Why you should definitely try dancing

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Dancing is the perfect cardio that requires you to be completely focused and at the same time to let go of your body for just a split second, flexibility, a sense of balance and good coordination. Have you tried it yet? Then it's time to open a new chapter in your sports activities.;)

Sports clubs can offer quite a few dance directions, but before choosing something specific, you need to understand what awaits you and if you have any contraindications.

How to start

Standard set: strip plastic, belly dance, Latin American social (salsa, bachata, mamba, kizomba) and classical dances (rumba, cha-cha-cha, jive, samba), broadway, jazz-funk, hip-hop and contemporary. In addition, dance steps (step choreography, or step dance) and dance aerobics can be classified as dance styles.

Usually classes are divided by difficulty levels: for beginners and advanced. To begin with, you should try the lighter option and understand whether such a load is suitable for you or if you are capable of more.

In addition to standard classes, there are so-called preparatory classes that will help you master the basic elements and learn (or remember) the elements of classical choreography - body ballet and Port de Bras.

Port de Bras is an author's technique created by choreographer and trainer Vladimir Snezhik. No prior choreographic training is required. Here you can find elements of yoga, Pilates, strength aerobics and stretching. The program combines strength and aerobic exercise, classes are held with relaxing music. The exercises are safe for people with spinal problems and are aimed at rehabilitation, not serious muscle training.

If you still think the benefits of dance training are dubious, here are some interesting facts backed up by research.

Facts and Research on the Benefits of Dance

Fact number 1. Muscle effort and respiratory rate among dancers taking part in the competition are equivalent to those of swimmers, cyclists and Olympic-level runners performing at a distance of 800 m.

Fact number 2. During dancing, the joints are better lubricated, which is a good prevention of arthritis.

Fact number 3. In one minute of dancing, depending on the intensity of the workout, you burn from 5 to 10 kcal. Swing and mambo burn more calories than slow waltz.

Fact number 4. Dancing helps our body manage lipids. As a result, the level of "good" cholesterol in the blood rises and the amount of "bad" cholesterol decreases. Also, this type of activity will benefit diabetics, as it helps control blood sugar levels.

Fact number 5. Dancing improves memory, forcing us to memorize complex steps, which then fold into whole bundles. The load is such that our brain has no time to get bored, and at the same time with getting rid of extra centimeters, we develop mental abilities. This allows us to maintain a quick reaction and helps our mind to remain young, flexible, open.

Fact number 6. Keeping balance in one static position is quite simple. It's another matter when you have to freeze for a split second in the most incredible positions. Dancing strengthens the stabilizing muscles and helps avoid injury in daily life. In addition, this type of physical activity improves coordination and reflexes - a great way to keep your central and peripheral nervous systems in good shape.

Fact number 7. The fitness of seniors who attend dance classes is three times better than those of those enrolled in the standard retirement health program. For the study, 57 participants were recruited, aged 65 years. Some of them studied according to the dance program (salsa, bachata, meringue, and so on) for 4 months, twice a week (one hour lessons). The rest went through the standard physical activity program for retirees. At the end of the experiment, tests were carried out, as a result of which it turned out that the dance group outstripped in physical condition its opponents with the usual training program.

Fact number 8. Dancing can be considered a cure for depression and anxiety. Analysis. 27 studies on dance have shown that dancing can indeed be prescribed for people suffering from depression and excessive anxiety.

Fact number 9. Tango can be equated with meditation. In one of the studies. compared the physical and psychological state of volunteers practicing meditation and subjects doing tango. As a result, the researchers concluded that both types of activity help fight depression, but tango also lowers stress levels.

Workout examples

Port de bras

Body ballet

Jazz funk

Step choreography

Dance aerobics

Zumba

Bachata

Samba (solo)

Strip of plastic

Belly dance

Contemporary

Hip-hop

Personal experience

I've always enjoyed dancing. As a child, I tried not to miss a single ballroom dancing competition and watched them with my grandmother. But I did not succeed in getting to these classes for a number of reasons that did not depend on me then. Sports aerobics was chosen as a substitute in adolescence. At the university, I continued training in the sports aerobics team. And even if it was not really dancing, but still!

After graduation, I tried, whenever possible, to attend any classes where elements of dance were present (step aerobics, zumba, dance-mix, and so on). Due to the busy work schedule, it turned out badly, and there was no point in going to Latin American dances without a couple. I didn't know then that in Latin there is such a thing as solo performance.

The most interesting thing is that I learned about all this in the simplest sports club. I accidentally wandered into a Latin lesson, where the girl-trainer cheered up her group with fiery encouragement: “Come on, girls! Work your hips! I will definitely teach you, and in the spring we will all go dancing in the park together! It was difficult to ignore her sonorous voice, and I decided to try.

Then there was the first attempt at classical Latin. It was given much more difficult than social. Smooth knees, chest forward, elongated neck, straight back and at the same time drawn in stomach, sharp quick movements, which were immediately replaced by pauses and smoothness, the look "you are all plebeians, I am the only queen" - all this was quite difficult for me. But I still decided to see it through to the end (perhaps to the floor).

Then I changed the club after my dance coach, and there, jazz-funk and contemporary, as well as classes in choreography (body ballet) were added to the Latin classes. I used to think that such different dance styles would only get in the way. I will start to get confused and will not be able to bring to mind what I took up. It turned out that this does not interfere, but, on the contrary, helps me develop in different directions and improve my dancing skills.

Gradually, strength and stretching yoga was added to the usual strength and dance classes. When it turned out that it was difficult for me to keep my body in full tone and control all parts of the body for precise movements for some unfortunate one and a half minutes (the duration of a standard ligament), the trainer sent me to TRX.

It turned out that I went to dances, but got a lot of other skills. My body has finally begun to develop harmoniously, without any distortions. The back and hands stopped hurting (working at the computer and typing in a huge amount). Headaches disappeared due to back and neck pains, posture improved significantly. The head stopped spinning after three quick turns.

But all of the above is not the main thing.

Dancing does not just reveal the physical capabilities of the body. They show his beauty and harmony of movements. They learn to be graceful, to feel your body, to accept and love it.

Dancing is incredible therapy! Even if you go to class with a terrible mood, with every beat of the music it will disappear and after just 10 minutes there will be no trace of irritability, despondency and stress.

Latina is light flirtation (cha-cha-cha and jive), passion (samba) and tenderness (rumba). Jazz-funk is an explosion of positive emotions and an easy foolishness. Contemporary is almost a theatrical performance that allows you to express all emotions, from joyful to negative, with movements. Strip plastic helps to liberate, relieves complexes, teaches sensuality and sexuality.

And never say that dancing is too easy and that it will never replace "real" physical activity. Just go to one of the classes, for example, on practicing the technique of the main step of cha-cha-cha, samba or contemporary acrobatic elements. Believe me, after that you will have muscle pain that you did not even know existed.;)