Do you know partner dancing such as Ballroom, Latin, Country Western, & Swing just might be the perfect way to stay fit from our youth through our golden years. Dancing has numerous health benefits and it breaks up the monotony of a regular run of the mill fitness routine.
Each season on television shows such as Dancing with the Stars, contestants go on and on about how much weight they lose or how much better shape they are in from dancing. Granted they are dancing a lot. Hours and hours a day to prepare for each weeks show but on a smaller scale each and every one of us can benefit from partner dancing!
Why is dancing so good for everyone?
1. It gets us up and moving. It raises the heart rate which benefits cardiovascular health.
2. It is weight-bearing so it is good for maintaining or possibly increasing bone density.
3. It utilizes the core muscles which in turn helps to maintain a strong healthy back.
4. It helps to develop balance and coordination. Falls as we get older are often associated with a decrease in balance.
5. It has many cognitive benefits as it a complex mental activity. Did you know that an article in the New England Journal of Medicine found dancing, YES DANCING!, to be "the only physical activity associated with a lower risk of dementia" in a study of the risks of dementia in the elderly.(Of the 11 types of physical activity in the study)
Unlike many other forms of exercise that can actually cause excessive wear and tear on the joints or be too strenuous or demanding to continue into late adulthood, partner dancing can be enjoyed by virtually everybody. If you are looking to make a lifelong commitment to you health and well being, dancing should be an activity that is at the top of your list!
Below is the link to the NEJM article mentioned above.
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa022252#t=articleResults
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