Dancing, no matter the genre or style, is one of the best ways to stay fit because it engages major muscle groups. All that gliding and turning keeps the legs toned while the dips and hip swings keep the arms, shoulders, and core lean and strong.
Dancing isn’t just for pros, though; anyone can dance! If you want to try Latin dancing to keep fit, we highly suggest going on a social dance event near you. The vibe is lighthearted and casual, and you will love the party atmosphere. And if you’re dancing for your health but you’re unsure what kind of benefits you’ll get from social dancing, here are the reasons why we think you need a little cha-cha-cha in your life:
Promotes Healthy Weight Loss
The concept of rapid weight loss sounds good but losing too much weight in a short time is unhealthy! Crash diets, fad diets, starving yourself, or working out for too long may help you lose weight for a short time but at the expense of your good health. In fact, fad diets and too much exercising will weaken your muscles and immunity.
Going on social dance events is a terrific opportunity to have fun, meet new people, and achieve a trimmer physique in the healthiest way possible. You’re not losing 20 pounds in a week; you’ll burn off excess fat gradually, so you are keeping fit without destroying your health. Dancing burns as much as ten calories per minute, so imagine how much fat you’re burning by dancing for a couple of hours.
Of course, being comfortable while dancing is a must, especially if you’re dancing for hours. Our Yami dance shoes have strategically-placed cushions that absorb peak impact. These shoes are designed for dancing, keeping your feet pain-free while you dance the night away.
Tones the Muscles and Strengthens the Bones
You might not feel like every time you dance up a storm, but you’re actually flexing and toning major muscle groups! Depending on the dance style and the tempo, Latin dance targets the shoulders, particularly the triceps and biceps, the chest muscles, and the core. Dancing also tones the glutes, hamstring, quads, and calves. That’s the reason why Latin dancers have very defined muscles and a strong yet lean physique.
Apart from tightening the muscles, dancing helps strengthen the bones too! During post-menopause, women will experience a drop in estrogen levels and this affects the bones’ ability to absorb calcium. Regular dancing helps keep the ligaments flexible while performing all that gravity-defying dance moves keep the bones stronger. Also, the repetitive motions keep the joints lubricated, minimizing the risk of joint pains.
Boosts Energy and Improves Stamina
Ever wonder why dancers, professional and casual alike, seem to have boundless energy on the dance floor? It’s all the dancing! Dancing boosts blood circulation, which means major organs in the body are getting more oxygenated blood, like the heart, lungs, and brain. This improves the body’s performance because the organs are nourished.
When you’re feeling energized, you can dance longer, which gives the lungs, heart, and muscles a total workout. And when these organs are in tip-top shape, your stamina improves too! You don’t feel tired at all.
Dancing and swimming are similar in a lot of ways. The muscle exertion and breathing rates of these activities are virtually the same. This means a single performance in a dance competition has the same physical demands of, say, swimming at an Olympic level pool!
Improves Balance
Trouble keeping your balance? Do you trip all over yourself all the time? Going to a social event regularly will improve your balance significantly. Balance and coordination can be learned over time.
Dancing, especially if done for a long time, changes the nervous system's muscle coordination for walking and balancing motions. The activity trains the muscles, so you’re always perfectly balanced with every step. Also, it keeps the peripheral nervous system in shape to improve the connection between our mind and our body. What’s more, dancing stabilizes the core, which plays a central role in balancing the body motions.
Improves Cognitive Health
Yes, dancing is scientifically proven to improve brain functions. A study published in the Journal of Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews found that dancing boosts the connectivity between different parts of the brain. It helps boost memory, enhances alertness, and even stimulates the growth of new sensory nerves! Sharp memory and alertness keep you feeling young, which means dancing also promotes better mental health.
Alleviates Stress
Stress creates a domino effect that leads to serious physical and mental ailments. When you’re constantly stressed out, the body is flooded with adrenaline, cortisol, and other hormones that put the heart on overdrive. The elevated level of hormones forces the heart to work harder, causing hypertension. And hypertension puts a strain on your arteries, which could lead to the hardening of the arteries.
Dancing helps alleviate stress while also toning the muscles, including the heart! It’s a healthy activity that you can do at your chosen pace. Want it nice and slow? You got it? Upbeat and energetic? Own the dance floor! Dancing also helps with the release of feel-good hormones like endorphins, decreasing your risk of developing serious mental problems like depression, anxiety, and dementia.
Dancing keeps you fit physically and mentally. It’s a relaxing activity that you can share with your friends. Social dancing is a great way to meet new people and share the passion for dance. And with these health benefits, we’re pretty sure you’re raring to attend your next social dance event. But be sure to stay comfortable, tote a pair of Yami dance shoes so you can dance for hours without heel pain!
