Last Updated on December 11, 2024
When you think of dancing, you probably think of the movie Dirty Dancing or the television show So You Think You Can Dance. What you probably don’t think of is yourself doing it for exercise.
Because exercise plays a vital role in managing your diabetes, it’s important to get moving. Does the idea of hitting the weights at the gym terrify you? Does thinking about going for a run exhaust you? Maybe dancing is the exercise for you!
Benefits of Dancing
Most participants say that dancing is one of their favorite exercises. Aside from being a fun exercise, dancing has several physical, mental, and emotional benefits.
Cardiovascular Health
You can waltz your way to a healthy heart. Dancing will give you a strong heart. Dancing for 20 minutes, three times a week can vastly improve your heart health. Using dance as exercise regularly can help improve your heart health and reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease.
Less Stress
Dance helps your emotional strength as well as your physical strength. Experts agree that people that use dance as an exercise carry less stress. Psychology Today cited several studies that show that dancing helps lower stress. One study in Germany showed that 22 tango dancers had lower stress levels and felt more relaxed. Another study in at the University of New England showed that people learning the tango were less depressed at the end of the six week study.
Improved Memory
Dancing can keep you mentally sharp. Regular dance has been proven to improve memory and prevent dementia. Memorizing and recalling dance moves on a regular basis can help keep your mind engage.
Endurance
Like other cardio exercises, dancing will help improve your physical endurance. The more frequently you dance, the longer you will be able to boogie the night away.
Calorie Burner
Looking for a way to shred a few extra pounds? Dancing can help you get there. Most dancing styles will burn the same amount of calories as jogging. The average dance class will burn 300 – 500 calories depending on the style and intensity.
Balance
If you are looking for a way to improve your balance, dancing is an excellent option. Because of the quick steps, turns, and hops, dancing has been shown to improve balance in participants. Balance is especially important for older dancers to prevent slips or falls.
Types of Dance
There are dozens of types of dance. Finding the right one for you is important. If you don’t enjoy the type of dance, you aren’t going to continue doing it. Try several different types of dance until you find the one you love.
For Beginners:
If you haven’t tried dance before and you’re scared to start, try starting with an easy dance style. Line dancing and Zumba are excellent styles for beginners. They offer simple routines with plenty of movement.
Zumba is a Latin inspired dance style that uses upbeat music with quick movements. The high intensity style is a great way to get your heart beating while having fun. Most gyms, community centers, or YMCAs offer Zumba classes for a small fee. If you’re looking for classes near you, search your town on Zumba.com and start dancing!
For Advanced Dancers:
If you’re a more experienced dancer, try joining a more difficult class. Salsa and hip-hop dance styles typically require more experience and endurance. Both styles have fast paced movements that engage your whole body.
With all of the benefits, you’d be crazy to not learn to tango or salsa. Instead of sitting on the couch and watching So You Think You Can Dance, get off the couch and start dancing!
