Ajit Karn
Health Benefits of Dancing: If the promise of a stronger, healthier, and more coordinated body isn’t enough to get you dancing, perhaps the pure joy of moving and grooving to music will. Whether you like to move fast or slow and prefer country or classical music, there’s a dance style for you. And each one offers benefits for your body and mind.
And with so many styles, why choose just one? Explore the options to discover what fits you best. Multiple venues –– such as studios and community centers –– offer dance classes. You can try following along with beginner-friendly dance videos or video games at home. But remember to talk to your healthcare provider before you crank up the tunes and get moving.
What are the Health benefits of dancing?
Dancing can enhance your physical and mental health, regardless of your experience level. Here is a brief overview of how dancing can help you maintain your health.
8 Health Benefits of Dancing
1. Improves heart health
The heart-healthy benefits of aerobic exercises such as walking, swimming, and cycling are beyond dispute. Add dancing to that list as well. The rhythmic movement may enhance older individuals’ aerobic fitness and reduce their risk of heart disease.
Adults who dance for exercise have a lower likelihood of dying from cardiac disease, according to a 2016 study. However, exercise intensity is vital. Dancing at a moderate intensity promoted cardiac health, whereas dancing at a low intensity did not. Therefore, sluggish dancing may not be vigorous enough to improve cardiovascular health. However, genres such as ballroom, salsa, and hip-hop might.
2. Increases muscle strength
Observing a ballet performance reveals that the delicate movement requires muscular strength and dexterity. However, is this statement applicable to other forms of dance? And does recreational dancing develop muscle in participants?
A expanding body of evidence indicates that many forms of dance can increase muscle strength. In a small-scale study, for instance, senior individuals took Greek dance lessons twice a week for eight months. They had improved leg strength, functional fitness, and overall health. Another study discovered that after 12 weeks, women who played a virtual dance video game had greater calf muscle mass.
3. Builds strong bones
Dancing and other weight-bearing exercises can increase bone density and strength. Higher-impact activities, such as hip-hop dancing, may be more effective than lower-impact activities at producing strong bones. However, you should not disregard low-impact dance genres. According to a recent study, square dancing may improve bone mineral density and lower-body strength.
4. Supports healthy exercise
Dancing can help you achieve this objective. Numerous dance genres, such as modern, folk, and square, will get your body moving and your pulse pumping.
If you discover a dance style that you truly appreciate, you will earn bonus points. This can motivate you to exercise and assist you in reaching other fitness objectives. Teenage females were studied to determine the effects of a 12-week dance video game. They observed that participation in the program was substantial. And by the end of the program, the females were more assertive and active.
5. Enhances balance, flexibility, and coordination
You may never be cast as a high-kicking Radio City Rockette who wears heels. However, dancing provides advances in balance, coordination, and flexibility that have other implications in daily life. According to a study, a variety of dance styles can help older individuals enhance their balance and flexibility.
These characteristics are also essential for cross-training. And dancing can complement other athletic activities. A small group of cross-country skiers who danced during their preseason were more flexible and experienced less back discomfort while skiing.
Also read: 8 Benefits of Working Out At Home
6. Boosts your brain power
Performing a sequence of dance steps requires more than merely athleticism. In addition, it requires focus, memory, and visual recognition abilities. This makes it an effective mental exercise as well. In fact, dancing may help elderly individuals maintain or improve cognitive abilities such as memory and focus.
Studies suggest that incorporating dance with conventional treatments can enhance the quality of life for Alzheimer’s disease patients. And one study revealed that senior adults who danced regularly had lower dementia rates than those who did not.
7. Lowers stress and lifts your spirits
For a mood boost, get up and get swaying. Several investigations on the mental health benefits of dancing have concluded as much. In one study, experienced dancers reported feeling calmer and more confident after companion dancing.
Complex factors explain why dancing can improve your mood. It is likely due to the mood-enhancing effects of exercise and music. This is why so many individuals use dance to relieve tension and anxiety. These possible benefits also explain why dance movement therapy can be an effective adjunctive therapy for depression.
Also read: 8 Benefits of Working Out At Home
8. Helps you stay socially connected
The majority of these benefits are available regardless of whether you dance in a class, a country music venue, or your living room. And there is an additional potential benefit if you dance with others: social connection. Numerous types of dance enable you to meet new people and cultivate relationships, which is beneficial to your mental health and well-being.
