Chris Cuomo has COVID19, sharing that he has a weak immuno system naturally. This meant that when it hit him, it hit hard. The main message he got from doctors is that this virus wants to infiltrate your lungs, which is why it creates symptoms initially to make you want to lay down. Doctors have given him breathing exercises and told him to NOT lay down for long [sleeping excepted, of course]. He now realizes that besides breathing exercises, he must stay active as part of the regimen for his recovery. If you have an in-house gym, or even a stationary bicycle, that’s good. What if you don’t?
I tweeted him that he can do more: do easy dancing in place, like easy folk and country line dances. It doesn’t take much space; I now dance barefoot with an arch support on a 4 x 6 foot carpet, hemmed in by furniture. A laptop on my nearby bed supplies the music and virtual company. A dance lasts a few minutes — the perfect break.
Why dancing, you say?
I started folk dancing over 40 years ago. Over that time, I’ve explored all kinds, from ancient hula to country line -- even a little zumba, but mostly international folk and Israeli folk dancing. Pre-COVID19, I danced at least 3 times a week with different groups.
As I have aged, my lung capacity, already compromised by two respiratory poisoning episodes in college, has decreased further. My flat feet have worsened, I’ve got tinnitis, and my knee joints often remind me painfully of their age. Vertigo episodes have stopped me briefly at times, even recently.
And yet, I dance. Yes, I love it – music literally moves me. But probably more important, I have recognized for a long time that dancing stimulates one of our body's natural antibiotic systems, the lymph system. It also stimulates the moving fluids in our lungs that are constantly trying to flush out invasive particles, including nasty bacteria and viruses. This is true, no matter what age you are.
Furthermore, dancing, more than just aerobic activity, stimulates the production of the “feel good” hormones, the endorphins, specifically serotonin, while relieving stress by reducing levels of cortisol, a stress hormone.
[For oldsters, it does even more: recent studies showed that of all senior fitness activities, dancing alone improves balance, increasing elders’ ability to live longer independently, and promotes brain growth most profoundly, including in the hippocampus, the health of which is crucial to preventing dementia. Another study showed that against a backdrop of natural aging loss of brain matter, social dancing increased it, while brisk walking did nothing.]
Does dancing really work? Yes. When I'm feeling tired at the end of a long day, I have often not wanted to go dancing - but then my better half kicks in, reminding me that I always end dancing feeling better than I did at the start. It’s like an internal mom prodding the kid. And I always end up happy when I take the advice.
I've probably prevented many respiratory infections in my life this way. And suddenly, that’s very relevant.
But wait, you don’t know how to dance? Here’s a video to help get you started. Worldwide, virtual dancing sessions, many with teaching as well, are springing up within the international and Israeli folk dance communities. There are plenty of websites devoted to online resources of folk dancing.
If you’re a free spirit, though, that’s okay, too – pick out the music that you like the most and do improv! Watch a few dance videos that give you ideas of moves that are good for your body. Then let your body lead you. Tune into a virtual concert, and dance away!
A few more easy tips to keep your lungs healthy:
Sit up, and stand up, with your back straight -- just what our grandmas used to tell us. This forces the lungs to fully inflate; hunching over actually crushes the lower lungs slightly, hindering them.
Easily invigorate your lungs and the rest of your body when you wake up in the morning: exercise in bed. I do 10 situps, 10 back arches, and 10 situps. At the end of that I'm alert enough to want to get up and get active.
Finally, do stress-relieving activities; relieving stress helps improve and maintain your immuno system. Find a peaceful place in your mind, mark it, and go visit it often. Eat well. Get a good night’s sleep.
Stay safe, stay active, stay healthy!