If Dr. Barry Gritz isn’t with a affected person, he’s most definitely busting a transfer — not in the course of a dance flooring, however within the entrance of a category.

The psychiatrist, who has practiced in Houston for greater than three many years, can also be a Zumba teacher. He has taught the cardio courses impressed by Latin-dance for the previous 5 years.

Gritz leads a category virtually on daily basis of the week at 4 totally different gyms. He additionally heads Aqua Zumba programs. Picture water aerobics with a beat.

Grooving to a melody is solely his ardour — and all the time has been.

“If you ever went to a dance club and saw some guy dancing by himself — that was me,” Gritz stated with fun.

Teaching Zumba gave him an entire new venue — and an entire room of dance companions.

“I love this, because I get to do what I love to do — and that’s dancing,” he stated. “I’m also a lecturer. I love educating. This allows me to do both.”

Recently, Gritz mixed his passions even additional with “Dancing with a Doc for Wellness.”

Dancing with a Doc combines cardio, by way of Zumba, with an informative well being session. It’s supplied at 8 a.m. on the second Tuesday of the month at Clark Park, 9710 Clark, in north Houston.

The subsequent session is Tuesday, June 13.


Zumba and training meet emotional and psychological well being on this course supplied by Memorial Hermann’s Community Benefit Corp., which goals to construct more healthy communities.

The periods, which mix cardio with an informative lesson, are supplied at 8 a.m. on the second Tuesday of the month at Clark Park, 9710 Clark, in north Houston. The subsequent Dancing with a Doc is Tuesday, June 13.

“This is the most unique — it’s a perfect fusion,” Gritz stated. “What I am promoting, in both psychology and Zumba, is health. There really is a parallel.”

Isabel Vázquez stated the periods are entertaining, and she or he enjoys Gritz’s musical picks.

“The energy and friendliness of the doctor makes it fun and special,” she stated.

Josefina Sandoval stated exercising within the morning with Dancing with a Doc helps her keep match. She recommends others join.

“The classes help reduce stress and keep us healthy, apart from being a lot of fun,” she stated.

Dancing with a Doc is the latest addition to Community Benefit Corp.’s work at Clark Park, which facilities on making the inexperienced house a secure place for the neighborhood to get pleasure from.

It began in 2018, when information from close by Burbank Middle School revealed a excessive incidence of prediabetes in college students, stated Carol Paret, senior vp and chief neighborhood well being officer with the well being care system.

The company requested neighborhood members why kids weren’t exercising — and oldsters famous the dearth of sidewalks and feeling unsafe within the park.

“That’s where we needed to focus,” Paret stated. “Our work needs to be about what the community sees as important to moving their health forward.”

The group has 4 intersecting pillars — entry to well being care, wholesome meals, train and emotional well-being — all aimed on the underinsured and uninsured, Paret stated.

In 2019, the group partnered with town of Houston Parks and Recreation Department to renovate the basketball court docket and construct a brand new junior soccer subject at Clark Park.

Making enhancements to neighborhood inexperienced house is a crucial a part of the equation, she stated.

“Parks are only great if people are using them,” she stated. “And just because you have green space in the area does not mean it will be used, if the community does not feel safe there.”

Updating the amenities alone was not sufficient to ensure neighbors would use the house, Paret stated. Developing packages within the park can be the important thing.

That’s how StepHealthy strolling golf equipment launched. Walk with a Doc, the place a doctor joins the group and discusses well being matters, was additionally added to choices.

In addition, Memorial Hermann developed the StepHealthy Connects program, which helps space residents turn into skilled group health instructors.

The extra neighborhood members take possession of their parks, the higher, Paret defined. For occasion, the strolling golf equipment have led to cleanup occasions.

“We’ve seen a lot of social connection, as well as pride in the parks,” Paret stated. “One thing builds upon another and another.”

Dancing with a Doc is a part of that evolution — and has turn into a preferred providing.

“Exercise is medicine,” Paret stated. “People find that exercise really helps with their stress and anxiety.” And each have been on the upswing after the pandemic, she added.

A enjoyable Zumba class exterior within the sunshine “felt like a natural extension of what we were already doing,” Paret stated.

Finding simply the precise physician to be the star of the present was serendipitous, she added.

“He’s a wonder,” Paret stated. “He’s not your run-of-the-mill everyday psychiatrist. And he’s truly dedicated to this.”

The first hour of the category is all about motion, Gritz stated. And he tells attendees to not fear in the event that they don’t grasp the footwork.

“As long as you’re moving and grooving,” he tells them.

Gritz retains the music pumping, rotating between Colombian cumbia and rock, salsa and Bollywood, and hip-hop and reggaeton.

“Believe me — Zumba, it’s a party,” he stated. “That’s exactly what it is, a dance party. But with Zumba, it’s like you partied and worked out, too.”

The second half of the category, Gritz focuses on a well being subject. Each month, there’s a special theme, comparable to nervousness, melancholy, consideration deficit dysfunction and postpartum points.

Gritz’s shows deal with managing emotional well being. He teaches self-care methods and takes time to reply questions.

“I like to consider myself an edu-tainer,” he stated. “If you can treat people with education and entertainment, then that’s a good thing.”

Zumba helps him personally. “For me, it’s such a stress reliever,” Gritz stated. “Exercise helps you feel good.”

And at Clark Park, when he sees the grins and hears the laughs emanating from the gang, he is aware of others are benefiting from Zumba, too.

Music and motion can really enhance temper and cut back stress, he added.

“It’s our duty to move our booty,” he stated.

Peyton is a contract author based mostly in Houston.

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