Dancing For Health

Whether you’re doing do-si-dos or swirling across the floor to a waltz, you’re getting exercise and probably having fun too. Dancing can burn as many calories as walking or riding a bike.

How long, how often, and how intensely you dance can contribute to your cardiovascular conditioning. Dancing can help lower coronary heart disease risk, decrease blood pressure, and manage weight. Another plus of dancing is that the weight bearing movement of your steps can strengthen the bones of your legs and hips.

Dancing improves brain function on a variety of levels. When you square dance, you are processing music, while using rhythm, eye-hand coordination, balance, long-term and short-term memory, motor coordination, and spatial awareness – all at the same time. Isn’t it great that dancing helps prevent Alzheimer’s!

Dancing is an activity we can do for the rest of our lives. The sociability it provides is part of its allure. It’s a way to make new friends and be creative and expressive. The best part of dancing is the fun you can have while you are doing something great for your body. Ask your doctor if dancing would be good for you.