Dancing is as simple as moving to music! There are so many types of dancing – from belly dancing, bollywood and tap to ballroom and ballet, or simply just having a boogie to some favourite songs! One of the best aspects of dancing is that it’s so much fun, that you don’t even know that you’re exercising. Health benefits include:
- Social connection While you can dance by yourself, most dancing involves being with others - with a group of people, with a partner or simply people enjoying themselves in the same room. You can even dance virtually online with others. Just put on some music and dance. This is great for your emotional health.
- Gets your heart pumping Using your legs, arms, neck and torso to execute your various moves raises your heart rate, providing cardiovascular benefits.
- Boosts your mood Dancing is a creative form of expression that gets your blood flowing, increases your energy and enhances your mood. It's a great way to reduce your anxiety and stress levels, and find yourself smiling.
- Enhances your strength, balance and coordination While most everyday activities only involve your sagittal (left and right) plane, dancing also works your coronal (back and front) and transverse (head and tail) planes. Moving your whole body increases your strength and flexibility and builds your balance as you connect to the rhythm of music.
- Works your brain Dancing enhances cognitive performance by using the brain areas that control memory and planning and organising skills. Learning steps and attending to rhythm are aspects of this.
- Anyone can do it! Dancing is effectively anything that includes movement to music. It's inclusive in that anyone can do it, even if they can only move their upper or lower body. You really don't need any special skills.
- Improves posture Most dancing requires attending to your posture and encouraging strengthening and stabilising the body.
- It can be gentle on the body Dancing is free flowing and can be a low impact exercise if need be. Close your eyes and let the music move you, as if no one is watching.
"Dance, when you're broken open. Dance, if you've torn the bandage off. Dance in the middle of the fighting. Dance in your blood. Dance when you're perfectly free. "
Rumi (1201 – 1273)