Improves Cardiovascular Health

Dancing is a great way of improving cardiovascular health and function. Most health experts recommend at least 150-300 minutes per week of moderate-intensity exercise or 75-150 minutes per week of vigorous-intensity dancing activity for adults to maintain a healthy heart. A study conducted by an Australian team surveyed almost 50,000 adults about their hobbies and followed them up 12 years later. The results revealed that those who danced regularly had a 46% reduced risk of stroke or heart attack, more so than other types of activities at the same intensity. Relatively, the study found that frequent walkers, for example, didn’t benefit to the same degree as dancers.

Improves Brain Health

Brain imaging studies have shown that dancing can greatly increase the brain’s hippocampus - an area that plays an important role in learning, memory, and navigation in space. Thus, memory abilities such as planning and organizing improve with exercises like dancing. Research further indicates that dancing can help to maintain and boost one’s ability to think whiles aging.  In a study, participants in their 60s were asked either to take up dancing, once a week for 18 months or do a more traditional workout. After 18 months, brain scans were run on each of the participants to check for the effects on their hippocampus. Although both groups experienced an increase in the size of the hippocampus, the change was more remarkable in the dancing group. Dancing involves expressive movements of the body, more than in other activities. These rhythmic movements also challenge the brain with multi-tasks in the process of dancing.

Fitness with pleasure

Some people argue that dance beats other forms of exercise. The reason is partly that dance combines several important aspects: music, movement, and social activity. Jonathan Tylicki is a professional at AKT, a boutique fitness concept rooted in dance. He notes that one of the reasons dancing is such a great form of physical fitness is because it incorporates movements on all planes of motion and from all directions. According to Jonathan, movements that we typically do in our daily life, like walking, taking the stairs, and common workouts like treadmills and cycling, occur in the sagittal plane. However, dancing works the body from all planes, including lateral and rotational. As such, no muscle is left behind.

Improves Balance and Flexibility

Unlike other forms of exercise, dance has the additional benefits of improving balance through rhythm and music. Balance helps to build core strength, which helps promote good posture and prevent muscle injuries and back pain. Dance such as ballet trains the body to stand still, often on one leg. This helps to further train the deep muscles in the body, Also, many other forms of dance stretch the limbs of the body, which improves flexibility. Improved strength and flexibility both contribute to improved balance and can help to avoid falls and reduce the risk of injury.

Relaxes The Body and Boosts Mood

A dance accompanied by music allows a person to let loose and escape into a different realm. This helps to reduce stress, decreases the symptoms of anxiety and depression, and boosts one’s self-esteem.

Dancing is a valuable way to improve one’s general health and fitness. Aside from the health benefits, dancing can be more fun with a touch of new routines and styles. So, put on your dancing shoes and challenge yourself to it.

REFERENCE

Information from https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1Hpr6R1f4M7f8Qc6fPGH2hg/why-dancing-is-the-best-way-to-enhance-your-brain-and-fitness, https://www.healthline.com/health/fitness-exercise/benefits-of-dance#benefits-for-kids, https://www.everydayhealth.com/fitness-pictures/health-benefits-of-dance.aspx  was used in this story