It’s fun, perhaps a little silly and it’s great for your health. We’re talking about dancing. While some people enjoy taking dance classes or going to clubs, there is a great deal of enjoyment – and wellness perks! – to be gained simply by busting a move around your living room.
Are you wondering why you should consider dance, aside from making your kids laugh? The following are a few factors in living room dancing that can significantly improve your health.
The exercise
It’s obvious to say, but when you dance, you get exercise! Depending on what type of moves you are doing, and the speed at which you are dancing, you can provide your heart and lungs with a great workout, and also target many muscles in your body.
If you’re dancing slowly, the elongated movements you make can help to stretch out many muscle groups, including those that are hard to target.
Along with this, dancing can improve your range of motion and coordination, as well as your balance – and, needless to say, it can be a great tool to help you lose weight.
The stress relief
Any kind of exercise is linked to stress relief, but dancing can be especially effective due to the sheer enjoyment factor. For many people who may not like running or going to the gym, dancing offers a way to work out without it feeling like work.
Along with helping to relieve stress, dancing may also help to lift you out of a funk, and even clear your mind for greater focus. Faster dance steps, as they work your heart, can send out a great rush of endorphins – the body’s “feel good” chemicals – to dissolve your stress.
Dancing slowly and precisely can also relieve stress, as some of the movements can simulate yogic poses and stretches. You can also breathe deeply during your slow living room dance, further allowing your stress to melt away.
The music
Along with the health benefits of dancing itself, you’ll get a lot of good from the music you choose, as well. Music has long been known to be a great motivator, and when we choose songs we love, it helps us to stay positive and beat fatigue.
Additionally, some research has found that people perform better on cognitive tests when they are listening to music they enjoy. On an especially stressful or busy day, pick the songs that mean the most to you, and put ’em on as loud as the neighbors, your kids and maybe your howling dog will allow!
So, if you think you don’t have time to work out, think again! Even if you have to do it while you’re dusting, or simply on the way to the other side of the house, turn that tired walk into a dance, and see how much more easily your day flows!
-The Alternative Daily
