Healing Benefits of Dance

Summer has past, kids and grandkids are back in school, and soon we will be celebrating the holidays. Fall food, cold weather and lazy football weekends can lead some to pack on the pounds.

To avoid falling into a sedentary lifestyle maybe it’s time to try something new?

The question is….are you ready to cut a rug, kick up your heels, and do the cha-cha at your holiday parties? The time is now…. Time to learn a new skill and reap the many benefits dancing has to offer!

Ballroom dancing while great exercise and loads of fun, has a multitude of health benefits. Dancing has been shown to improve posture, balance, strength, functional abilities, as well as cognition.

A recent study published in Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics concluded that sedentary elderly individuals improved their balance and reduced the number of falls by participating in a ballroom dancing program.

Osteoporosis is defined as a decrease in bone mass and density which can lead to an increased fracture risk. Weight bearing exercises, such as dancing, can improve your bone health. The combination of weight bearing activities and reduced fall risk may lead to a decrease in fractures, osteopenia, and osteoporosis.

Another positive benefit of dancing is improved mental health. A study published in The New England Journal of Medicine investigated the effect of leisure activities on the risk of dementia. Researches found that frequent dancing, at least twice per week, appeared to lower the risk of dementia.

So HUSTLE over to your local dance studio, SWING open the door, and WALTZ on in…..then dance the night away to your favorite tunes!! Take it one step at a time! I know you got this!!