Residents use Bailoterapia to Improve their Health

Residents use Bailoterapia to Improve their Health

Posted on March 30, 2020

Susana Martinez [name changed for privacy], a single mom of 4 living in Parksdale Village II, one of SHE’s 35 rental communities, recently took on bailoterapia (dance therapy) for two main reasons: (1) to improve her health and (2) to offer some positive distraction for her sister, who has been dealing with a chronic illness.

 

“I saw a flyer announcing the free class and called my sister to join me,” said Susana. “I am not normally very social, but I thought it would be good for us to get out of the house and forget, even for a little bit, about her chronic illness. Moving has been good for both of us.”

 

The bailoterapia classes are hosted by Health Net and CalViva Health’s Event Coordinator, Adela Corona. CalViva Health is a local public health plan serving Medi-Cal beneficiaries living in Fresno, Kings and Madera Counties. Adela’s work focuses on bringing quality wellness classes around diabetes, heart health and fitness.

 

“I realized that the reason why many in the community were struggling with their health was because they were not active,” said Adela. “That is why I started incorporating fitness and wellness classes such as walking clubs and dance therapy to help people move. Self-Help Enterprises has been a valuable partner, allowing us to use their facilities to host our classes.”

 

Throughout the years, SHE has developed 35 quality, affordable rental communities consisting of 1,572 units to serve the housing needs of low-income Valley residents. Susana has found living at Parksdale Village II very peaceful, and it’s given her a secure and safe place to raise her children.

 

“They always ask me now, ‘Mom, are you going to your dance class today?’ They like seeing me active,” Susana said.

 

Furthermore, SHE is committed to creating a safe learning environment for residents and their children. We work with many community partners like Cal Viva to provide free resident services such as job training, health and medical services, financial training and homebuyer education.

 

“Our collaborative efforts throughout the San Joaquin Valley truly demonstrate the fruits of our labor,” said Roberto Garcia, one of SHE’s Resident Services Coordinators. “Case in point, our wonderful ongoing partnership with Health Net and Cal Viva and their Bailoterapia Community Leaders in Madera specifically at Parksdale Village I and Parksdale Village II Community Rooms are engaging our residents to pursue healthy lives at our multifamily sites and encouraging physical fitness and good nutrition practices for a healthy lifestyle.”  Roberto Garcia – Resident Services Coordinator.

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Even as we navigate through today’s Covid-19 measures, Adela understands the importance of staying engaged.

 

“As a coordinator, I’ve worked really hard to build an engaged group of people. If I suddenly stop engaging with them, it will be much harder to motivate them later. So I met with my team and brainstormed ways to keep a consistent stream of communication with our community and decided to start hosting our bailoterapias virtually. They have been very successful thus far,” said Adela.

 

Adela is hosting video chats at 6pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays via messenger and zoom to continue to encourage her bailoterapia groups to continue their exercise routines daily.

 

Residents like Susana continue to stay involved and partners like Health Net and Cal-Viva Health make all the difference.