Health Benefits of Ballroom Dancing
Moving to music appeals to our most primitive instincts: dance has been a part of culture for as long as man has walked the earth. It stimulates the senses - sight, sound and touch - it's great fun and it's good for our bodies and minds.
To help stay healthy, it is recommended that everyone take part in 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity five times a week. And the good news is that dancing counts!
Most dance styles, even a graceful waltz, are the activity equivalent of at least a moderate (3mph) walk. Anyone who ballroom dances themselves around a room will raise their heart rate, warm up and breathe quickly. Regular dancing provides numerous health benefits, such as reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and cancer. And you'll enjoy yourself so much you'll forget you're exercising!
Dancing also helps to reduce the risk of osteoporosis because the steps put a strain on your bones, helping them to stay strong and dense. The dips, turns and side-to-side movements in dance routines make good use of your muscles and joints, helping to delay the progression of osteoarthritis.
Whether it seems that way or not, dancing is intense aerobic exercise. This fact alone explains why ballroom dancing has such a positive effect on one's health. Now think for a second, which would you rather do: a strenuous painful hour on the treadmill or a fun and fast-paced hour of latin dancing? For most, the latter is clearly more appealing. However, not only is dance great for cardio, it is truly a whole body workout. Out of many physical activities, dancing is considered to be one of the top five. An average adult can burn between 200 and 500 calories during an hour of dance, depending on the intensity of the workout, while improving flexibility and posture.
Exercise releases endorphins, or feel good chemicals into your blood stream. This means that even a little dancing can improve your mood. A long stressful and tense day at work or school can be balanced with just half an hour of dance. Still, dancing can do more than just cure depression or help you lose weight. Ballroom is good for your brain. In fact, a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that dancing can diminish the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's because it is both a physical and social activity that requires a certain degree of memorization.
In addition, researchers encourage ballroom dancing as a great way to develop strong social ties, which contributes to self- esteem and a positive outlook.
Some of the major health benefits of ballroom dancing:
- Burn calories
- Reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer
- Reduce the risk of osteoporosis and Alzheimer's
- Improve flexibility and posture
- Improve coordination and balance
- Increase muscle tone and strength
- Relieve stress and improve your mood
- Develop social ties and elevate your self-esteem
- And many more!
