Every movement in Capoeira reminds me of the strength of the human spirit and that even in the darkest moments, freedom can still be found.

In my most difficult times, Capoeira has always led me back to the light. It makes me feel powerful and limitless. Capoeira makes me believe that there is nothing I cannot do. Suffering turns into song, resistance into dance, pain into movement.

At the age of 63, I’ve returned to Capoeira and realized how much had been missing from my life without it. Finding it again feels as though I have found my way home.

Capoeira is history. It is family, community. It is connection, resilience, and joy. Above all, Capoeira is possibility.

I was first introduced to Capoeira by my daughter, who practices it in Singapore—it truly is an international phenomenon!  I was thrilled to find a class right in my neighborhood and decided to give it a try. As an older adult, I knew I might not be the most advanced person in the room, however, I’m holding my own quite well and absolutely loving it! My goal is to keep my mind and body agile, and Capoeira delivers exactly what I was looking for.

I started doing capoeira two years ago. I wanted to exercise more regularly, and the acrobatic and flowing movement style appealed to me. I was all-in after just one class because I had so much fun. I felt challenged to get better and could feel my strength, balance, flexibility and stamina all improving as I kept training. Maybe even more than the physical benefits, capoeira gave me an incredible community of people that make me feel more connected to the place I live. It has helped me become a better musician. It has also taught me a lot about the Afro-Brazilian and Brazilian culture and history that it comes from. For me, capoeira touches all parts of life.