Dancing is a wonderful physical and social activity that can improve your fitness and health, lift your spirits, reduce stress, and offer a fun experience, all at the same time! I speak from personal experience, as well as, my public health background. When done properly, dancing:
- Improves blood circulation throughout the body
- Helps to reduce your risk of chronic diseases like cancer, cardiovascular (heart) disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and depression
- Strengthens your immune system and ability to resist colds, illness, and infections
- Helps you maintain a healthy weight
- Raises your metabolic rate, which helps you burn calories faster and lose unnecessary pounds
- Keeps you fit and flexible
- Improves muscle tone, strength, and endurance
- Improves coordination and balance, which can prevent accidents and falls
- Improves your posture
- Helps to strengthen your bones and reduce your risk of osteopenia and osteoporosis, since dance is a weight-bearing activity
- Helps you to meet new people
- Builds self confidence
- Increases self esteem
- Improves your spatial awareness
- Improves your concentration and ability to focus
- Improves poise and gracefulness
- Improves your social skills
- Enhances an overall sense of well-being, promotes a positive outlook, and makes you happy to be alive
- Is a moderate physical activity that is generally healthy and safe for your joints and body (According to the United States Department of Agriculture’s [USDA] physical activity guidelines, adults should get at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity daily.)
- Provides mental stimulation and improved oxygenated blood flow for a healthy brain, especially when you take classes to improve your technique, memorize steps, or work with a partner
- Is a “sport” you can engage in throughout your life, with beautiful music, moderate aerobic activity, and social interaction
- Provides a temporary escape from normal daily activities, a chance to relax, relieve stress, reduce loneliness, and have a great time
- Helps you to feel young and energetic, no matter what age you are
Group lessons are an excellent, economical, and fun way to learn how to dance and can be just as helpful as private lessons, depending on the instructor.
Private lessons help to refine your technique, arm movements, footwork, frame, and posture, as well as, provide opportunities to prepare for and engage in competition with other dancers.
For those of you in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, or the Delaware Valley, a wonderful place for dance instruction and social dancing is:
Dance Haddonfield
USA Dance Delaware Valley Chapter 3012
Grace Episcopal Church, 19 East Kings Highway, Haddonfield, New Jersey, 08033
Dancing every Sunday from 6pm-10:30pm
Intermediate lessons (6pm-7pm)
Beginner lessons (7pm-8pm)
Social dancing (8pm-10:30pm)
Wishing you good health and happiness throughout the holidays and New Year!
References:
- “Dance Haddonfield- The Cure for 2 Left Feet.” (Source: www.dancehaddonfield.org/2leftfeet.html).
- “Dancing: Fitness the Fun Way!” Public Health Category: www.dianesays.com. 02/17/12.
- “USA Dance Chapters-Find a Local Chapter.” USA Dance, Inc. (Source: www.usadance.org>chapters. Office: (800) 447-9047; Fax: (239) 573-0946).
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