Project Title: Mandala: movement, dance and connection
Selected for Scholarships 2009-10, Master of Design Management, School of Design, IED Barcelona

The senior population in Colombia doesn’t count with the necessary possibilities to have an optimal life quality. In these age is very important the physical activity in means of counteract the health problems associated with age due to the reduction of movement, the leisure activities are also important in means of socialization because culture and the job retirement carry them to isolation. For that reason Mandala stops the isolation process and the mobility atrophy.

Mandala is a module designed to help the mobility and stretching exercises, through following a musical rhythm. According to research the music is an issue in seniors leisure time because it brings them youth memories and make them feel good.

In Bogota city  are 300 groups, at least, formed by retired adults, who belong to middle low class, that get together to exercise with an instructor provided by the IDRD (The Recreation and sports district institute), most of them are at least 60 year women and they practice following a leader.

The Mandala module improves the sports practice because the seniors actually don´t do the exercises well, it might be due to the physical decay or just because they don’t understand each movement because of the distance or the lack of a closer referent.  It will help giving emphasis to ludic, socialization, and the interest for music and dance.

Work out will be in 4 people groups, with two stages: warming and dancing. This way of work out will generate motivation, better understanding of exercises and cooperation within participants.

The module can be easily disassembled by releasing the rubber strip and letting the central part apart and stacking the arms, it can be stored in the room where the practice take place.

The material is guadua, a plant from bamboo family with rapid growth and great strength, also with sustainable benefits because the market development of this material in rural regions can bring economical, social and environmental benefits.  In addition this is the material which some of the typical musical instruments are made of, so it refers the object to dance and music.