Are you one of those people who want to stay in shape yet dislike a monotonous workout in the gym? Would you rather spend a fun hour dancing to upbeat Latin music rather than a tedious hour on the treadmill? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you really ought to try ballroom dancing! Plus it is a great way to socialize while getting many a health benefit.
There are many studies that show social dancing is an exceptional form of exercise. Mayo Clinic researchers claim social dancing helps “boost energy, improve strength, increase muscle tone and coordination all while reducing stress.” And not only in America have studies shown its value. In Italy, researchers found that 21 minutes of dancing just three times a week has cardiovascular benefits equal to a bicycle or treadmill workout.
Typical exercises can improve your bones and muscles but experts claim that dancing is the best workout when it comes to increasing your metabolism. Dances such as Jive and Salsa actually require surprisingly large amounts of energy. Dance increases your heart rate while consuming stored fats in your body. Ballroom dancing is definitely an enjoyable way to lose weight! Ballroom dancing tones your muscles, strengthens your core and improves your skin. So you look and feel better all while burning calories on the dance floor!
And what did the National Heart, Ling and Blood Institute (NHLBI) say about dancing? Well, they indicated that dancing can decrease your blood pressure, aid you in managing your weight, lower your risk of coronary heart diseases and strengthen your bones, especially those on your hips and legs. The good just keeps coming.
The New England Journal of Medicine reported, when looking for ways to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia in the elderly, that dancing does just this.
Like most exercises, the amount of benefit you get from dancing depends on the type and intensity. Exercise physiologist Catherine Cram of Comprehensive Consulting in Middleton, Wisconsin, stated that “a terrific workout occurs when a person gets his or her heart rate up (and) … dance is a weight-bearing activity which builds bones.”
You really ought to try ballroom dancing today and enjoy all its benefits!
Today, after first trading in her ballet shoes for a dojo and later the dojo for ballroom dance shoes, Blaze Smith is rediscovering the many faces of dance. You can watch her free video on ballroom dancing while pregnant here. And if you are looking for a great ballroom dance studio in Westchester, NY, take a look at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Mamaroneck that she prefers.
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