Dancing is Fun and Healthy
Once someone gets to the point where they're getting their heart rate up, they're actually getting a terrific workout. Dance is a weight-bearing activity, which builds bones. It's also wonderful for your upper body and strength.
It's fun, it's cool and it's easy. Dancing has a wide variety of different meanings on cultures around the world. For some, it's a way to woo and impress, for others a way for self expression or inner search. We can all agree on something, however, and that is that dancing is a terrific activity when it comes to staying fit and staying healthy. Also, most people have fun while dancing so not only will it keep you in great shape, but you are very likely to keep coming to it for more.
But what exactly are the health benefits of dancing? Whether high intensity salsa or a delicate waltz, every type of dance has its own benefits. You won't need to put on your Michael Jackson costume to start loosing some pounds or wear a fancy dress to improve your flexibility. Here are 4 of the most important health benefits of dancing.
Increase in Flexibility.
If you plan on living a healthy life (which you should), staying flexible is something that you will want to work on. Dancing requires a great amount of flexibility and thus it's a great way to improve on it. Most classes begin with a cardio warm-up that includes a variety of stretching exercises because all dancers must work hard to achieve the full range of motion for the major muscle groups. The greater this range of motion the more your muscles can flex and extend without fear of injuring yourself.
Muscle Strength
If streght is the ability of a muscle to exert an amount force against resistance, then dancers build this type of strength by making their muscles resist their own weight. Many styles of dancing that require graceful jumps and vaults really push the envelope since these types of moves require a tremendous amount of strength on the leg muscles.
Benefits of Belly Dancing
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Endurance and Stamina
We call stamina (or endurance) to the ability of your muscles to work hard for ever longer periods of time without reaching fatigue. Dance, as any other physical exercise, increases your endurance. In particular, vigorous dancing done regularly is great for increasing your stamina and most beginners can see a dramatic improvement within weeks of starting the activity.
Well Being
Dancing is, first and foremost, a social activity. For some, even a form of communication and intimacy. Dancing can be the door to meeting new people and socializing with friends. Studies have shown that these type of social activities increase the sense of self esteem and self worth and by doing so have a positive effect on every area of life.
