Dancing helps strengthen seniors
January 4, 2012
Seniors living independently may sometimes get lonely, especially if they live alone. According to The Miami Herald[1], seniors in the area are doing something fun to combat idle time while also getting a workout.
Many elderly residents in Miami have been flocking to a 55-and-older ballroom dance class at a local dance studio as a way to socialize and get fit.
“It’s a great cardiopulmonary activity and it’s also a good way to socialize,” dance teacher June Rawls told the news outlet. “The physical is very important, but so is the mental, and when you come here for an hour, you leave the world behind.”
Rawls, a senior in her own right at age 65, has been teaching the class for about a year, and says that all who sign up leave refreshed and rejuvenated.
Kimberly Kiddoo Jarrett, 62, has always been active in life and was looking for a new way to work out when she came across the class. She admits its been difficult, but rewarding.
“If you hit the sweet spot, like in tennis, you take flight,” Kiddo Jarrett told the newspaper. “You’re one with the music.”
Seniors who work out are less likely to suffer from falls, though accidents do happen. Those living alone who also exercise in the house may want to wear a medical alert smartwatch. This light, wearable device gives a person a way to call for help in case of an emergency.
