Dancing isn’t only fun, it’s good for you! Dancing is a great way to get moving and get socially active!
Here are some benefits of dancing:
- Depression
Dancing keeps you active and social, which is a good way to reduce loneliness and depression. It also acts as a stress reliever.
- Strength and balance
Dance classes can increase strength and balance. Try faster dances, like the tango, which requires fast movement and good posture. Dancing frequently will help you stabilize and gain better control of your body movements.
- Your heart
Dances like the waltz have been known to improve heat health and breathing. These kinds of dances are great for people with risk for cardiovascular disease.
- Dementia
Dance has also been known to boost memory and studies have shown that aerobic exercise can reverse the shrinking of the hippocampus, the part of the brain that controls memory. The hippocampus naturally shrinks as we age and can result in memory loss and dementia.
- Weight loss
Exercise routines can get boring after a while. Adding some dance will keep it fun and interesting. It’s also a good idea to do different dances to keep it interesting and reap the benefits of a varied exercise routine.
- Flexibility
Practicing stretches, such as ballet stretches, at home can help your overall flexibility. Increasing flexibility will help with overall joint stiffness, joint pain and balance.
There are so many reasons to get up and dance! You can look for classes at your local community center, gyms or senior centers. So, let’s dance!