Get Your Groove On

The popularity of reality shows like “So You Think You Can Dance” and “Dancing With The Stars” confirm that people really like to watch other people dance. Did you know that if you get off the couch and start dancing, you’ll not only have fun but get some great health benefits as well?

There is a dance style out there that is bound to get you grooving. With a wide range of options, from ballroom to hip-hop, rock-n-roll to ballet, you can choose the one that resonates with you. Dancing in any form offers numerous benefits, including weight loss, improved flexibility, better posture, stress reduction, and increased stamina. In fact, a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that individuals who danced at least twice a week had a lower risk of developing dementia as they grew older. The aerobic exercise involved in dancing helps maintain brain volume, especially in the hippocampus, which naturally undergoes shrinkage during the aging process and is linked to memory loss and dementia.

Furthermore, an Italian study conducted on individuals with heart failure revealed that those who engaged in waltzing experienced improvements in heart health, breathing, and overall quality of life when compared to those who participated in more traditional forms of exercise such as walking on a treadmill or cycling. So, whether you’re seeking physical fitness, cognitive benefits, or an enhanced sense of well-being, dancing is a fantastic choice that offers a multitude of advantages.

So what are you waiting for? Here are some tips to help you dance your way to fitness:

• Take it slow. If you haven’t been exercising regularly, you should pick a dance style that allows you to slowly but steadily increase your strength and balance before you take on the more strenuous forms.
• Mix it up. Don’t be afraid to try different forms of dance to see which ones you enjoy most and which work best for your level of stamina.
• Don’t Give Up. New experiences can cause some discomfort but, if you give it some time, your confidence will increase as you really get the steps down.
• Don’t go it alone. Just like any other form of exercise, it is always more fun when you have a partner to help you get to dance class and stay involved.