Dancing is the only activity out of 11 monitored in a 21 year study conducted by Albert Einstein College of Medicine deemed to lower the risk of memory-related diseases, so your physical health isn't the only benefactor of dancing to the music.
Dancing is great for someone who is trying to get a total mind, body and soul workout. Scientists are constantly discovering how dancing can help with brain functions as a person gets older. in addition, dancing can be a good workout for your joints without causing harm to your bones and joints.
What is dancing? The act of dancing entails anything from structured step sequences done to a particular kind of music, to free form moving to the beat of the music. Or it can be somewhere in between. The process of finding out what kind of beat you enjoy moving to can be interesting in and of itself.
Dance and Step into Action
Review the forms of dance to explore, pick one and look around for opportunities in your area to participate with other dancers. Belly, ballroom, clogging (stomping and tap steps), contra (men and women make square dance type of moves but in a line), flamenco, folk, jazz, line, modern, salsa, square and swing dancing are thirteen types to choose from.
Dance classes, some of them free, are given in a wide variety of places. Often, nightclubs offer different types of dance classes in the hour just prior to the live music beginning. A western bar might offer line-dancing classes while salsa classes are provided at a club that features Latino music.
Senior centers offer ballroom dancing opportunities. Community centers put on dances throughout the year. In addition, aerobic dance exercise programs are offered at gyms and health clubs nationwide.
How to Get Started with Dance
Shy? Crank the volume up on your stereo, cable music channel, or MP-3 player and dance in your own home. Dance through the whole house. Twirl or spin, twist and shout, point to the ceiling, and then to the floor with complete concentration. Enjoy getting healthier and happier with every step you make.
Emotional health is strongly linked with physical and chemical activities occurring in the body as you dance. Multiple studies since the early 2000s have reported the positive changes dancing can make for people of any age suffering from depression.
With so many mental, physical and emotional health benefits from such a non-exercise activity, the art of dance deserves to be checked out.
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References:
AARP
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