Anyone who is great at ballroom dancing is considered the life of the party. With ballroom dancing, you can let loose and have fun! This form of dance helps you let go of your inhibitions in any social situation, not to mention that it gives you the chance to meet new friends with similar interests. It is a great way to enhance your social skills. However, it does more than just improve your social skills. Ballroom dancing is beneficial to your health as well. Taking ballroom dance classes will give you a lot of health benefits. It’s best to find out how ballroom dancing can improve your health, especially if you’re still considering to learn ballroom dancing. So start moving your body and reap its benefits! Whether you are interested in the fun, health benefits, or just the ballroom dancing partner this can be a lifelong pastime.
Reduces Weight
Did you know that you can burn 250 to 300 calories in one hour of moderate ballroom dancing? In fact, ballroom dancing burns twice as much calories as walking, swimming, bicycling, or playing tennis.
Because it gives you an active role in your weight loss or maintenance efforts, ballroom dancing is an ideal way to keep your body in shape. Every move, turn, glide, kick, sway, bend, and bounce helps in increasing your heart rate and oxygen consumption, which are two important factors in burning calories.
Promotes the Coordination of Mind and Body
Ballroom dancing trains you on proper mind and body coordination (and that of your partner), as you move to certain rhythms and glide across the floor.You won’t gain that from exercising in front of a mirror or working out on a treadmill.
Tones Muscles
With ballroom dancing, you get to use various muscle groups for various dances. For instance, you do long, sweeping steps backwards when you dance the foxtrot, which is way different from the usual exercises such as walking on the treadmill. Ballroom dancing, which is a low-impact activity, can tone and make the thigh, calf, and buttock muscles stronger. In addition, it can improve balance, flexibility, posture, and endurance.
Improves the Condition of the Heart and Circulatory System
Dancing the samba or tango is good for both your heart and circulatory system. Experts recommend ballroom dancing for controlling blood pressure, minimizing the risk of coronary heart disease, improving blood circulation, and increasing good cholesterol levels in the body. Also, studies found that ballroom dancing beginners are likely to enhance their heart rates by warming up for 5 minutes and dancing cha-cha, polka, or swing in 20 minutes.
Enhances Brain Function
Various studies found that the mental activities associated with ballroom dancing can boost blood flow to the brain, thus reducing the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Ballroom dancing involves learning and memorizing complicated steps, concentrating on the rhythm of music, and working with your partner. These activities strengthen and exercise your brain.
Reduces Stress
Stress is one of the leading causes of health problems. Many people take ballroom dancing classes to get some distraction after suffering from traumatic experience such as death of a loved one or a recent divorce.
The social interaction you get from ballroom dancing can help you cope with stress and depression. With improved health and social skills, you boost your mood and self-esteem. Ballroom dancing, accompanied by soothing music, can calm you and ease your tension.
Convinced of the health gains from ballroom dancing? So, what are you waiting for? Take ballroom dancing classes, let loose, and have fun!