Vol. 10, Issue 10, October 2021
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Does Exercise Boost Your Immune System? After dealing with COVID-19 for over 18 months, folks are asking more questions about the impact that exercise has on your immune system. We know that reports show, those with reduced immune systems are more susceptible to the virus and damage to the body if you get COVID. Multiple studies in humans and animals have demonstrated the profound impact that exercise can have on the immune system. There is a general consensus that regular bouts of shortlasting (i.e. up to 45 minutes) moderate intensity exercise is beneficial for host immune defense, particularly in older adults and people with chronic diseases. As well, numerous epidemiological studies have examined the effects of exercise on individuals with illness who are either moderately active or sedentary. These studies consistently show people who are active or physically
fit get, significantly fewer upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) per year than less active people. How does exercise boost the immune system? The human immune system is a well-coordinated network of cells that recognize and destroy viruses, bacteria and fungi. A healthy immune system requires the teamwork of two layers of immune protection: the innate immune system and the acquired (adaptive) immune system. The innate immune system is what you are born with, and exercise stimulates it. The adaptive immune system is what your body creates to fight off disease and what you build when you get the vaccine. We have learned that each session of moderate aerobic exercise instantaneously mobilizes millions of immune cells. The mobilized cells first enter the blood circulation from the spleen and the bone marrow before traveling into
the lungs and other organs. These cells, mobilized by exercise, are primed and ready for a fight as they patrol between circulation and tissues. Depending on the exercise intensity and duration, the number of circulating immune cells can increase by 50% to 400%. The most abundant type of white blood cells called neutrophils, protect See “Jazzercise” on page 12
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: From the Editor....................5
Ovations Sets Bar High for Dance Academy Studios......8
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TAMPA BAY - CITY IN PINK One of the most significant tools we have today is the power of human connection. That’s why awareness months, weeks, and days are so important: They rally us together to spread a message and to show support. They help us create a comforting feeling that no matter what you’re going through, you don’t have to do it alone. Having the support of your loved ones, as well as the community where you live, can make a huge difference. Our beautiful city of Tampa Bay does a fantastic job at celebrating “National Month” events. October observes Breast Cancer Awareness Month, LGBT History Month, ADHD Awareness Month, Emotional Wellness Month, and Italian-American Heritage Month, amongst others numerous events of extreme significance not just nationally but worldwide. During October, numerous momand-pop shops and other locally owned businesses established multiple promotions and fundraising events to show their support for many of these different causes while getting their name and message out there to the public. Starting October 1st until the 31st, 2021, Tampa Bay will be shinning pretty in pink! CREW Tampa Bay efforts included asking owners, managers, and tenants of Tampa Bay properties to display their support to breast cancer awareness month by illuminating pink for CREW Tampa Bay CITY IN PINK. Per CREW’s Tampa Bay website message, “CREW Tampa Bay CITY IN PINK is a reminder to stay vigilant in the fight for a cure and will be a touching tribute to
breast cancer survivors and the lives that have been affected by the disease. With so much uncertainty in our world today, we want CREW Tampa Bay CITY IN PINK to be a source of HOPE for those who have been affected by this disease and a reminder that cancer never stops, and neither should its awareness. CREW Tampa Bay CITY IN PINK has been going strong for six years! We want to continue the success of this Tampa Bay tradition with more buildings than ever. Together we can inspire our community and share a light of hope, courage, and strength.” Please visit https:// crewtampabay.org/ for more information. For resourceful information on breast screening exams and mammograms for lowincome households, please check: https:// www.freemammograms.org/city/fl-tampa Other October observances include; National Apple Month, Vegetarian Awareness Month, National Pizza Month, National Dessert Month, and National Pork Month. You would think vegetarians would not want to share their month with bacon lovers, but I am glad there’s no beef between them! This sounds like the perfect month to indulge at a family-owned restaurant and enjoying a big Italian-American meal. Make sure you leave enough room for an apple pie for dessert; it can be your new October tradition! With Halloween festivities fastly approaching, the City of Tampa wants to keep families participating in trick-or-treating events as safe from COVID as possible. For a detailed list of Halloween safety tips and an incredible list of family-friendly Halloween events, please visit: https://www.tampa.gov/ news/city-tampa-shares-covid-19-safetytips-trick-or-treating-and-other-halloweenfestivities Until next time, stay safe!
