Dance To Fitness

First there was sport. Then there came jogging and aerobics. And now to help people lose weight, dance has joined the exercise mainstream.

Dance! It’s fun, it requires no special equipment and it burns just as many kilojoules as jogging. Dancing has proven benefits, too. It increases bone density, for one. And it’s also a terrific way to reduce stress.

For starters, just move to the music. If you want to add fancier steps, you can always take lessons. Try different forms of dance, each of which offers distinctly different health benefits. The elegant moves of ballet, for instance, build strength. High energy salsa, tap and swing are great for aerobic conditioning, and belly dancing trims the waist line.

To avoid injury, keep your weight centered over your feet, especially when you are turning; shoulders over hips, hips over knees, and knees over ankles. For added safety, wear snug-fitting (not tight) shoes that will provide a stable base for all your dance moves.

Try Your Style

Ballet:

The most refined style of dancing, ballet is good for stretching muscles and lengthening the body.

Waltz:

Quite an easygoing type of fitness, waltz is probably the least physical of the ballroom dances. It is often the first thing one does in a beginner’s class.

Though being a low intensity dance, it still has its benefits. Cardiacdefine patients benefit more from waltzing than from using a treadmill or an exercise bike. And the dancing style is especially good for the older generation.

Salsa:

One of the most popular forms of dance, salsa is more physical than a waltz, but achievable at any age. It involves the arms, and gives the whole body a warm-up and a workout. Half an hour of salsa burns around 250 calories.

Break Dance:

30 minutes of breakdancing burns around 300 calories, however, this is not the dance to try if you're out of shape.

Belly Dance:

An extremely specific form of exercise. It is good for maintaining the lower back muscles, however, not advisable for people suffering from back pain.

Reasons to try dance:

• It improves your conditioning and balance. Dance forms develop flexibility and encourages creativity.

• It increases bone density. A regime of dancing about three hours every week showed increased bone density in post-menopausal women with osteoporosis.

• It makes you feel energized and reduces stress.

• It helps tone your muscles. That, in turn, gives you greater endurance for all kinds of other activities.