Are you someone who gets stressed at the thought of exercising? If yes, it might be a sign that you need a fun exercise. But exercise and fun, do they go hand in hand? Of course, they do. Not all exercises are boring; so much so that you hate the idea of working out in the first place. Some workouts can be interesting and fun enough for you to look forward to them. One such type of workout is dancing.
Dancing can be your favourite leisure activity or something that gets you grooving at the first beat. Whatever dancing is for you, just know that it can be an effective workout which brings forth a plethora of benefits. On 29th April, as the world celebrates International Dance Day, let’s understand the plenty of benefits dancing has for your health.
So, read along and get grooving.
1. Dancing boosts cardiovascular health
We cannot emphasise enough the importance of cardiovascular health especially nowadays when the cases of heart diseases are increasing by the day. Dancing brings the best of both worlds, given that it is a blend of aerobics and weight bearing. Being an excellent aerobics exercise, it is ideal for boosting cardiovascular health.
As per a report published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, it was observed that individuals who engaged in moderate-intensity dancing are 46 per cent less likely to develop heart disease than non-dancers.
2. Builds core strength
And then you thought only strength training and weight training helped you build core strength. But here’s a startling fact – dance forms like ballet can support core muscle building as it demands balance and helps build core strength. Ultimately, it promotes good posture and prevents back pain and muscle injuries.
3. Dance can help reduce waist size
If you are looking to trim down a few inches from your waist and have fun at the same time, there is nothing better than dancing. Dancing is also a form of aerobic and anaerobic exercise that can burn a significant number of calories.
You can burn somewhere between 90 to 250 calories in a 30-min dance session, depending on your body weight, dance form and energy level.
4. Promotes flexibility
Unfortunately, there is little focus given to body flexibility. Flexibility reduces the risk of injuries and improves the quality of your workout. Since dancing involves stretching of limbs, it improves flexibility.
5. Dancing is vital for bone health
Stronger bones, stronger you. Being a form of weight-bearing exercise, dancing can maintain and improve bone density. As per research, it was revealed that dancing repaired some damage for older adults suffering from osteoporosis. In addition, it was observed that children who practised ballet possessed a better bone mineral content than those who did not.
6. Dancing improves mental health
It may not be a surprising observation but dancing can positively impact your mental health. It can increase your confidence, decrease your anxiety, and control your stress level to improve your mental health in the long run.
7. It can boost cognitive functions
Dancing can also enhance cognitive functions such as concentration, focus and memory. Given the fact that dancing involves memorising steps and their proper implementation, it is also an exercise for the brain. Consequently, by exercising the brain, dance can boost cognitive functions.
8. Dance can improve your social life
Forming meaningful relations improves mental health. As dancing can involve social interactions, it can have a positive impact on mental health. However, this only applies if you are taking group dance sessions.
9. Increased energy
If you are somebody who is currently struggling with lack of energy, dancing can help boost your overall energy levels. This applies when you dance to upbeat music that can trigger the release of endorphins, your body’s happy hormones. This chemical release energises you, helping you go about your day with increased energy levels
10. Controls cholesterol and blood sugar
High blood sugar and cholesterol can be detrimental to your health. However, dancing can help control both of these parameters. It can help control lipid levels, increase our HDL or good cholesterol and reduce bad cholesterol i.e. LDL. It is also beneficial for diabetic patients with high blood sugar.
Bottom line
Now that you know the many benefits of dancing, we are sure you would be planning to include it in your lifestyle. So, play your favourite song, turn up the volume and start grooving!
