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| Photo Credit: Trace Nietert |
1. Weightloss, Improved Bone Strength, and Cardiovascular Health
Ballroom dancing is a weight bearing exercise as well as a cardio activity. So not only do dancers increase their heart health, they increase bone density and muscle tone. This in turn creates a higher resting metabolic rate, meaning more calories are burned even after dancing. Plus, since dancing is fun and social, people are more likely to continue the practice long term.
2. Boosts Memory
The hippocampus is the part of the brain where memory is controlled, and this area naturally shrinks as with age. Aerobic exercise has been shown to reverse that volume loss, thereby increasing memory. Dancing specifically, was found in a study published by the New England Journal of Medicine, to lower the risk of dementia significantly. This is attributed to the combination of physical, intellectual, and social stimulation.
3. Improves Balance and Flexibility
Ballroom dancing requires good posture, controlled small and large movements, and sometimes walking on tip toes. As dancers practice all of this, they engage their cores and smaller supporting muscles for increased balance. Combining this with the variety of movements also improves flexibility.
4. Reduces Stress and Improves Mood
With improved posture comes deeper breathing and a better mood. Stimulation of the vagas nerve, below the diaphragm, is said to have a calming effect. This combined with endorphins produced from aerobic activity are a double whammy against stress. Increased endorphins can also strengthen the relationship between partners...or build new relationships.
5. Builds Confidence
Daring to try something new, and then improving those skills over time is bound to bring on new confidence. Add to that increased physical health and reduced stress, it's no wonder dancers are often walking tall. In fact, it's likely that this new found confidence will spread to other areas of a dancer's life, too!
