Dance classes have long been a favorite for people looking to get into shape and increase their overall health and well-being.  Many gyms across America are offering and beginning to provide their clients with dance-related classes.  There are many different styles of dance, each with a unique culture and style.  No matter what style you choose, there are several proven benefits to picking up dance as a hobby.

 

1.  INCREASED PHYSICAL STRENGTH

Perhaps the most obvious benefit of dancing is increased physical strength.  Dancing can be an enjoyable way to get your body moving and keep your heart racing.  Dancing is one of the few activities that offers a full body workout.  Dancing allows you to work your legs, core, and arms all at the same time.  Dancing provides a high-intensity, low-impact workout without the monotony of counting reps or doing sets.

 

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Aradia Fitness offers Flexibility classes 5 days a week. Photo by Alloy Images.

 

2.  INCREASED FLEXIBILITY

Another great physical benefit of dance is improved flexibility.  Dance enables you to move your body in ways that may not be typical in your day to day life.  This allows you to build your range of motion and give your muscles a good stretch.  Even if your dance program doesn’t start with a warm up stretch, you’ll most likely find that after a few classes you’re a little more limber than you were before.

 

3.  IMPROVED HEART AND LUNG HEALTH

Dance also improves your heart health and lung capacity.  Your heart rate and breathing rate both increase while dancing.  There are many long term health benefits to getting an extra cardiovascular workout.  Keeping your body active can help to keep yourself young and fight the aging process.

 

4.  IMPROVED BALANCE AND SPACIAL AWARENESS

Improved balance and spacial awareness can also be a byproduct of dancing.  Dancing requires a bodily awareness that helps to improve these skills.  Being more aware of our bodies can make us more aware of the ways our bodies move within a space.  The focus on good posture and core strengthening in dance can improve your balance.

 

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Aradia Fitness offers a variety of dance and movement classes. Photo by Steve Clarke.

 

5.  STRONGER BONES AND REDUCED RISK OF OSTEOPOROSIS

Dancing is one of the best ways you can prevent and even treat osteoporosis.  Weight bearing exercises, or forms of exercise that force your body to fight against gravity, have been shown to be effective ways of strengthening your bones.  The increase in strength and balance can also help to prevent falls and broken bones.

 

6.  IMPROVED MEMORY

The benefits of dance aren’t just physical.  Dancers also get a mental workout.  Remembering dance steps and patterns gives dancers a memory boost.  Focusing on different parts of the body simultaneously also gives dancers a mental challenge.  This mental workout helps the mind to stay sharp.

 

7.  INCREASED CONFIDENCE

One of the biggest benefits of dance is increased confidence.  Learning and mastering a new skill, in general, is great for your confidence.  It can give you a sense of accomplishment and pride.  Dance also has the added bonus of learning to move your body in beautiful new ways ways.

 

8.  REDUCED STRESS

Dancing can be a great stress reliever.  It reduces the levels of cortisol, also known as  the stress hormone, in your body while giving you an endorphin boost.  Many people leave dance class feeling almost elated.  Attending an evening dance class can be a great creative outlet and leave you feeling refreshed and ready for work the next day.

 

9.  SOCIAL CONNECTION

Another wonderful benefit of dance is an increased social connection.  Both solo and partner dance can be a great way to meet new people.  It can establish connections if you just moved or relocated.  Even if you’ve lived in the same place a while, dance can be a great way to meet people outside of your social circle.

 

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Aradia Fitness offers all levels and types of pole dance classes. Photo by Christopher Donald.

 

10.  HIGHER RATES OF SUCCESS FOR GETTING IN SHAPE

Many people who join a dance class with the intent of getting in shape find that they have higher success rates than those who just hit the gym.  Part of this may be the network of other dancers you connect with when you dance, and another part could just be pure fun.

 

 

Aradia Fitness in Cary, North Carolina offers several different dance classes including pole and aerial classes, Zumba, cardio boot camps, and much more.  To view the full class schedule online, please visit https://cary.aradiafitness.com/classes/class-schedule/

 

Article written by Alessa Isabella, Instructor at Aradia Fitness Cary in Cary, North Carolina

January 18, 2017