COUNSEL OF ELDERS

AFRICAN DANCE & DRUM is a great source of aerobic exercise and can also provide low-level resistance exercise. It has health benefits including 

* BALANCE, STRENGTH and GAIT - help reduce the risk of falls, a significant health hazard.

* DEPRESSION - assists men and women with mood disorders. It can help them experience a significant reduction in their levels of stress, anxiety and insomnia. 

* DECREASED STIFFNESS -  A Saint Louis University (SLU) study recently concluded that low-impact African dance movement can decrease the amount of pain medication by 39 percent. Elders were also able to move around much easier - a key determinant in remaining independent. 

* DEMENTIA - When compared to other leisure activities (e.g. playing golf, doing crosswords, reading, cycling, etc.) dancing and drumming appears to offer the best chance of helping stave off dementia. According to a 21-year study led by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, aging adults who Danced & Drummed regularly had a 76 percent reduced risk for developing dementia. 

Experts theorize that Dancing and Drumming is beneficial for our brains because it combines cardiovascular exercise with split-second decision making that taxes our neural network, forcing it to create new pathways.