10 Reasons Why Adults Should Dance!

The stress of aging prompts more and more people to explore new past times. Adults are looking for activities that are fun and keep their body and minds active. Dance allows for creative expression and different interpretations of physical activity, while strengthening adults' aging bodies.

So, why is dance an ideal activity for adults?

1. It has little risk of injury

It helps develop strength, endurance and good posture, all with little risk for injury when compared to many other kinds of exercise. Not only that, but it also helps enhance limb mobility, improving arm and leg movement and translating into more versatility of movement.

2. It Improves mood and mental health

Aside from the benefits of movement and music, dancing also allows us to become more connected and social. Making new friendships or reconnecting in an old relationship can be a wonderful side effect of dance. These social interactions can go a long way in improving mood and mental health.

3. It provides anaerobic training

Training "anaerobically" includes types of activities that are performed at a high intensity, for a short period of time. Anaerobic literally means "without oxygen". This doesn't mean you stop breathing, or even that your body doesn't use oxygen. It simply means your body is processing oxygen at a faster rate than it can take it in. As a result, you begin to use other sources of energy. This is how we access our fat stores and replace it with muscle (in a long-complicated process that I won't explain here). Anaerobic training is characterized by short bursts of vigorous activity.

Dance class is structured with combinations that are very vigorous, followed by rest and feedback from the instructor.

4. Boosting Endurance

As we age, we need to maintain a certain level of endurance. By taking a dance class for one or two hours a week, adults are exposed to a different form of endurance than running sprints or gym training. While cardio exercises like running on a treadmill allow athletes the ability to burn calories quickly while boosting endurance, studies have shown that just 30 minutes of dance training can burn up to 300 calories.

5. Improves Strength and Balance

A few weeks of ballet classes can seriously increase an adult's strength and balance. Ballet positions are designed to condition your feet and ankles for stability in movement, improving balance in everyday activities as well. Dance classes, of all types, concentrate on ab, back, and glute strength for better execution of all movement, giving that aging mid-line some much needed attention.

6. Increased Coordination

Dance training involves a large amount of memorization with consistent repetition of specific steps. If adults practice dance, these movements may allow them to become more coordinated as routines typically increase spatial awareness. For adults who also participate in sports, this can be increasingly helpful in becoming more aware of the surroundings of the game.

7. Focus On Flexibility

While many exercise activities require adults to stretch in order to reduce a strain on muscles, many fail to focus on the benefits of flexibility. Dance moves that really push the body to the limits in terms of stretching can allow the strengthening of neglected muscles while allowing adults to push their limits when it comes to performing other physical activities.

8. Reduces Joint Pain and Stiffness

Older adults with knee and hip discomfort can swap their pain medications for dancing shoes After engaging in a 12-week, low-impact dance program, participants are able to decrease the amount of pain medication needed and move around more easily. Dance gets the heart pumping, which increases blood circulation throughout your body “ including your joints. As a result, your joints are exposed to a steady supply of nourishing oxygen and nutrients.

9. Protects Your Heart

People with stable chronic heart failure may derive the same aerobic health advantages from learning how to dance as they would from more traditional forms of cardiovascular exercise, such as cycling or walking. Unlike other types of cardiovascular exercise, dancing doesn't necessarily require specialized equipment or workout settings, making it a much more accessible option for those looking to lower their blood pressure and cholesterol and maintain a healthy body weight.

10. Defends Against Dementia

When compared to other leisure activities like playing golf, walking, and cycling, dancing appears to offer the best chance of helping stave off dementia. Aging adults who danced regularly have reduced risk for developing dementia. Experts theorize that dancing is beneficial for our brains because it combines cardiovascular exercise with split-second decision making that taxes our neural network, forcing it to create new pathways.

Overall, dancing allows the body to focus in areas that other activities may neglect. Studying dance can be useful for adult's' bodies, while allowing them to express themselves through creative freedom. Dance is more than just an art, it is an outlet that leads to a healthier body.

Our South Coast Conservatory motto is to create dancers that are strong, smart, and healthy. And we want all of our dancers to do great things from the benefits they gain through their years at South Coast Conservatory. Enroll in one of our programs and experience the reasons today.

At South Coast Conservatory we CHANGE LIVES THROUGH DANCE!

Laguna Niguel, CA