This, according to Dr. Gary Ramsey of the Commonwealth Health Center, is one of the targets why they partnered for the first time with the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library for its Summer Splash program.
“We are overwhelmed and very happy with the turnout of the free healthy dance classes for the children because this can pave the way to get them into a healthy habit as they grow up,” Ramsey said after a dance class presentation last week.
He said child obesity is an epidemic, an alarming situation with increasing numbers in the CNMI and a situation that should be given attention and concern.
“Exercise is an important habit to develop into adulthood especially among children,” Ramsey said.
The Healthy Dancing Classes got an overload of enrolment for both the 6-10 year old and the 11-13 year old category when the Summer Reading & Cultural Fair kicked off on June 22. Library executives said they did not expect the big turnout so that some of the children had to wait for available slots to join the classes.
“We are happy with the partnership with the library to get the kids into healthy dancing, and we would be happy to work with them in the future,” Ramsey said.
The Summer Reading & Cultural Fair which ran until Aug. 20 was also the first time for Joeten-Kiyu Public Library to incorporate healthy dancing and cultural presentations into the summer reading program.
Joeten-Kiyu executive director John O. Gonzales said the program gave the children a chance to engage in a fun, healthy and exciting form of exercise and entertainment.
Instructors for the healthy dance classes are Eden Quizon, Resty Joson and Allen Cuyugan from the Rose School of Dance in Garapan who have been actively giving free ballroom and Latin dance lessons to the community for the past year in partnership with the Wise Women Village Project of the Department of Public Health.
Benefits of dancing
Here are some benefits of dancing enumerated by the global fitness community in its Web site www.fitness.com.
• Dancing is a good and enjoyable workout for the mind and the body.
• Dancing can help lose weight, strengthen and tone your body, increase stamina and flexibility, improve balance and posture, and help produce confidence.
• Dancing can be used as alternative forms of exercise like walking, aerobics or cycling.
• It can help keep your mind and body healthy.
Ramsey and the instructors of Rose Dance School is encouraging everyone to keep up the healthy habit and join the free dance classes they are offering and be on the way toward a healthy lifestyle. For more information, call 233-7236.
