Dance For Your Life

Ballroom and Latin dancing is so much fun and the proof is there that it also promotes wellbeing. Not only the physical aspects of dance but for the mind too and including social interaction. The benefits are wide ranging and less injury prone unlike other sports with heavy weight and high impact aerobics classes. Worldwide people are enjoying ballroom and Latin dance as a great pastime with the added social benefits.

There are differences in the Ballroom and Latin styles of each dance some are faster than others with different music and rhythms. With the Ballroom i.e. Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, Viennese Waltz and Quickstep, it has been known from the competitio
Dancesport field that with the arms raised the heart does get more of a workout than with the Latin dances. However with the faster speeds of Jive, Swing and Salsa can easily produce the same result.

Your lungs will get plenty of oxygen which makes the heart work easier, thus allowing you to enjoy longer dance sessions. The quick breaths create a stronger heart and allowing the levels to rise (in between dances) and fall creates conditioning making the night of party dancing fulfilling without being tired and stopping prematurely before the party’s over. As we use muscles we never thought we had, the body starts to tone and excess flab will dissipate with regular dance classes and social ballroom and Latin events. And as we continue to use our bones and joints the body’s presence improves with more control of rise and fall in some dances (i.e. Waltz, Foxtrot, Quickstep, Viennese Waltz) and lesser pain from arthritis which can occur at any age.

Our spine will become straighter with the constant introduction of correct posture. The expansion of the diaphragm can correct this with just more than a normal hand shake (firmness) ballroom dance frame. This can also help with the lengthening of the spine which introduces traction thus helping your internal organs to be in the right places. Your appearance, your balance, your walk and a sense of body presence will improve your outlook and others will notice the difference to the way your body is carried. These added benefits lead to confidence in the things we do in our everyday lives, (you’ll even feel sexier, especially with the Latin dances like Salsa, Rumba and Cha Cha etc). Self–esteem may increase, if you’ve never been up in front of people before and once you’ve done it, the easier it gets, leading to a sense of wellbeing and a more forward outlook on life. With ballroom and Latin dancing all of our senses are being used, taking the hand of another is just the first step, ballroom dance position, leading and following are also others that create therapeutic benefits of a hug without the intimacy. Perhaps everyone should ballroom and Latin dance.
Many professionals i.e. lawyers, accountants, bankers, and company directors have all said that having a ballroom or latin dance lesson either group class or private is the only way their minds can be released from their work. Creating an out of work experience is almost the same as going on holidays. The mental release is extremely beneficial and healthy for the mind. Giving yourself a mental release from work at least two to three times a week is a must in this troubled and pressure cooked world we live in. There is more evidence supporting ballroom and latin dance as a social must, by being in a social environment we feel more at ease and start to improve our ability to communicate in large crowds and conduct proper social etiquette.