No Wonder Dancing Salsa 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 & many others are facing a major obesity epidemic,
health benefits from dancing is something that should be taken
a closer look at.
Next Salsa Classes are starting in Christchurch .... Free 1st class - click here >
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 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 calories/hour
* Square dancing: 280 calories/hour
* Ballet: 300 calories/hour
* Belly dancing: 380 calories/hour
* Salsa dancing: 420+ calories/hour
* Aerobic dancing: 540+ calories/hour
Mental Benefits of Dancing 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. 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 salsa is excellent for your body, mind,
and soul. Pick up a new heart healthy habit and learn to dance
salsa.
Article Source:
http://archivex-ht.com/articles
Columbia University-Dancing
for Health New England Journal of Medicine, June 19, 2003;
348(25):2508-16 The Telegraph Online October 9, 2005 WebMD:
Dancing Your Way to Better Health
Next Salsa Classes are starting.... Free 1st class - click here >
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