Are you the type of person who hates going to the gym because it makes you feel like a hamster on a wheel? Does the idea of lacing up running shoes and going for a jog sound just as appealing as doing a sink full of dishes? Or maybe physical-ed in high school gave you the sweats because you weren’t athletically inclined or well coordinated. Whatever your reason for avoiding headbands and stretchy pants, there’s still a great way for you to get your fitness in.
Dancing could possibly be one of the oldest forms of exercise, but its age is difficult to ascertain because unlike activities like art or the Ancient Olympics, dancing in itself doesn’t leave any physical reminders. But what is certain is the evolution its forms have taken, and the health benefits it provides.
In its first records, dancing was used as healing and a form of expression, and has grown today to be one of the most popular exercise outlets around. Its many styles are almost too numerous to count: ballroom, modern, contemporary, ballet, jazz, hip hop, and many others. And the health benefits it provides, especially in contrast to other, more structured, activities outnumber its styles.
This isn’t to say that a spinning class or soccer game doesn’t provide an excellent workout because it does; rather, the focus is that classes and organized sports require a higher level of commitment in time, money, and organization. For example, taking part in a spinning class requires you to find a rec center that provides it, sign up for a set number of classes, purchase the appropriate clothing, and take time out of your day to attend. Over time, the cost of this can begin to outstrip the value.
Dancing, on the other hand, can be free, performed anywhere, and doesn’t require any outfit other than something that’s comfortable to move in. Its flexibility also means that while you can sign up for classes or tournaments if you want, you also have the option of staying at home moving along to a Zumba game on your Nintendo Wii.
The cost-effective, portable qualities of dancing mean that nobody is relegated from enjoying it: toddlers can begin as soon as they’ve acquired sufficient muscle and motor control; teens can use it as a way of forming an identity and learning how to transition and navigate into their adult years; and seniors can dance to keep limber and in shape far beyond their most active years. Income also is no deterrent, for rich and poor people alike can simply get up and move. Even people with physical disabilities, possibly excluded from fitness activities like basketball or mountain climbing, can adapt moves to suit themselves and their abilities and share in one of the oldest forms of exercise.
Doctors are also a fan of their patients dancing, too, for the multiple health benefits patients can access that aren’t as readily available in other outlets. A 2003 study by Joe Verghese, M.D. et al. published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that elderly people without baseline dementia who participated in ballroom dancing twice a week were less likely to develop dementia; in a related thread, people with dementia who danced to music recognizable to them showed the ability to recall forgotten memories.
And for the calorie-counting health-conscious folks, dancing is one of the easiest and fastest ways to work your way to a fitter, healthier you. While it’s not as efficient at burning calories as activities like sprinting, backpacking or basketball, it’s still an excellent way of cutting calories. An average-sized adult can burn anywhere from 150–250 calories in a one-hour session, depending on their level of fitness and the type of dancing they’re doing. While that number can easily be doubled with other activities, it’s important to remember that something like flag football requires assembling a team, changing into workout clothes, heading to the field, playing the game, and then going back home again- valuable time that could instead be spent on easily three sessions.
No form of exercise should be discouraged, but dancing is one of the best all-around ways of having fun while squeezing in a workout. Because dancing has an unlimited number of styles and moves, only your imagination limits your future and where you can take it. So, whether you’re do-si-dohing with your friends at a weekly class, salsaing to the bus stop or popping and locking along to MTV, remember that dancing is one form of exercise that welcomes everyone into its fold. Grab a pair of shoes, put on your favorite song, and feel your troubles and tensions melting away. You don’t have to be a pro to get a kick out of dancing, just someone who wants to take part.
For more information on dance lessons or to get involved with a dance studio in your area visit DanceHub. Discover dance studios, dance instructors, and dance classes near you.
