LOS ANGELES — The Flame Fit is an exercise class with sounds and movement derived from flamenco dancing. For instructor Coco Cabrel, the dance form is not only how she stays physically fit, but also mentally fit.

“You know flamenco for me has always been my therapy," said Cabrel.

A long-time flamenco dancer and trained medical doctor, Cabrel had just launched her own wellness business before the outbreak of the pandemic. She lost her clients when the first shutdowns were implemented back in March of 2020.

Going through her own downward spiral, she began to lean into flamenco, dancing around downtown L.A., and in her home.

That’s what led to her creating an accessible flamenco fitness class over Zoom. It was the realization of a longtime dream of hers to bring the dance form to everyone.

“Through all of these years of teaching dance, I always knew it was always hard to reach out and let’s say, recruit people who are non-dancers," said Cabrel.

The Flame Fit was launched in her living room right after Thanksgiving and now offers classes twice a week.

Because of her medical background, she teaches the movements from an anatomy and physiology standpoint with a focus on posture.

Most of her students are over 40. Her oldest, Carol Beaumont, is 81.

While Beaumont lives with her husband, she has felt very isolated during the pandemic.

“I can count on the hour making me feel better, during the hour and afterward", said Beaumont.

Throughout her time at home she has also felt sedentary. But after two months of Cabrel's flamenco classes, she's noticed it’s helping her mobility.

“I have a replaced hip and very serious back problems, but even that is being helped by the posture," said Beaumont.

Flamenco’s roots come from a place of oppression in Southern Spain, which Cabrel says can be related to the current climate today. So the dance that for her is therapy, she’s now using to uplift others.

“Sort of my way of offering this to other people, so that they can use it in their healing," said Cabrel.