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. But ballroom dancing is not all about social benefits. Ballroom dancing is beneficial to your health as well. Taking ballroom dance classes will give you a lot of health benefits. If you haven’t given it a serious thought, now is the right time to know what ballroom dancing can do for your health. 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.
Burns Calories
In just an hour of moderate ballroom dancing, you can burn 250 to 300 calories. 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. The turns, glides, moves, kicks, bends, bounces, and sways contribute in improving your oxygen consumption and heart rate, and these two factors are essential in calorie burning.
Develops Body and Mind Coordination
As you glide across the dance floor and move according to certain rhythms, you learn to coordinate your body and mind as well as that of your dancing partner.You won’t gain that from exercising in front of a mirror or working out on a treadmill.
Tones Muscles
When you dance, different muscle groups are involved. For example, dances such as foxtrot involves long, striding steps backwards, and this type of movements is much different from the exercises usually done at a gym. This low-impact activity strengthens and tones the muscles in the thigh, calf, and buttocks. Aside from that, ballroom dancing can enhance your flexibility, balance, posture, and endurance.
Enhances the Heart and Circulatory System
Ballroom dancing is good for not only your heart, but also for your entire 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. When you dance, you try to remember complex steps, focus on the rhythm of music, and dance with a partner. All these give your brain a workout and make it stronger.
Relieves Stress
Stress causes a lot of diseases. Those who experience trauma because of a recent divorce or loss of a loved one can get some distraction through ballroom dancing.
You can manage stress and depression with the help of the social skills you acquire from ballroom dancing. With improved health and social skills, you boost your mood and self-esteem. Along with soothing music, ballroom dancing can make you calmer as it eases your tension.
Are you convinced of the benefits that ballroom dancing offer to your mind and body? So, what are you waiting for? Take ballroom dancing classes, let loose, and have fun!