Whether you flaunt your every move on the dance floor or sway to your favourite songs in the car, dance is an exercise that everybody enjoys, one way or another. Dancing is that will not only bring a smile to your face but can also help develop your physical and mental health. It is a great exercise that gets your mind and muscles working no matter who you are. With so many styles of Dance, it’s easy to find your favourite once you get started. Enjoy your preferred pass time while also gaining all of these great benefits with every step you take.
1. Increase Strength and Overall Health – Dancing is exercise so, naturally, it will assist in strengthening your bones and tissues. As your strength increases, you will have more energy to continue dancing. Your improved level of physical activity that can help prevent illnesses such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease and reduce the risk of osteoporosis as your bones become stronger.
2. Boost Memory – When you practice dance moves, the levels of chemicals in your brain that stimulate nerve cells to grow is increased and since dancing needs you to remember several steps and sequences, your brainpower is boosted which helps to develop your memory. Dancing includes several brain functions at once- kinesthetic, rational, musical, and emotional. Utilizing all of these at the same time can greatly increase your neural activity, helping to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
3. Improve Flexibility – Stretching before and after the dancing is very crucial to getting the most out of your movements and avoiding injury. As you continue dancing you will be stretching more consistently and will see how each stretch will become easier to complete. With this increased flexibility you will notice you have a wider range of motion and your dancing will become much easier.
4. Increase Balance – To complete each movement and sequence correctly, you will need to be able to maintain a stable centre of gravity. As you learn each movement and begin to gain improved flexibility and strength, your posture, balance and spatial awareness will naturally begin to improve, making each move simpler for you to complete.
5. Healthy Heart and Lungs – Dancing is excellent cardiovascular exercise. As you continue to dance and notice your strength and grace improving, you will witness an improvement in your stamina. Your heart rate will stay steady longer and you will not have the feeling of being out of breath as the condition of your heart and lungs enhances.
6. Reduce Stress – When you are grooving, your body is fully in that moment, focused on the music and your surroundings. Being around friends or that someone special to enjoy dancing to your favourite music can help you focus on strictly the moment you are in and aid in reducing the amount of cortisol your brain produces, lowering your stress and tension levels.
7. Lose Weight – The constant movement that dancing provides, utilizes multiple muscle groups at the same time, serving to tone your entire body. A study in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology found that an exercise program of aerobic dance training is just as effective as jogging or cycling to enhance body composition and aerobic strength. You may even notice a real shift in your eating habits as you begin to feel healthier from your dancing, which also will aid in weight management.
8. Increase Social Improvement & Confidence – Everybody enjoys meeting new personalities and dancing provides a fun atmosphere to meet characters who have the same interest as you- they want to learn how to dance! This type of atmosphere is perfect to either utilize your social skills if you are outgoing or to help strengthen your social skills if you have a quiet nature. Dancing is a great way to meet new friends and develop your social outlook while in an atmosphere where you can feel safe and comfortable. So… dance lessons can be beneficial in so many other ways! Contact us today, at SSDA to get started on your dance journey, & put these benefits of Dance to work for your life.