It's a Monday evening and 90s dance music is blasting over the speakers in a darkened room. 

Attendees are clad in sportswear with glow sticks in hand, following the movements of a familiar instructor, who is lit up by disco lights. 

Jess Cristofoli runs Clubbercise classes in Chester twice a week.

Through this she has formed a small community and found a form of exercise she genuinely loves.

Clubbercise is a dance-based aerobics session, where attendees follow routines to club classics in a darkened room.

There are often disco lights and glow sticks, and routines are often simple and easy to follow along. 

Jess struggled to commit to a fitness regime before finding Clubbercise. 

Jess said: "It's the one kind of exercise that I've found that I just absolutely love. It has changed my life in that I've found a fitness class that I really enjoy.

"I'm nearly 50 and I'm the fittest that I've ever been in my life.

"I wanted to create a class that was affordable, that was accessible, that people could come to and feel welcomed, and that's what I've created.

"I just want people to feel good, enjoy themselves and have a bit of fun."

Jess Cristofoli who runs the Chester-based Clubbercise classes (Image via: Jess Cristofoli)

The Chester-based mum had originally stumbled across a job posting for a Clubbercise instructor, instantly sparking an interest and inspiring her to do a training course. 

It made sense: she had always liked going out dancing with her friends, but with the responsibilities of motherhood, she found she didn't have many opportunities to do it. 

During Jess' classes, the space starts to resemble a nightclub, not quite a community hall. 

The 47-year-old believes the element of lighting plays a huge role in making the environment more comfortable for those who avoid standard gym environments. 

She said: "Because we're in a darkened room, people can kind of let themselves go a bit more and not feel so self conscious, which they might do in a normal gym class or exercise class. 

"It's in a darkened room, so if you're feeling a little bit self-conscious about attending a normal class, you can let yourself go. 

"It doesn't matter if you don't get the moves or mess up, because no one is going to be looking at you. No one can see you."

Jess attributes the nostalgia and positivity of Clubbercise to why she has managed to maintain her current level of fitness.

She said: "I think it's the music that keeps me going with this form of exercise. 

"Even though you might be really tired, your body is starting to ache and you want to stop but then the next tune comes on and it's a really good song that you perhaps remember dancing to when you used to go out.

"It just takes you back, takes you back to those memories; It really keeps you going."

The community aspect of Jess's classes is something she really prides herself on. She explained how over time, the classes began to form a small community of friends.

Jess said: "The energy of the other people in the room lifts you up, we just bounce off each other. 

"We are a bit of a Clubbercise family. We have the social aspect of it, we might do mocktails and have a bit of an awards ceremony, things like that. 

"People do feel like part of a family and they all get to know each other as they come to the classes which is really nice.

"It's inclusive for all, it's welcoming and it's affordable. You can just come along and have fun.

"I might turn up feeling absolutely rubbish but by the end of it I feel absolutely amazing. Just get those endorphins flowing. I always come away feeling good. I need that de-stress time."

Jess's classes run every Monday at Hoole community centre 6.45pm to 7.30pm, for £5 a class. 

On Tuesdays, classes run from 7.45pm to 8.45pm at Vicars Cross Community Centre, for £6 each class. 

New members are always welcome for anyone aged 16 and over.

You can find Jess's page here.