People are becoming aware that total mind-body fitness-rather than “weight-loss”- should be their focus if they truly want to improve their health; as a result, many adults have taken up dancing. This isn’t new; adults have been “dancing” as fitness for years at group aerobics and Zumba ™ classes; however, now people are interested in exploring the more formal, artistic side of dancing for its mental and physical benefits.
Dancing is an activity deeply rooted in music and ritual throughout human history. It has stress relieving, group bonding, and spiritual qualities; even today, dancing remains an important part of joyous rituals. Dancers develop connections with their fellow dancers, as they create a work of art dancing together. They experience emotional connection to the music to which they are dancing, and enjoy giving physical expression to their emotions through the execution of the moves and poses involved in the dance.
Learning to dance in an artistic sense is a complex activity that requires executing physical moves while memorizing the sequence of those moves, as well as which moves to execute at a particular time. Dancers gain all of these mental and physical benefits while getting a great cardio, coordination and strength-building workout. Because their minds are occupied with which move comes next rather than how much time they have left on their treadmills, dancers admit that their classes go by much quicker than a gym workout.
People of any age can take up dancing as beginners; even older adults looking for exercise that will benefit both their mental and physical agility ought to try a dance class. According to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2003; older adults who danced frequently- several days a week- had a 75 percent lower risk of developing dementia. Dancing was the only physical activity cited to have an effect against dementia. That’s how powerful the mind-body connection of dance can be.
If the idea of spending a half-hour on cardio equipment makes you feel like a hamster on a wheel mentally and physically; try some dance classes this year. At Hampden Dance Arts, we welcome you to try any of our beginner adult classes- or refresh lessons you had years ago. Contact us and we’ll tell you exactly what to expect at your first class.
by: Maureen Howells
http://www.maureenhowellsdesign.com
Credits and Links:
More Adults are Turning to Ballet, Jazz and Tap for a Fun Workout. Julia Malakoff. Shape Magazine. Link: https://www.shape.com/fitness/trends/traditional-dance-classes-adults-beginners
New England Journal of Medicine. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa022252
Hampden Dance Arts
3547 Chestnut Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21211
267-909-1697