before and now had a great time," Cashetta said.

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