Have you ever started moving to the sound of music out of the blue? We’re sure it has happened to everyone at least once. That’s because dancing is a natural urge that we all possess. It’s no wonder that dancing is present in all cultures and societies around the world. 

Over the centuries, many people have praised the benefits of dancing. Nietzsche himself considered dancing to be his divine service and danced every day. You wouldn’t expect that from a nihilist for sure, not to mention it’s kind of strange to imagine Nietzsche grooving on the dance floor, surrounded by like-minded revellers, but apparently dancing played quite an important role in his life. 

Moving away from philosophers and their mundane pleasures, you’ve probably experienced the benefits of dancing yourself, but maybe you didn’t quite realize how much it can improve your quality of life. You’ve surely noticed that dancing to your favourite song at the end of a long and stressful day can do wonders for your state of mind. But dancing is not only great for your soul. There are many other wonderful benefits to dancing that most people are not aware of. So, if you want to start dancing, you’ll find more than enough reasons to get your groove on. 

Who needs cardio when you can dance?

To be more specific, you can replace your cardio workout with some dancing sessions. Because dancing is in fact a form of physical exercise, it can help improve cardiovascular health just as much as any other type of cardio activity. Some even believe that dance offers more advantages than regular cardio exercises because it targets all components of fitness. Of course, if you want to enjoy all the benefits of a great workout you must do more than waltzing for a few minutes. You should try more alert dance moves, intense enough to make you feel tired, but don’t overdo it to the point where you can’t breathe either. 

Dancing makes you stronger and improves your balance

Yes, we should all exercise regularly for a healthy mind and body, but exercising comes with some limitations. When you do your fitness routine you only train certain muscles, but dancing is more complex and makes you use every little muscle you have in your body, so from this point of view it can be considered a more complete physical activity. The movements you perform while dancing will, therefore, increase your strength. Besides, it’s been scientifically proven that dancing can also help you improve your balance, so if you know you’re a little clumsy and tend to trip over your own feet, a bit of dancing can help you stay safe. 

Dancing is all-inclusive

The great thing about dancing is that everyone can enjoy it. While exercising at the gym can feel a bit overwhelming sometimes, especially for those who are not in great physical shape, dancing is much more “user-friendly”.  You don’t have to be a professional dancer or have the best moves in town. All you have to do is turn the music on and get carried away by the beat. It really doesn’t matter that you have two left feet, but if you do want to improve, there are many ways to do that. You can take dance lessons or get some tips from professional dancers such as Craig Revel Horwood on Craig's official website, so you can learn some of his killer dance moves. 

Dancing keeps your brain active

There are many activities that can help you maintain your brain active and healthy, and dancing just happens to be one of them. Some studies have shown that dancing can stimulate areas in your brain that control functions such as memory or the ability to plan and organize, therefore maintaining your mind sharp as you age and even improving your thinking capacity. What’s even more interesting, dancing can help reduce dementia risk by 76%, so that’s a pretty strong reason to start dancing right now. 

You can adapt it to your needs

Not everyone can participate in an aerobic class and live to tell the story. Some people are fragile and suffer from health conditions that prevent them from performing full-body workouts. For those who have limited mobility, dancing is their best option to stay active, without putting too much stress on their bodies. Most workout routines imply repetitive movements that can lead to different physical issues, but dancing is much gentler and can be adapted to every person’s specific needs. You can think of dancing as a customized workout session. 

Feeling unsociable? Try dancing 

If you’re not a great dancer, the idea of dancing in public can be a little daunting. Besides, if you’re shy by nature, you might not be comfortable when surrounded by many people. That’s why some prefer to dance alone, in the privacy of their homes, where nobody can judge them. But as liberating as that might feel, dancing with other people can be even more fun. Try joining a dance class or simply go out with your friends and get down on the dance floor. Dancing can help you come out of your shell, connect with people and make new friends. 

It’s simply a lot of fun

If none of the above reasons convinced you that dancing is a great activity, then just think of it as an extremely fun pastime. We’re the first to admit that exercising can be a bit boring sometimes and it can feel more like a burden than an exciting experience. But you can’t say that about dancing, so here’s a great way to trick yourself into being more active and ditching your sedentary lifestyle. When you’re dancing you don’t feel like you’re making an effort. On the contrary, it can help you forget all about your worries and problems and make you feel happier and more relaxed. So, what are you waiting for? Put your dance shoes on and dance your troubles away. 

 

Author's Bio: 

Cynthia Madison