A Bag Of New Tricks For AY
ZUMBA GOLD FOR AY MEMBERS
CHANCES are you’ve heard about Zumba — the new fitness dance programme that has become increasingly popular across the globe. Currently, over six million people take Zumba classes each week in one of 50,000 locations in 75 countries. But what you may not know is that Zumba isn’t just for the young and fit. It’s a great way for older adults to get in shape too.
In fact, the creators of Zumba recently introduced Zumba Gold, a new version of the Latin-inspired workout, tailored to the needs of elders. Just like Zumba, it incorporates dance/ fitness routines to Latin and international rhythms but is performed at a lower intensity. Zumba Gold is specifically targeted to the older generation and beyond. Zumba Gold was born out of the fact that there were a lot of people who wanted to do Zumba but couldn’t keep up with the fast-moving pace or handle the impact of the regular version. This version is a little gentler on the body but you still get the full effect of the Latin flavour and the benefit of the moving and the dancing.
Zumba came to Ananda Yaan (a joint venture between The Dignity Foundation & the Rotary Club of Bombay) in October this year. RCB was lucky to find Roshan Singh and his team. He was a licensed Zumba instructor and a member of the Zumba Instructor Network. The Club needed someone experienced and, more importantly, empathetic and patient with seniors. Having got his certificate in 2010, AY seniors were in good hands. Even though AY members were more than double his age, they connected with each other very well. Roshan shared why he wanted to teach at the Ananda Yaans: when he was learning Zumba, it had been difficult for him to arrange the high fees. So he had to borrow and work at the same time. After going through such trying situations, he wanted to give back. He shared that seniors at Ananda Yaan have no access to such opportunities, he wanted to do something for them. He discovered another family at Ananda Yaan.
Anand Yaan members have broad smiles and laugh like little girls while they’re doing Zumba because it’s a whole lot of fun. That is why they insisted that AY introduce Zumba twice a week. Exercising for them has never been so
entertaining.
SENIOR CITIZENS’ DAY OUT
SAAND ki Aankh – a biopic based on the life of India’s oldest sharpshooters showed senior citizens at Ananda Yaan that the body may age but not the mind.
Senior citizens of Ananda Yaan’s Byculla Centre (in association with Dignity Foundation) got the opportunity to watch the widely-acclaimed movie Saand Ki Aankh, produced by Anurag Kashyap. Members were most grateful of the generosity of the Rotary Club of Bombay which had arranged for the movie tickets and their transport to the theatre. As a matter of fact, it has been almost two and a half years since some of them have been to a cinemaplex to watch a film. Last time, too, a Rotarian had sponsored the outing. Going to the theatres is now out of the question for members of AY’s Byculla Centre due to astronomical ticket prices.
They had not heard about Saand Ki Aankh and were amused by its title. But, as the movie played out, they were astounded by the courage and tenacity of the two lady protagonists in the film. The line most often repeated in the movie – the body ages but not the mind – stayed with them. Our Ananda Yaan centres go by exactly this line. Members enjoyed the movie and the theatre ambience. The senior citizens left the movie hall with renewed vigour and gusto, and looking forward to taking up new activities at the Ananda Yaan centre.