Dancing is a fantastic way to stay active and have fun. It isn’t just good for your physical health, though. It is a great activity that will help you to keep both your body and mind healthy as you age.
Good Workouts for Any Level
Dance classes designed for seniors offer a great workout for individuals of all fitness levels and abilities. Some classes include seated accommodations for those with mobility issues while others are more vigorous.
The availability of a number of different styles of dance means that you are sure to find something that is a fit for you. Square dancing, ballroom dancing, and two-stepping are all popular choices at senior’s centres, but you don’t have to limit yourself to those. Try tap, jazz, ballet, modern dance, or salsa to see what styles you like the best. Some people choose the dance style based on the music – what do you want to listen to while you get your blood pumping?
Not only is dancing a great cardiovascular and strength workout, but it also helps to improve balance. Gently increasing your flexibility and coordination will help you to enjoy easier movements in all aspects of your life. The moves that you learn in dance class help your body to become nimbler which helps you to avoid falls, too.
Improves Mental Function
When we participate in activities that use different parts of our brains at the same time, studies have shown that it helps to improve our overall mental function. Joining a dance class that requires you to remember the order of the steps while you move creatively to the music helps your brain to stay sharp.
There have even been studies done with people living with Alzheimer’s that shows how dancing can help ease or slow the progression of the disease. The repetitive motions that are required in dancing help to stimulate parts of our brains that are responsible for memory.
Finding Community
As great as dancing is for our minds and bodies, we can’t discount the importance of the social side of dance. Dancing allows us to meet new people with a common goal. Finding new friendships enriches our lives and helps us to stay mentally healthy. It can be easy to become more and more isolated as we age. You might be surprised how many people who attend senior’s dance classes are there mostly for the friendships and community.
Moving our bodies to music, getting adequate exercise, staying social, and feeling more confident about ourselves through dance are all important aspects of supporting our mental health. Dance can even help to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression.
Consider joining a dance class, either in person or online, to stay fit, meet new people, and have a great time!
This story was made possible by our Community Partners Program. Thank you Didsbury Dental for helping to expand local news coverage in Alberta. Learn more.
