No Wonder Dancing Feels So Good......
Music and dancing has been a part of many different
cultures for centuries. It is part of celebration and
entertainment. And whether they knew it or not, way back
when the dancing began, there are numerous amazing health
benefits. Now that the American population is facing a
major obesity epidemic, health benefits from dancing is
something that should be taken a closer look at.
The Health Benefits of Salsa Dancing
Not only is dancing an exceptional way to let loose and
have fun, but it also provides some terrific benefits for
your health.
In fact, Mayo Clinic researchers reported that social
dancing helps to:
* Reduce stress
* Increase energy
* Improve strength
* Increase muscle tone and coordination
Dancing
Dancing the night away can burn more calories per hour than
riding a bike or swimming.
And whether you like to kick up your heals to hip hop,
salsa or country, the National Heart, Lung and Blood
Institute says that dancing can:
* Lower your risk of coronary heart disease
* Decrease blood pressure
* Help you manage your weight
* Strengthen the bones of your legs and hips
Salsa dancing is a unique form of exercise because it
provides the heart-healthy benefits of an aerobic exercise
while also allowing you to engage in a social activity.
The amount of benefit you get from dancing depends on, like
most exercises, the type of dancing you're doing, how
strenuous it is, the duration and your skill level.
Salsa Dancing
* Builds endurance and stamina
* Helps with weight loss
* Relieves stress
* Helps you release toxins via sweating
* May help lower blood pressure and improve cholesterol
levels
* Can lead to a reduced heart rate over time
Dancing Off Those Calories
How many calories will you burn while dancing? That depends
on the type of dancing. Here's a range of some of the most
popular varieties, based on a 150-pound person, per hour:
* Swing dancing: 235 calories/hour
* Ballroom dancing: 265
* Square dancing: 280
* Ballet: 300
* Belly dancing: 380
* Salsa dancing: 420+
* Aerobic dancing: 540+
Mental Benefits of Dancing
Dancing is a unique form of exercise because it provides
the heart-healthy benefits of an aerobic exercise while
also allowing you to engage in a social activity. This is
especially stimulating to the mind, and one 21-year study
published in the New England Journal of Medicine even found
dancing can reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease and
other forms of dementia in the elderly.
In the study, participants over the age of 75 who engaged
in reading, dancing and playing musical instruments and
board games once a week had a 7 percent lower risk of
dementia compared to those who did not. Those who engaged
in these activities at least 11 days a month had a 63
percent lower risk!
Interestingly, dancing was the only physical activity out
of 11 in the study that was associated with a lower risk of
dementia. Said Joe Verghese, a neurologist at Albert
Einstein College of Medicine and a lead researcher of the
study, "This is perhaps because dance music engages the
dancer's mind."
Verghese says dancing may be a triple benefit for the
brain. Not only does the physical aspect of dancing
increase blood flow to the brain, but also the social
aspect of the activity leads to less stress, depression and
loneliness. Further, dancing requires memorizing steps and
working with a partner, both of which provide mental
challenges that are crucial for brain health.
So clearly dancing is excellent for your body, mind, and
soul. Pick up a new heart healthy habit and learn to dance
salsa.
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Salsa Crazy San Francisco
http://www.salsacrazysf.com
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