A Sharper Mind, A Better Body… Dancing Does It All!

For hundreds of years, men and women have been fox-trotting their way to better bodies (and sharper minds). So, if the prospect of spending countless hours in a crowded gym (and hundreds of dollars on membership fees) doesn't inspire you, try trading in the treadmill for the dance floor. Dancing is an aerobic exercise that not only burns calories but builds muscle tone and improves balance. And, research shows, dancing can also improve your mental outlook and sharpen your mind.

Everyone can benefit from dance, no matter what age. Whether it's competitive ballroom dancing or group square dancing, a half-hour of dance delivers your daily dose of exercise in a fun and socially engaging way. Ballroom dancing, for example, can burn over 200 calories per hour; salsa dancing, over 400 calories.

While we tend to think of dance as it relates to the legs, the truth is that dancing builds and tones both upper and lower body muscles. Dancing with a partner is a graceful kind of "weightlifting" that strengthens your arms, abdominal muscles and back. And it develops lower muscles that often are overlooked in other workouts, such as the hamstrings and buttocks. In fact, even professional football players have taken up dance as part of their physical conditioning!

As men and women get older, dancing can provide additional health benefits by strengthening our hips and bones, as well as improving body posture. The most interesting side effect, however, is the impact that dancing has on our mental acuity and emotional well-being. Studies have shown that people who dance experience less stress, depression, loneliness and actually have a reduced chance of developing mental illnesses like Alzheimer's. Regardless of age, dancing improves mental sharpness by increasing blood flow to the brain and providing challenging mental activities such as memorizing new steps and moves.

Dance offers almost endless varieties for exercise, from slow dances to high-impact aerobic workouts. You can even tailor your dance workout to focus on specific muscles in your body just as you would at a gym-based workout session: ballroom dancing to improve your heart muscles, belly dancing to exercise your lower back muscles, etc. For lighter workout routines, begin with the slower dances, then move gradually to more complex dances and routines as your stamina builds. By learning new dances and new moves, you'll be ensured of a workout routine that may be physically tiring, but will never be one you get tired of.