2014: A Happier, Healthier YOU!
Get in Shape with Ballroom Dancing
What can you do to make exercise something to look forward to and not feel like a chore? Any type of movement can be considered exercise and ballroom dancing is all about movement. You can therefore get in shape with ballroom dancing.
There are three elements that are important to make any fitness program truly successful. These elements are safety, effectiveness and enjoyment. Ballroom dancing is a very safe activity and effectiveness and enjoyment is second to none. It is a great way of making exercise fun, and it is an activity you can do together with your partner or spouse.
A healthy body is what most people are striving for and it is no secret that most people looking to lose weight or to get fit are intimidated by the gym. It is our opinion that fitness and exercise should never be restricted to the confines of a gym. Ballroom dancing is much more than just gliding around the dance floor.
There are several types of dances involved. Dances that involve kicks, flicks, twirls, twist and bends and as a result it gives you the opportunity to move your body in ways that you would never otherwise experience – not even in an aerobics class. This will make it easy for you to get in shape with ballroom dancing.
Gurus in the health and fitness fields are adamant that ballroom dancing is second only to swimming as an aerobic workout. Just ten minutes of ballroom is equivalent to a one hour stint of jogging. It may surprise you to learn that ballroom dancing can burn just as much calories (if not more) than a session at the gym.
The Mayo Clinic reported that dancing is not only a great way to have fun and socialize, but it also offers several health benefits:
Ø Burning calories: Dancing continuously for 30 minutes burns 200 to 500 calories, which is the same as walking, swimming, or cycling.
Ø Cardiovascular conditioning: Consistent social dance exercise leads to a slower heart rate, lower blood pressure, and improved cholesterol levels. The degree of cardiovascular conditioning depends on how vigorously you dance, how long you dance continuously, and how regularly.
Ø Strong bones: The side-to-side motion of many ballroom dances, such as Mambo, Jive, and Cha Cha strengthen the tibia, fibula, and femur. This also helps in preventing or slowing the loss of bone mass associated with osteoporosis.
Most people who get into ballroom dancing have lots of fun, and are more likely to dance longer which extends the duration of their workout.
{FunStrides Ballroom Dancing}