Salsa dancing rejuvenates 87-year-old woman

A week ago, 87-year-old Lydia Lerma was excited about her upcoming weekend in Mexico; there were going to be shots of tequila involved. Her nieces, who are in their 70s, were visiting from out of town. It was time to party.

Seven years ago, Lerma would never have strapped on three-inch heels and headed south of the border. In fact, she spent most of her time at the doctor’s office.

Then she met Orlando Perez, owner of Salsa McAllen Dance Company. He taught her that when her feet learned to keep a beat, so would her heart.

SALSA MCALLEN DANCE COMPANY

400 Nolana, Ste. Q, McAllen

(956) 566-9555

www.salsamcallen.com

Lerma was amid a cardiac crisis when Perez met her. She had undergone two open-heart surgeries and seven angioplasties, a procedure used to widen a narrow or clogged vessel in the heart. She took 12 pills daily for her heart and blood. Weekly check-ups limited her travel; she even canceled a trip overseas because doctors didn’t want her to be so far away from their care.

“I was afraid to have her in my class. I remember thinking, ‘If this woman dies in my class, my business is over,’” he said, Lerma laughing at his account.

It’s true, she agreed.

She had always loved dancing. She married her husband, the late Valley football legend E.C. Lerma, because he was a good dancer, she said. But despite having two coaches in the family – her son John Lerma is also a well-known Valley coach – she was never a “runner or walker.” Her inactivity and poor diet soon pushed the petite Lerma up to 154 pounds.

At the time of her 50th wedding anniversary party in 1994, she was two months into open-heart surgery recovery. Her children planned to hire a band and asked her doctor if she would be up for dancing. He said “that would be the best thing for her.”

Eight years later, the advice was still good. That’s when a good friend recommended she start dancing.

Perez got her moving and immediately changed her eating habits as well. She’s now 117 pounds, a result of dancing five times a week, and she has “a bust again.”

His method is neither a magical formula nor a special dance move that melts away pounds. It’s simply about portions; eat a small amount of anything you want. Simple, Perez said.

Lerma says her house is still full of cookies and pies; she just watches her serving size. She also loves fresh produce and buys everything that’s in season.

And it’s never too late to start, said Perez, a Miami native and dietician who has been dancing for 33 years.

“You know how many people give up who are in their 60s and 70s?” he said. “Now our only concern is who she’s going to outlive.”

Sandra Gonzalez covers features and entertainment for The Monitor. You can reach her at (956) 683-4427.