Kerala CM proposes zumba dance at schools for mental health: Tips to do it right

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan proposed introducing zumba dance at the state's schools to improve children's mental health. He has asked the Education Minister to check whether it can be introduced at the beginning of next year, at a meeting the CM called to discuss the impact of stress and drugs on youngsters. He also mentioned that various drugs, ouija board, movies and reels too are impacting the mental health of children. Meanwhile, can dance forms like zumba help the youngsters improve their mental health for real? Here's what experts say:

Zumba is an aerobic dance fitness programme that features movements from various cultures. While Latin American dance and music forms predominantly influence it, zumba is also performed to Indian regional music and dance beats, Arabic tunes and even other cultural rhythms. It is part of extracurricular activities in various colleges and schools of Kerala, already. The Harvard Medical School says dance has many beneficial effects on the brain and is even used to treat people with Parkinson's disease. The faculties of the University of Sydney also says that preliminary evidence suggests dance may be better than other physical activities to improve psychological wellbeing and cognitive capacity. Apparently, the findings are true both in adults and youngsters. 

Tips to do zumba right for mental health
If you want to try zumba for mental health, here are some tips that can help you get the best results from the routine:
1) Select the zumba style and intensity that you like - Advanced, intermediate or beginner; classic, regional or other variations
2) If you feel intimidated to dance in a class, join an online class.
3) Focus on the stress relief rather than just moving the body or getting the steps right
4) Breathe well while dancing
5) Stretch well before and after the class
6) Drink enough water and eat right to be energetic in the class