Cardio dance for seniors
Frank Newton, Santa Barbara News-Press
February 2, 2010

I recall a "Peanuts" cartoon that begins with Snoopy prancing about joyfully. Lucy shows up and scowls at him, as if he were crazy. But Snoopy just smiles at her and keeps on skipping, exclaiming: "Dance! The purist form of art."

Yes, dance is probably the most immediate and direct form of self-expression. A lot of fun, too! And countless anecdotes, informal observations and objective studies conclude that dance is tremendously beneficial for seniors.

Dancing is a heart-smart way to stay healthy and happy. It flexes joints, stretches muscles and gets the blood pumping. It can ease arthritis, decrease joint aches, strengthen and tone muscles, and enhance balance and agility. As it improves cardiovascular health, it lowers blood pressure, increases energy levels, and even stimulates memory and better mental functioning.

At the same time, dance is a wonderful social activity. Seniors who participate in dance groups overcome loneliness and depression. And quite naturally, this lively, enjoyable activity helps a person feel better about themselves as it uplifts their spirit and sense of happiness and well-being.

So, what's not to love about dancing?!

It's thinking like this that got Suzy Kaufer to decide to organize a cardio-dance class for older adults. She pitched the idea to the Jewish Federation of Santa Barbara, which gave it a thumbs up, and the class became a reality on January 11.

Cardio Dance for Seniors is now held 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. every Monday at the Bronfman Family Jewish Community Center, 524 Chapala St. It is free of charge and open to any and all older adults, age 50-plus.

"They dance for an hour, and I play whatever music inspires me -- jazz or Louie Armstrong or even Israeli folk music," Suzy explains. "It's not hard, fast music, and the dance is low impact. There's no jarring of joints, like with jogging. Ease of movement is my aim ... more fluid body movements."

"I do have a choreographed routine," she notes, "but I want people to modify the movements as they need or feel. I want them to adapt it to their own abilities and pace to interpret the moves in their own way so they stay in their comfort zone. But they do work up a sweat."

Suzy is originally from New York, but she earned her degree in recreational therapy from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She taught some recreation therapy classes after graduation, she says, and she developed a profound appreciation of the effectiveness of therapeutic play and dance.

The working world pulled her away from recreational therapy for many years, but she eventually returned to it by getting involved in a new dance therapy system called Nia. The technique combines dance, martial arts and body awareness, with the goal of finding healing through movement.

"Nia was developed up in the Bay area about 25 years ago," Suzy says. She's been studying Nia for about six years, and it has guided her development of this cardio-dance class.

Beyond that, she emphasizes, "I simply enjoy working with seniors. I admire their spirit and energy. They're good role models and fun to be with. I find that working with seniors is uplifting and inspiring to me and I'm grateful that I can give them something through this class."

If you see the value of keeping your body flexible, reducing pain and feeling better about yourself, then the Senior-Cardio Dance class may be right for you. All you have to do to join in is show up in comfortable workout clothes at the Bronfman Family Jewish Community Center (524 Chapala St.) at 10:30 a.m. on a Monday. No reservation is necessary. But if you would like more information, you are welcome to e-mail Suzy at suzykaufer@gmail.com or call her at 957-1115.

Santa Barbara-based Frank Newton has worked with seniors in various capacities over many years, including as director of the Southwest Society on Aging in Dallas. His column appears every other week. Opinions expressed in the column are his, and not necessarily those of the newspaper. E-mail him at franktalk@cox.net.