Dancing is a great way for people to get in shape and have lots of fun doing it! There is no need for any additional equipment or fancy gadgets. It is something that you can do without making a major financial investment. With the advent of TV shows like “Dancing with the Stars” and “So You Think You Can Dance”, more and more people want to try something like that. After all, why should only celebrities have all the fun?
Even if you have danced a little here or there, you may not have considered it to be “real” exercise because it is so enjoyable. This element of fun is exactly what makes an exercise program called “Dancercise” such a great way to get in shape since if you like it, you’ll do it more often. Nearly everyone enjoys dancing but not everyone likes to exercise. Dance fitness classes are becoming a popular form of group exercise and one main derivative is dancercise. So now you can dance and get a great cardio workout at the same time – whatever your age. The emerging attraction to dancercise is because the thought of spending an hour in a gym or in some traditional aerobics class just does not appeal to everyone. For most people the idea of dancing sounds like a much more enjoyable way to spend time than going to conventional exercise classes. Dancercise can help you regain your youthful flexibility with pleasure. Enjoy moving to the songs you grew up with, as well as the popular tunes of today. Learning dance moves helps both your physical coordination and mental sharpness. Dancing also reduces stress and brings a great deal of joy into your life.
An interesting note is that while you are dancercising, you don’t notice the amount of calories that you are burning. You become very focused on getting the choreography right while having a wonderful time moving to the beat. In essence, you completely forget about the sweat and the cardio workout you are doing. Participants often comment after a class how they did not realize that dancercise would give them such a great workout. They always seem surprised as to how quickly the hour has passed mainly because it is such a fun activity. So there can be gain without pain.
Dancercise is a total body fitness workout because it exercises not just the abs but also the legs, waist, knees, hips, pelvic muscles and thighs. In many ways dancercise is better than the traditional aerobics class because dancercise classes are different every week. Treadmills and exercise bikes are great ways to get in shape, but your body can quickly get used to the technique-meaning you begin to see fewer results over time. Dancercise, however, is multi-directional and forces your muscles to move in new ways that can help you get over or prevent that dreaded plateau (when you stop getting results from your fitness routine).
While it is easy to let your mind wander on a treadmill, dancercise class is different because it stimulates your mind during the entire session. This mental connection may be exactly what you need to stay sharp into your senior years. The need to memorize steps and work in sync with the group also provides a mental challenge that keeps the mind active.
Dancercise is a fantastic way to lose weight and tone up because it is a fun cardio workout that helps us avoid chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and stroke. It also lowers blood pressure and builds strong bones. Additional benefits include greater endurance, stamina, improved balance and more flexibility.
Psychologically, dancercise works like a stress reliever and tension buster. It increases personal confidence and builds new friendships.
Dancercising your way to fitness can be fun and something that you enjoy and want to keep doing. Replace the old “workout” with a “fun time out”.