Bust A Move
By Fitsmi January 19


What is dancing?
It may be a silly question but we’ll answer it anyway: Dance is a sport and art form that typically refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic, and to music. It’s that thing you do involuntarily when your favorite song comes on. Dancing is a great way for people of all ages to get active without feeling like your workout is a workout. Besides being tons of fun (we dare you to try and dance with a serious face), dancing also has many positive health benefits such as increased flexibility, strength, endurance and a sense of well being; all of which will most likely happen without you even trying or realizing.

Necessary gear
That’s the best part–you don’t really need any! A positive attitude and a willingness to laugh at yourself are a plus, especially if you want to have fun.

As far as clothing and shoes go, the more comfortable the better. Clothing that can stretch as you move will work best. Once you get into a particular style of dance such as Belly Dancing or Salsa, it might be fun to dress the part in belly dance skirts or belts that jingle when you shake your hips. Dancing in a pair of comfy heels is a great way for extra leg toning, as long as you stay on your feet. Losing your balance in heels can lead to some pretty nasty injuries, so you’ll probably want to take it easy.

Fun music can definitely motivate you to move. For starters, anything with an 8-beat count or steady 4-4 rhythm (Like Lady Gaga’s Just Dance) is best for getting you moving, even if you don’t know any “moves.” Find a few songs that you are familiar with and try choreographing a small routine set to change with each song, or just search for your favorite videos on YouTube and follow the choreography.

What good is it?
If you watch Dancing with the Stars, think of the overwhelmingly positive feedback the celebrities get throughout the show, even when being voted off. In addition to the transformation of their bodies the longer they stay in the competition, the constant energy and focus dancing requires shapes the mind, too. In interviews, the contestants constantly talk about how much fun they had learning the different dances, as well as the self-discovery that occurs as they begin moving and using their bodies in ways they never thought possible. Looking at the show’s past participants makes it clear that no matter what your body type or athletic ability, you can dance and enjoy the multitude of benefits!

Here are some benefits of dancing:

1. Strength: Using your body’s weight is a great way to build strength. When you dance, you’re using your major muscle groups the entire time. Think of all the arm movements, squatting, leaping, jumping that can be done as you get really creative. It doesn’t matter how goofy you look, as long as you’re working up a sweat.
2. Endurance: Dance is physical exercise and a wonderful cardio workout. Any time your heart rate is elevated for long periods of time, you are building endurance and/or stamina which will help keep you from getting tired when doing simple things like walking up stairs, shopping, playing sports and so on.
3. Flexibility: Dance requires a great amount of flexibility. Dancers strive to achieve full range of motion for all the major muscle groups. In most forms of dancing you are bending, stretching, twisting and turning which all improve flexibility.
4. Sense of well being: Whether you’re practicing your moves in your room or dancing with your friends, it’s a chance to build confidence and relieve stress and tension.

How do I get started?
You can dance right in the privacy of your own home! You can dance by yourself, or throw a dance party to get your friends in on the action. You can also sign up for dance classes at a local dance studio or join a gym with dance classes on their group exercise schedule. You can find all kinds of dance classes like Salsa, African Dance, Jazz, Bollywood Dance, and Hip Hop to the hot fitness craze Zumba, which mixes different types of dances and will have you smiling and sweating in no time. There are lots of dance videos you could rent or buy, or check YouTube for videos to dance along to in front of your computer!

Do you like to dance?

Photo by: Pink Sherbert Photography