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Specifically, 48.5% of African Americans over the age of 60 have obesity compared to 34.0% of whites, 42.9% of Hispanics and 8.9% of Asians of similar age ( 2). Nearly 50% of African American older adults, especially older African American females, qualify as obese ( 2). The rate of obesity amongst older adults between the ages of 65 and 75 is the fastest growing in the country ( 2). Unfortunately, obesity is a growing problem in the United States and in many countries around the world. The movements are predominantly low impact though listen to your body and take each class at your own pace.Obesity is linked to a host of negative conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and dementia ( 1). Like any group fitness class, everyone is in the same boat and the atmosphere is addictive. Unless you were born with an innate sense of rhythm, the choreography may feel unnatural in the first instance. You can also expect a fun and encouraging environment. Specific movements incorporated into each routine help to strengthen muscles surrounding troublesome joints, allowing for increased stability and function. The founders of ASA! state that behind the obvious benefits that come from cardiovascular exercise, the programme is built around light strength training and functional movement. At one stage my gyration was so fluid I received a personal shout out from the master himself. The final routine combined of all our new skills in one fast-paced package. Then, there was upper-body work holding and waving arms at right angles for an extended amount of time. Anchoring my lower body proved difficult. A section dedicated to the core involved isolating the upper body and moving it from side to side in a controlled fashion. Otis roamed the room pointing limbs in the right direction. The multi-tasking saw the majority of the class dance to their own beat. A variation of the basic salsa step was introduced with accompanying arm movements. We reached for the heavens before transitioning into a squat (while gyrating), executed high knee lifts from side to side and performed deep lunges – accelerating to double time with the music.
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From there it was full-blown dance party. It soon picked up speed with intervals of thrusting dotted between. We started the hour-long session with some basic shuffling to the rhythm. Otis' version was hypnotic my first attempt could be likened to throwing a bag of tools inside a tumbler dryer. * Playing up: We give wakeboarding a bash
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* We try parkour: Exercise like a superhero * We try bounce fitness - 'the most effective form of exercise' The move would become an integral part of the class. Otis revealed that to achieve the desired results from the motion, one should place the feet shoulder-width apart, bend the knees, engage the core and tilt the pelvis without arching the back. The foundation movement in ASA! is a circular gyration – a motion that previously hadn't been a part of my physical makeup, let alone performed in the presence of other people. Upon hearing "asa" we were encouraged to yell back "aso", a Ghanaian term that is used to unite class members and prompt more energy. While wrangling newcomers, ASA! instructor Otis (Donovan) Herring explained a call and response that should be expected during the class. To a soundtrack of afrobeat, azonto, alkayida, makossa and soukous, it comes with the same vibrant energy of Zumba, serving as the ultimate fitness in disguise.
#AFRICAN DANCE WORKOUT PROFESSIONAL#
The programme was designed by professional dancer and rehabilitation specialist Akosua Akoto to enhance cardiorespiratory capacity and target dynamic, functional and core strength. ASA! is a low-impact workout that fuses modern club and cultural dance movements with strength training.īorn in the USA, ASA! (or African dance fitness) is a low-impact workout that fuses modern club and cultural dance movements with strength training.