Mention the word dance and most people will think of ballet or perhaps backing dancers for the latest pop song. But, there are actually many different types of dance techniques, from classical to jazz, or even folk dancing.
It doesn’t matter how old or young you are, you can find dance classes near you and start learning to dance. It’s fun and offers a surprising number of benefits:
1. Making New Friends
Whether young or old it’s always nice to make new friends, especially those that share your interests. If you’ve started dance classes and are enjoying them then you’ll have the opportunity to make friends and become part of a community.
2. Cardiovascular Health
When you dance you work up a sweat as you move across the room. This boosts your heart rate, improving blood flow around your body, and the supply of nutrients to all your cells and organs.
The result is better cardiovascular health. This has been shown to reduce the risk of many diseases later in life. You’re never too young to start looking after your cardiovascular health, children that start young are more likely to look after their health as they grow.
3. More Toned Muscles
Dancing doesn’t give you massive muscles but it will tone your muscles and help them to be more defined. You may not be concerned with your body image but, once you start seeing more muscle definition, you’ll find that you feel more confident. That helps you in many daily situations.
4. Weight Control
The amount of movement, boost to your cardio fitness, and the increased muscle definition will all help you to maintain, or even lose weight.
Combine regular dancing with a healthy diet and you can achieve your goal weight, whatever that is. The dedication to dance classes can help younger people not to have an issue with weight. In fact, it can help them to accept their body as it is, improving their confidence throughout life.
5. Improved Coordination
Dancing usually requires you to move your arms and legs at the same time to create a specific effect. You need to learn to jump, land, pivot, and even leap again. It’s physically engaging and needs you to be aware of the space around you.
With this awareness and the movements, you’re undertaking you’ll find that your coordination skills improve. That is useful in a wide variety of everyday situations. It doesn’t matter if you’re a child or an adult, increased coordination is beneficial
6. Mental Stimulation
Perhaps the greatest benefit of all is the mental stimulation that comes from dancing. Every dance is different and you need to learn the appropriate steps. In doing so you’re engaging your brain and stimulating it mentally.
Research shows that sustaining mental activity as you age will decrease the likelihood of contracting Alzheimer’s and other age-related conditions.
It should also be noted that mentally stimulating children will help them to be better learners and improves concentration levels. Surprisingly, dance classes can help your child to do better in school!
