Dancing is an age-old activity that everybody can perform. We dance when we’re happy and having a good time, but there is so much more to it. There is just something about moving to your favorite song and getting your body in a good rhythm that brings a smile to your face.
Whether you like to dance alone or in a group, dancing has more than just a few benefits. Even if you’re a beginner, you can take so much advantage of different dance moves. Let’s look at seven of the best health and wellness benefits of dancing.
Heart Health
To keep your heart working and healthy, you need to get it pumping. The faster your heart beats, the harder it has to work, making it stronger. Your heart has to be challenged enough to keep it running smoothly, and this means elevating your heart rate often. Dancing is a great activity to do just that. Because you are performing multiple movements, your body and heart have to adapt and work a bit harder than with normal daily activities.
Slower dances such as the waltz can be effective for those with heart conditions that need to improve their breathing and quality of life. It’s a less strenuous activity that most people can manage, and it can be better for patients with cardiovascular disease that aren’t able to take long walks.
Agility, Flexibility, and Balance
Everyone can dance, but not everyone can perform specific movements that require quick reflexes and a good posture. Dancing can help to improve this by teaching your body to take better control of itself with various movements. The more you stretch and twist your body with dancing, the more flexible you will become and this helps you to stay quick on your toes.
Dancing works every muscle in your body, and as long as you vary in motion, speed, and style, you can flex muscles that are normally dormant. For older people, the tango is a good form of dancing to improve problems with agility and balance. It can help to strengthen parts of the body that lack muscle and improve weak joints.
Mental Cognition
Dancing is not just beneficial for the body; it does wonders for your overall mental health. It has been found to be highly effective at combating dementia and slowing down the condition. It has a direct effect on the hippocampus which controls memory. This part of our brain starts to shrink as we age, so it’s important to check your memory skills often. Dancing increases serotonin in your body so you naturally feel less stressed and happier. It can aid in depression by choosing upbeat music that gets your body and brain working the most.
By learning different performing arts, your brain has to learn new movements that it isn’t used to. You can challenge your brain to improve your mental cognition this way. If you want to learn different dances, choose a dance studio from Pirate based in London. With over 700 studios between the UK, Ireland, Germany, and the US, Pirate can find a studio for any artist’s needs. Whether you’re a singer, radio DJ, or a dancer, Pirate is there to provide the space and help with everything including professional filming.
Improved Social Skills
Most people enjoy meeting new friends in a fun environment. Dancing can be the perfect way to get to know other people in a mutual way that is enjoyable. If you lack social skills due to a self-confidence issue, learning to dance is a great place to start. You will begin to feel better in your body and it will make you more outgoing. Dancing can be a very social activity for someone timid. It may be difficult to get out of your comfort zone at first, but the more you dance, the easier it becomes.
Humans are social beings, and being actively engaged with people you share similar interests with can increase your happiness levels and make you more likable. Dancing can be a very inclusive way to interact with people and something that everyone can do.
Mood Changes
Just in the way that listening to a certain song can change your whole outlook and mood, dancing does the same. If you’re feeling angry at the world, dance it out. If you want to feel happy on a sad day, put on some energetic music and force yourself to move. With dancing, you can let loose and be as expressive as you want. Dance alone if it makes it easier. Your body will start to produce more of the feel-good hormones that may help you to reduce stress and turn a bad day into an okay one.
By improving your mood, your energy levels automatically increase and you feel you can face anything. Dancing is one form of therapy that can be beneficial to anyone whose emotions are out of whack or they need to calm down.
Exercise Replacement
For those that aren’t getting enough out of their walking or running routine, dancing is the ideal replacement. It can be done anywhere, at any time, and doesn’t need any equipment except good tunes and your body. Dancing can even be more effective than some moderate-intensity aerobic exercise. You can get the same workout effects in less time if you dance fast and incorporate a variety of movements.
It’s ideal if you’re getting a bit bored of your current workout and it tones more parts of your body. You’re using multiple muscle groups all at once, rather than just moving your legs and arms during a run or walk. It will help for general body composition including working on your stomach abs and back muscles.
Dancing is not just something for the professionals we see on television. It’s a very expressive activity that can be done by anyone willing to try. There is a great sense of freedom with dancing because there is no set way to go about it. You can dance in any way that you like and reap all these health and wellness benefits.
