Dance Benefits

Dancing has been enjoyed for centuries by people of all ages and abilities but did you realise the massive health benefits associated with dance.

You sit down with your cup of tea and switch on the box to see folk dancing, shimmying, moving and shaking what their mama gave them to all the latest chart toppers. Wearing designer labelled track suits or sequins and fascinators, yet another action packed dance show on a Saturday night! But what if you joined a dance class? What benefits from dancing can you actually make your reality?

Here are the 3 main benefits to slipping on those dancing shoes and shimmying along to a healthier lifestyle;

Dance is one of the few types of activities that we are able to do regardless of our age. (For many of us not all perfect 10's would be on our score sheets) But as young babies we find our groove when music is played around us and our sways and our ways in our later years.

Fitness: Each muscle is put through an endurance test when you take part in a dance class. Repeated dance steps occurring over and over again challenge our body's muscles. Making them work hard for gradually longer durations, increases the heart rate and improves our stamina levels, preventing the feeling of fatigue therefore upping our levels of fitness. Improvement in our muscle s flexibility and body posture is easily gained through the repetition of a dance class or dance course as limbs are often stretched whilst warming up, the duration of the class and towards the end whilst cooling down safely. Through dance we are reminded to think about our stance and posture to be able to achieve certain lines and technique that the dance steps demand from us. When we are aware we take good care.

Weight Loss: Of course dancing goes hand in hand with weight loss and we all know we have to work up a sweat to achieve that, so why not maintain a good body weight or lose weight in an environment that is friendly, equal, fun, social and inspiring. When all those factors are put together you have to admit you feel nothing but good about yourself and possibly didn't even notice the endurance you just put your body through, because you were too busy enjoying yourself! In a 1hour dance class you can burn up to 300 calories. That includes the slower styles of ballroom dancing such as waltz and foxtrot. 400 calories and more can be burnt off during the more up-tempo styles such as jive, swing, hip hop and modern jazz..

Social Awareness: Dancing involves social encounters, interaction and communication. Children especially can learn to communicate and express themselves to others through dance and movement, assisting their learning ability to work and cope within a group dynamic. It has been proven, after a good dance workout and a bit of fun students return to the classroom with heightened concentration and motivation for the rest of the day.

Taking part in Ballroom dancing lessons, Latin or Hip Hop dance classes helps to stimulate the brain, boost confidence and energy levels. Feeling the satisfaction of 'I did it, 'I can do it' gives us a huge sense of personal achievement and instant reward. We therefore feel happy, fresh and energised and so the dancing bug grips you and you're hooked. Dancing in a social, friendly environment such as Kinetix Dance Dublin is great for the mind, body and soul whilst having plenty of fun no matter what age or level you are.