"The groundwork of all happiness is health." - Leigh Hunt

Let's dance! How Rhythmic Movement Can Improve Your Health

Both music and exercise help prevent and reverse disease. Combining the 2 can have more advantages than either alone.


Photo: iStock

Dance is a universal human experience. We dance to specific joy, rejoice life events, and enact religious and cultural rituals. Dance also has physical and cognitive advantages which will exceed other types of exercise.

What dance does to your health

How to start

If you've ever danced, you understand how much fun it may well be. Even in case your rumba is just a little rusty or your back stride has slowed down, getting back into the swing might be easier than you’re thinking that. If you're not able to jump on the dance floor at the subsequent wedding or class reunion—perhaps you're just a little shy or feel like you have got two left feet—there are still ways you’ll be able to dance. can enjoy.

Take a category. Many Y's and senior centers offer some type of group instruction for people of all skill levels. You can take lessons in Tai Chi (a meditation practice often performed to relaxing music) and Zumba (an aerobic workout that mixes steps and movements with quite a lot of traditional dances, often Latin music). There is a possibility of Learning latest ballroom dance styles might be fun and difficult. If you don't have a partner, there's a world of people and line dancing that doesn't require pairing with one other person. Many dance studios and square dance and contra dance groups create a friendly atmosphere for people by promoting partner rotation, where you modify partners and dance with someone latest every time. You may additionally consider taking on (or resuming) tap, which builds bones, or ballet to strengthen core muscles and improve balance.

Dancing at home. If you desire to practice privately, there are a wide selection of dance instruction videos on the Internet, equivalent to the favored “Dance for Dummies,” which show the steps in slow motion and let you move at your personal pace. are Your public library may stock instructional dance videos which can be available to envision out. All you would like is comfortable clothing, a pair of supportive shoes, and enough room to maneuver freely.

“In any case you're getting the benefit of being connected to the music, so you're engaging a part of the brain that isn't necessarily being tapped when you're doing something more rote like walking. Yes,” says Dr. Elson