The Benefits of Ballroom Dancing
There’s no doubt about it, Ballroom and Latin dancing is changing the way people feel about exercise, and themselves! For those skeptics who don’t believe in the power of the mind in health and medicine, we have listed the physical proof first. Millions of people every year are enjoying the many benefits that these forms of dance provide. From physical, mental and social standpoints, our favourite recreation is one of the best overall forms of low impact/high aerobic workouts available. It’s fun, it can be free, and best of all it’s always done with someone else! Here are just a few of the many benefits Ballroom offers:
The Physical Benefits
Cardiovascular: Ballroom and Latin dancing (henceforth called B&L) can raise the heart rate anywhere from 80 to 120 (more for some of us) beats per minute. That is the equivalent of any strength training or aerobic program I have heard of. Sustained in 2 minute bursts over a 45 minute period will build not only your heart’s strength, but it’s endurance too (Like Viagra for the Heart).
Muscle Tone: Ballroom & Latin dancing, when danced at an intermediate to advanced level of technique, uses the perfect blend of isometric and isotonic resistance (the two key ingredients to muscle building and toning). The blend and use of the muscles is perfect for building beautiful tone in the muscles without building a lot of muscle mass (a big concern for women).
Joints: According to many different sources of research, the best way to avoid arthritis, early arthritis and to remedy current joint discomfort is to continue to use the joints in a controlled manner. The beautiful rise and fall of Waltz demonstrates this beautifully. What could do this more perfectly and gracefully than Ballroom and Latin Dancing?
The Spinal Column: The frame or posture maintained places the spine in a natural and correct position, even more correct than when standing or sitting naturally! Plus that puts all your organs in alignment, which is now thought by many doctors and chiropractors to fight sickness, disease, fatigue and more.
Respiratory: Many track greats know that a strong set of lungs gets plenty of oxygen, which makes the heart work easier, which in turn allows us to dance and have fun longer! That’s why sprinters run a lot of “wind” bursts. Brief bursts to up the heart-rate quickly, then bringing it down and doing this repeatedly. This is similar to dancing at a party, club or ballroom.
Facial Lines: Most ballroom and Latin dancers are so busy smiling all the time that they will delay the onset of wrinkles and hopefully avoid those nasty worry lines.
Mental and Emotional Benefits
Hug Theory: The dance position used in Ballroom and Latin Dancing is very similar to a hug. It is believed that this is part of the attraction of B&L dancing – you get the security of a hug without the need for intimacy. Hugs are truly therapeutic and the ballroom circle does a lot of hugging as well as their dance positions, that’s a whole lotta hugging going on!
Self-Esteem: When I became a Ballroom dancer, my confidence soared from having been so low for most of my young life. I became confident in social situations and I learned etiquette that allowed me to mix in many more circles than I had before. My talent was natural, and because I loved to learn I progressed quickly. Almost everyone I know who does Ballroom & Latin has found a deeper self worth and holds a greater value in themselves….
Confidence: Many ballroom dancers have experienced the thrill (rush) of dancing in front of people. This is one of the top 10 fears of all human beings! Overcoming this fear increases confidence in dance, in one’s self and in life.
Social Ease: There is so much documentation out there supporting the theory that “comfort and ease in social situations” is one of the four primary needs in all individuals (almost every philosophy, psychology and self help book has the list). From weekly exposure (and a bit of trial and error), people become much more at ease in a social situation. They learn to engage in conversation, proper social etiquette (one of the biggest social “phobias”) to ask someone to dance (a big first step for many people). It even helps people deal with crowds. All in all the ultimate source for social edification and eventually comfort.
Posture, Appearance and Balance: I have grouped these since they build upon each other. Ballroom and Latin gives better posture, which in turn gives one a much more attractive appearance. If you don’t get a swelled head from looking so good, the improved posture improves balance as well. This in turn will help one to move more gracefully, which is explained in the next benefit.
Grace and Poise: Through improved balance and self esteem, one tends to stand and move in a much more polished and pleasant manner. Clumsiness is overcome, which also increases confidence and social ease.
Psychological Escape: No matter what you do in life, you’ve got to take a break sometime! Ballroom provides a temporary escape from the cares of the world and their pressures and for a few hours a week gives you freedom and enjoyment, invigorating you for their other daily and weekly responsibilities.
Emotional Lifeline: For many people, there is an emptiness, a loneliness, something missing in their life. Ballroom offers something wonderful to fill that void and offers so many great benefits that you would find it hard to count them!
Be aware….learning to dance is a process that takes time, and money for the classes. However the time spent is leisure time, where you are improving your physical and mental condition by exercising your brain and muscles.
The money spent is the best investment ever because you are investing in yourself – it will never depreciate. The more you use your newfound skills the better it gets and you can use them during your whole life. Knowing how to dance will multiply your happy moments, it will bring new friends, and it will motivate you to go on. It will release your stress. You will feel renovated, stronger, healthier, motivated, and more energetic. You will work better and will make more money.
You will go beyond any sport can take you because dancing is an art and its expressions will make you more sensitive. Learning dance is also learning how to relate to your partner and this process will make you more understanding of your partner needs. Because you are more energetic, sensitive and understanding, learn to dance will indeed improve your libido, your sex appeal and your sensuality.
You will be more fun, you will have more fun – a better social life, new friends, and you will look better outside and be better inside. And you will indeed enjoy more yourself!!
Do you need a partner to learn? No, you don’t. The instructor may be your partner during the lesson. And if you are looking for a dance partner, knowing how to dance will make so much easier. The sooner you start the better because knowing how to dance will mean the longer you will enjoy your better life.
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