These days, people love to watch other people dance. Competitive dance shows like So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing With the Stars ​are dominating the world of reality television. What you may not realize, however, is that if you get off the couch and dance yourself. It’s a great way to keep your body and mind healthy. Studies show that dancing can help you lose weight, stay flexible, reduce stress, make friends, and more.

 

What are you waiting for? Start reaping the many health benefits of dance today.

 

Forever Young

Dancing is tremendously beneficial in keeping us young. It retards the aging process immensley. It benefits our heart, cardiovascular system and increases lung capacity.  An Italian study found that people with heart failure who took up waltzing improved their heart health, breathing, and quality of life significantly compared to those who biked or walked on a treadmill for exercise. The muscle exertion and breathing rates of dancers performing in one dance competition is equivalent to those of cyclists, swimmers and an Olympic-level 800-meter runner.



​Calorie Blaster

Dance exercises our bodies to allow for increased circulation. It helps us burn those calories away. It is estimated that a dancer burns anywhere from 5 to 10 calories per minute, depending on speed and intensity. Just as other forms of exercise, dancing  builds endurance, which is the ability of muscles to work hard for increasingly longer periods of time without fatigue. Regular dancing is great for improving endurance, especially vigorous dancing such as line and ballroom dancing. Elevating the heart rate can increase stamina.

 

​Mental Mastery

Dance improves memory by making us recall steps, routines and dance patterns-a great mental exercise for our brains. The big benefit is that increasing mental exercise keeps your mind young, quick, and alert. According to a study in The New England Journal of Medicine, dancing boosts your memory and prevents dementia. Science reveals that aerobic exercise can reverse volume loss in the hippocampus, the part of the brain that controls memory. The hippocampus naturally shrinks during late adulthood, which can lead to impaired memory and sometimes dementia.



Strong Bones, Lubricated Joints

Dance prevents and treatments bone loss - osteoporosis and keeps joints lubricated, which helps prevent arthritis.

 

​Reduce Stress

If you’re feeling tense or stressed out, you might want to grab a partner, turn up the music, and dance! In a controlled study in the Journal of Applied Gerontology, researchers found that partner dance and musical accompaniment can bring about stress relief. Exercise is one of the best ways to reduce stress. “When you exercise, your body releases endorphins, which are hormones that fight stress,” says Frank Lupin, MS, ATC, PES, a certified athletic trainer and a personal trainer for Coordinated Health in Bethlehem, Pa.“Exercise helps you get your mind off your problems and clears your head,” adds Thomas Plante, PhD, an associate professor of psychology at Santa Clara University in California.

 

Socially Satisfying

Dancing is a social activity. Studies have shown that having strong social ties and socializing with friends contribute to high self-esteem and a positive outlook. Dancing provides many opportunities to meet and interact with other people. Joining a dance class can increase self-confidence and build social skills. Dancing has no cultural barriers. People from all parts of the world, meet on the dance floor. Cultural interaction improves our health by expanding our mind and sharing our spirit!

 

A Happy Self

Dancing is a great way to add excitement to your life. Although learning to dance takes concentration and dedication, you will be constantly surrounded by artistic, cheerful people who make learning a pleasurable and rewarding experience. Dance elevates our mood by raising our endorphin levels. It helps us establish our self-confidence and self-discipline. It improves the harmony between our mind and body, giving us a sense of well-being - happiness!!!   According to a study that tested the effects of dancing on people with depression. patients who participated in an upbeat group dance showed the fewest depression symptoms and the most vitality.  Grab a friend and go out dancing tonight.

 

Improve Balance and Coordination
It's All About Balance. According to a study in the Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, dancing can improve balance in aging adults. Dancing requires a lot of fast movement and good posture, so frequent dancing will help you stabilize and gain better control of your body. Dancing also aids in co-ordination and helps strengthen reflexes. It is a great way to keep the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system in tip-top shape by improving the mind-body connection.

 

Groomed to perfection

Dancing is not only fun and romantic, but it also helps to promote good grooming. Everybody wants to look his or her best while they dance. 

 

Increase Energy
Can’t seem to find your get-up-and-go? Taking a dance class might help. Research published in The Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition found that a weekly dance program can improve physical performance and increase energy levels among adults. When you learn how to dance, your entire mental outlook takes on a fresh sense of creativity, motivation, and energy.