Dancing is a fun, multifaceted physical activity that can improve lower-body muscle endurance and balance. It also helps prevent falls and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and death.
Dance is an inclusive exercise that adults of all ages and abilities can undertake. It benefits older adults with various medical conditions such as dementia, Parkinson’s, arthritis and heart disease.
It Improves Your Social Skills
Dancing is a great way to build social skills, especially when taking dance classes with others. Research shows it can even help children will trouble socializing in school and elsewhere.
When you take dancing classes with other students and make new friends for fun, the upbeat environment is accessible. You’ll have the opportunity to meet people of all ages and from all walks of life and likely make some great friends along the way.
Furthermore, dance is an excellent outlet for creative expression, which can be especially helpful for kids who don’t feel comfortable talking to other students about their feelings. It’s also a good exercise for your body since it requires you to make split-second decisions about what moves to execute and how to do them.
In addition, taking dance classes with professionals like DivaDance will increase your confidence and give you a sense of accomplishment when you learn a new dance routine or perform it on stage. It is a great way to develop your self-esteem and confidence in other aspects of your life.
It Burns Fat
If you want to burn calories and tone up your body, dancing may be just the thing. This cardio activity is perfect for people of all ages, shapes and sizes.
It is also suitable for your mental health as it can help you feel more relaxed and improve your mood. Plus, dancing is a fun way to exercise and laugh with friends.
Aside from burning calories, dancing can help you maintain bone density, essential for healthy aging. Per the National Osteoporosis Foundation, high-impact, weight-bearing exercises like effective dancing promote bone health and reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
Depending on the type of dance and your body weight, 30 minutes of dancing can burn between 90 and 252 calories. This calorie-burning exercise can support weight loss and help you meet the American Heart Association’s recommended 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity weekly.
It Builds Muscle
Dance is a great way to burn fat and build muscle. It can help you get the desired results from strength training, tone, and strengthening bones.
You don’t need to be a professional dancer to enjoy the health benefits of dancing. Just pick a style of dance that you want and start dancing!
As an aerobic exercise, dancing can increase your HDL cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol) and lower your risk of heart disease. It also improves your lung function and reduces blood pressure.
Dancing is a good choice for people who have difficulty staying motivated to do other forms of exercise. It’s a fun way to keep moving and a social activity that makes you feel connected.
Unlike most gym workouts, dance requires agility, balance, and various movement speeds. Studies of older populations have shown that dancing improves these skills, which may reduce the risks of falls.
It Strengthens Bones
Dance is a great way to strengthen your bones, which can be important for people who have osteoporosis or other bone health problems. It is also an excellent exercise for young people and adults of all ages, including the elderly.
Bone strength is essential for long-term health. Weakness in the bones can lead to fractures and other problems like arthritis.
You must consume enough calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus to develop strong bones. These nutrients help the bone-building cells, called osteoblasts, to create stronger bones.
Weight-bearing exercises such as dancing are a great way to protect your bones against osteoporosis and other bone conditions.
However, dancers who don’t eat well or train hard enough may develop bone density problems. These can result from hormone imbalance, such as delayed menarche (onset of menses) or amenorrhea (loss of menstrual cycle).
To prevent these problems, dancers should consume a healthy calcium, magnesium and phosphorus diet. They should also get plenty of vitamin D necessary for calcium absorption.
It Keeps Your Brain Sharp
Dance is a form of physical exercise accessible to people of all fitness levels. It can be a great way to improve your balance and coordination while strengthening your muscles and bones.
In addition, studies have shown that dancing can increase memory retention. By increasing your neuroplasticity, which is your brain’s ability to reorganize itself over time, dancing helps reduce your risk of age-related memory problems.
Research has also found that regular dancing, especially social dance, increases volume in the hippocampus, which is associated with short-term and long-term memory. It helps to prevent cognitive decline and dementia, which occurs when the hippocampus becomes damaged or shrinks.
It also helps to improve your cognitive flexibility and the ability to adapt to new situations. It is essential for older adults who may become prone to falling, and it can help to keep you from becoming too frazzled.
