Just when I thought I’d seen it all, I came across this video on CNN.com of Vietnam Television’s report on a (fairly new) exercise class taking place in Hanoi. Imagine this: a group of health-conscious locals working out together outdoors, being lead by a single instructor. No, they’re not practicing tai chi or aerobics. What makes this visual unique is that 1) this group consists mainly of elderly women, and 2) they’re practicing hip hop.
The class, which draws in fifty to one hundred students at times, is taught by Nguyen Viet Thanh, a long-time performer and head of the largest dance group in Vietnam, reported Hoang Linh of Vietnam Television. Nguyen leads his students through various rhythmic moves to upbeat music, helping these older women feel healthier and stay more active in a fun way.
73-year-old Pham Binh Minh was one of the first members of this class when it started about three months ago. She shared that since taking the class, the pain she suffered in her back, knees, and shoulders have disappeared. Another participant said that she now sleeps better and is loving life.
Could it be that our parents’ and grandparents’ generations are opening up to newer ideas and experiences? And, possibly, might this pave the way for the fields of physical therapy and kinesiology in the motherland? By the looks of it, I sure hope so. Take a look for yourself – it’s a quirky sight, but one worth watching and sharing with your elders.
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