Carla M. Dubis Tedeschi
6 OCTOBER 2021
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Ovations Sets Bar High for Dance Academy Studios By Deborah Bostock-Kelley With a studio specializing in performing versus competition, Orlando Pena got into dance instruction for the magical a-hah moment. He left the cold of New York, where he’d taught dance for over 24 years, to find a community in Westchase/ Oldsmar in summer 2021. At Ovations Dance Academy of Tampa, Orlando teaches students three-yearolds and up. “I started dance when I was 14 years old, and I fell in love with what I was doing and thought that this is what I’ll be doing for the rest of my life,” he said. “Seeing the student have their a-hah moment or seeing the shy student come in, their parents not knowing what to do, and I teach them, and we bond and form a
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mentorship, and we build up their confidence through dance and singing – that’s what it’s all about for me. That’s pretty much what makes me beat.” When he was younger, Orlando performed with the Windermere Ballet Company in New York City. “Because I was short, I
always had specialty featured spots. I was a great turner and jumper, and I had great extensions and splits, so I was always doing those in ballet and musical theatre.” Orlando toured with Chorus Line and Music Man and performed in Starlight Express in Germany for sixteen
months. After that show ended, he decided to open a studio in New York. He also taught his craft in private and public schools. “I was one of the only studios on Long Island that had students leave to go on to Broadway and national tours, commercials, or cartoon
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voiceovers. I think it just rubs off – the love that I have for theatre and for kids to find the spark and confidence to do it themselves.” For his current roster of 70 students in his Tampa studio, Ovations Dance Academy of Tampa offers ballet, jazz, tap, Broadway tap-style, musical theatre, and hip hop and will be performing in local senior homes and community functions. For adults, Orlando teaches ballet, musical theatre, tap, and jazz. “It’s important to bring the youth to the seniors. When the seniors see them perform, it takes them back to their happy memory. It’s a way of giving back, but also, as performers, we get to continue to touch people’s lives. For the kids, it’s a great lesson to experience respect, and they get to communicate with an older generation. “I have a solid ballet background and musical theatre, and that is what I will focus on with the studio. We are currently in rehearsal for Aladdin, Jr., which will be performed in February at the Bayanihan Arts and Events Center and then work on our showcase. Throughout the year, we will continue doing community service.”
Orlando is excited that word is getting out about his prestigious dance academy. “I don’t do competitions, rather focus on performance, because competitions instill a very competitive and somewhat ugly spin on the arts that I don’t like. With performing, you are in service of sharing a story, a dance, a song, and an emotion. I feel that competition pushes you inward. While you’re trying to put your best foot forward, it’s about you. It’s not about what you’re doing, and delivering is affecting the audience. We’re here to move and touch people’s lives through art, and I just don’t feel that with competing.” When asked what separates his studio from others in the area, Orlando said it was intuition with his students. “I’m intuitive with my students, and I know how to make them look good without exposing them by using the cute factor or pushing the envelope to make them look sensual. Kids should not be sensual ever. They have an innocent, pure talent, and I know how to pull that out. I know what to say to them to get the movements, understand the placement of the body, or what they’re feeling to create the step and get from point A to point B. That’s my special gift.” Orlando gave the example of a little girl who went to voice teacher and dance teacher and cried each time. He met the mom who warned her that her daughter would cry. Orlando asked the mom to wait in the reception area. He told her, “I got this.” “The little girl ended up being my teacup in Beauty and the Beast on Long Island. A couple of years later, she ended up being on the national tour of The Sound of Music. She did A Christmas Carol, produced a record, and now she’s one of the voiceovers of a cartoon on television,” he said. “You let the kids find their inner voice. The a-hah moment can be when they are going across the floor in tap. They get the step, and everything just comes together. They have a little burst of a smile, the eyes widen, and I get to be there to see it. That makes me teary-eyed every single time. I don’t say anything like ‘great job,’ instead, I let them sit with the moment because it becomes theirs. I give them the material, and they own it. That’s awesome to witness.” Ovations Dance Academy of Tampa is located at 13847 W Hillsborough Ave, Tampa. Classes are available after school, beginning at 3:30 PM. For more information, visit ovationsdanceoftampa.com or call (813) 749-7001.
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“Jazzercise” continued from page 1 us from infection and are the first cells to arrive to fight bacteria in the body. Macrophages are types of white blood cells that engulf and digest anything that doesn’t have proteins specific to healthy body cells. These cells make up the largest percentage of that increase. Regular moderate exercise is key to improving the immune system’s response to pathogens and reducing the risk of infection long-term. Many health benefits can be achieved with many types of aerobic activity (e.g. walking, jogging, cycling, swimming, sports
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play and Jazzercise/aerobic dance). Research shows that 20–40 minutes of moderateintensity exercise per day is adequate to provide a positive boost to the immune system. We have all made adjustments to our life dealing with COVID and you’ll be healthier if you figure out how to add exercise back into your lifestyle. For those concerned with in person activities can try exercise programs online. Lutz Jazzercise continues to offer 45 classes in person or on Zoom in the privacy of your home. For more information, or to sign up today, call Westchase Jazzercise today at 813-748-3704.
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