CHENNAI: A lifetime of misdirectional TV commercials have taught us that being healthy is all about ‘losing’ kilos and getting rid of layers of fat. But Zumba is proof that fitness is not about loss, but of gaining confidence and happiness, especially for Persons with Disability (PwD). And what’s more, it involves two universal languages that transcend all barriers — music and dance.
International zumba education specialist Sucheta Pal in association with Explore Differently conducted an inclusive zumba session on Monday.
“Zumba has been a great platform for us to reach out to people though society views them differently. So Neha and I run an initiative called JustAllHearts where we use zumba to bring people together. We got in touch with Explore Differently, and have been working on workshops on inclusive zumba,” says Sucheta Pal.
“We enjoyed these workshops a lot,” says Adithya, founder, Explore Differently. “The response is good so far and we are expecting a lot more.”
The disabled are not accepted by the society and often treated with sympathy. It’s a challenge that they face every day. But when the music starts and the adrenaline pumps, it feels like all are equal and there are no barriers — physical or mental.
Shashank from Explore Differently finds these zumba classes vital in promoting positive vibes around children. “They are often used to excessive attention which they perceive negatively, sometimes,” he avers. Varun, a 20-year old, who usually prefers to listen to music, found ‘the whole vibe of zumba energising’. His mother says, “Here he is just another youngster. The positivity boosts his self-confidence. I can see a difference in just one class!”
Likewise, other parents find zumba helpful for their children.
“My daughter has always had a problem with grasping abstracts — like numbers and the concept of money. But dance and music is more visual and she grasps them quickly. It’s more about movement, and I hope zumba helps her well,” says Mala Chinnappa.
“She learns everything herself. The only thing I did was get out of the way and let her follow her dreams.”