5 reasons to start capoeira
1. Capoeira boosts energy
It sounds counterintuitive, but the key to increased energy is more exercise, not less! Feeling tired from a full day? Don’t have the energy to do what you need to do? Capoeira can help! Regular physical activity can improve your muscle strength and boost your endurance. When your heart and lung health improve, you have more energy to tackle daily activities.
Capoeira creates energy in the body by getting the endorphins flowing. Exercise also helps you get a better night’s rest. When you sleep soundly, you feel more refreshed and energetic to face the day.
2. Capoeira helps with body functionality
Capoeira works different physical and mental capacities, including power, speed, agility, flexibly, mobility, rhythm, reflexes, coordination, creativity, and spontaneity. Capoeira is a great tool to develop body consciousness and functionality.
3. Capoeira improves mood
Need an emotional lift? Or need to blow off steam after a stressful day? A capoeira session can help. Physical activity stimulates brain chemicals that leave you feeling happier, more relaxed, and less anxious. You may also feel better about your appearance and yourself when you exercise regularly, which can boost your confidence and improve your self-esteem.
Capoeira combines movement with music, bringing a different energy to the class. Music and movement on their own are good ways to alter mood and relieve stress. Together they are even more powerful!
4. Capoeira keeps your heart healthy
Capoeira is a great cardio workout. Worried about heart disease? Hoping to prevent high blood pressure? Being active boosts high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, the "good" cholesterol, and decreases unhealthy triglycerides. This one-two punch keeps your blood flowing smoothly, which decreases your risk of cardiovascular diseases.
5. Capoeira controls weight
Exercise is important to prevent excess weight gain or help maintain weight loss. When you engage in physical activity, you burn calories. The more intense the activity, the more calories you burn.
Why capoeira? It is one of the most complete art forms. It works the whole body; in one class you can burn almost 1,000 calories!
The bottom line
Capoeira gives you a chance to engage in activities that make you happy and connect with new people in a fun, social setting.
I didn’t always fit in.
I started capoeira in a poor town in São Paulo, Brazil. It was 1996; I was 10 years old. I had no coordination and 0 sports skills. The truth is, I did not have big expectations for my life. I was just a poor kid - no money, no talent - without any big dreams.
But luckily I found capoeira and my life changed!
I started training every day, taking all the classes I could. Guess what I did in my free time? Capoeira! I was a fanatic, and I still am. It is because the more I give to capoeira, the more capoeira gives me back.
Little by little I started to be noticed: at home, with my family, in school, and in capoeira. I started to teach, perform, and travel. Capoeira changed my perspective on life. I started to see so many opportunities.
In 2007 I went to Mexico, then France, Austria, Belgium, Germany, England, Spain, Israel, Tunisia. All teaching and performing capoeira. How could I not be in love?
Through capoeira I met my partner, and through capoeira I have seen almost all my dreams come true!
With capoeira I have more energy, confidence, and focus. I move better and feel better, and I'm part of a beautiful community. I know that capoeira can help anyone in the same way.
