Research shows dancing can improve your mental health by boosting your overall happiness.
Dancing is a great cardio workout, a few rounds of Quickstep or Cha Cha Cha will get your heart pumping and those lovely happy endorphins flowing round the system. Like any good, low-impact cardio workout, dancing can improve cardiovascular health, increase stamina, strengthen bones and muscles and stave off illnesses. There have been studies done whereby people who have had to come into a dance studio with walking sticks and frames have been able to dance unaided. There is something really incredible that happens when we start to move to music, a different part of the brain seems to come into play with the muscles. We’ve always said that, just like many sporting skills, learning to dance is about training the muscles to know what is expected of them, and then you can really start to move with the music. It can sometimes be almost like a meditation, when a couple dance together they are beautifully aware of each other and the feeling of moving together in time to music is something that is hard to improve on. And of course gents, on the dance floor you are the one in control, you invite and your partner responds – usually with a yes please - and then you dance as one.
Throughout history and in contemporary times,
people worldwide have danced to cope with the stresses of life. But how has
dance helped people resist, reduce, and escape stress? What is it about dance
that makes it a healing art? Take a look at this great book by Judith
Hanna for more details and explanations about how cognitive, emotional and
physical dimensions of dance work in stress management:
https://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Health-Conquering-Preventing-Stress/dp/0759108595
That said, learning to dance isn’t something that happens overnight! When Strictly comes the TV we get lots of people signing up for classes and many are disappointed to find that putting one foot in front of the other can suddenly seem quite a hard task; then having to co-ordinate with your partner – well it looks so easy on the television. Of course, the Strictly stars spend many hours, day after day, learning a routine with one on one professional coaching. They put on some awesome displays, though most would admit that dancing with someone else would be more difficult and that they can only dance the set routine as learnt. When people come dancing in most ballroom or latin dance schools they learn the basic steps, floor craft, technique and importantly the ability to create their own dance according to the music – eventually – which is why once you get the bug you never tired of dancing. If you’re thinking of getting out from in front the TV and would like to get a bit fitter in a social environment but the idea of the gym or other sports doesn’t appeal, then maybe dancing is worth a go. You need to allow yourself time to get the basics together, usually about 8-12 weeks, and then you can progress upwards for as long as you wish – most people say they never stop learning to dance and that’s just one of the reasons they keep coming. We have classes in High Wycombe on Tuesdays and Thursdays for beginners, if you’d like to give it a go visit our website for more details www.comedancingwithme.co.uk
