The Numerous Benefits Of Dancing
Why should you learn how to dance? Well, there are tons of reasons. In this article we'll take a look at some of the most obvious ones. There are many health as well as social benefits of dancing. Let's take a closer look at them:
Burning calories - dancing helps you get in shape and stay in shape. It's a great way to burn calories, lose weight, and tone your body. With dancing you can burn similar amounts of calories as you would with jogging, swimming or bicycling. It depends, of course, on which dance you choose and how much oomph you put into it. Jive, for example, is more energy demanding than waltz.
Mental Exercise - Besides being a terrific aerobic workout, dancing is also a great mental exercise. Just think about how much brain activity is needed in order to dance - from remembering the steps to reaction time, quick decision making, communication, focus, music, emotions, and so on. This is especially beneficial to elderly people. It has been shown in numerous studies that dancing can reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Fun - dancing is fun, no doubt about it. It elevates your mood and wards off stress and depression. It's a great stress relief after a hard day at work. Some even say that it is a form of meditation. It definitely builds self-confidence and improves the harmony between our minds and bodies.
Socializing - dancing gives you a wonderful opportunity to meet new people and develop new friendships. It will help you build social skills and improve your social life.
But this is definitely not all. The list of benefits could go on and on. From increased energy and stamina, to improved posture, decreased blood pressure and cholesterol, stronger bones, better coordination etc., etc... We have to stop somewhere.
Who can enjoy dancing? Everyone. No matter what age, shape, or size you are - if you can walk, you can dance. If you don't know how, learn. It's really not as difficult as you might think.