Move your body.

Friday, 12 February 2010 13:20 Last Updated on Thursday, 01 April 2010 11:28 Written by Dawn Kelly

Move your body…….. bring dance back into your life

If you secretly sashay across your living room when you're home alone or long to learn the cha-cha, you're in luck. Not only is dancing an exceptional way to let loose and have fun but the health benefits are amazing.  Those aside, dancing has a way of brightening up a person’s day.

There is strong evidence that dance benefits us in many ways both mentally and physically and the choice is wider than might first think.  

For most women we’re encouraged to dance from an early age with thousands of mums, each year, enrolling their daughters in tap, ballroom or disco classes.  It’s a great experience for children and something that we are all naturally good at.

When considering health and fitness most women immediately turn to low fat yoghurts and the gym, or worse still the ‘eat nothing all day’ diets that will drop you 3 stone in as many months. 

But it doesn’t have to be that way girls. Dance is one of the activities we can choose for improving our fitness and health and it is there for anyone and any age. More importantly dancing is the perfect social activity, an excuse to get up close with your partner or just let loose and strut.

Dancing Styles

Salsa, Street, Hip Hop, Line Dancing, Ballroom, Contemporary, Jazz, Belly dancing, Egyptian, House, Tap, Ballet.

Health Benefits

healthier heart and lungs, stronger muscles, stronger bones and reduced risk of osteoporosis, better coordination, agility and flexibility, improved balance and enhanced spatial awareness, increased physical confidence, improved mental functioning, increased energy expenditure can help counteract unwanted weight gain, improved general and psychological well-being, greater self-confidence and self-esteem, increased trust, better social skills, reduced social isolation and exclusion.

Give it a go today

Finding a dancing class in your area couldn’t be easier with websites like http://www.danceweb.co.uk  who have a huge directory and the site includes everything from contact details to a map of how to get to your chosen venue.

If you’re looking for one of the bigger venues in the North East why not try Dance City www.dancecity.co.uk Classes are suitable for everyone, regardless of age, ability, sex or physicality. Most classes are run on a drop-in basis and do not lead to examinations, creating an informal environment in which to learn new skills, make new friends and have fun.

Whilst calories loss shouldn’t be the most important thing on your mind and varies between the type of dance and your age, lets just say you could lose between 235 and 540 per hour, as long as you don’t finish the session off with two halves of lager.  Then again, even if you do, you’ve boosted your heart, developed your tone and flexibility and hopefully had a wonderful time.