We all know that shaking it on the dance floor (or our living room, car, local grocery store, wherever) makes us feel really good. And we know that it can make us break into a sweat. But do we all know the amazing health benefits that are associated with dancing? Thanks to lots of published studies, we’re about to get a lot more educated.
Incorporating dance into your regular routine may lead to:
- A More Active Lifestyle Overall. A recent study looked at the effect of Latin Dance (hello, Zumba®!) on overall physical activity in older adults. The group who danced regularly actually became more active over the 4-month test period. And, beyond doing things like walking more often, it was found that their physical function improved, as well (aka, they started walking even faster than before).
- Better Mental Health. Striving for happiness is a common goal we all share. And there’s proof that dancing can help us reach that goal. A meta-analysis looked at data from 20 years of research findings and found that regular dance showed improvements in depression, anxiety, well-being, mood, and even body image.
- Decreased Risk of Dementia. The New England Journal of Medicine conducted a study, which suggests that leisure activities, such as dancing, result in a reduced risk of developing dementia as we age. Retaining our memory and cognitive function as we get older is hugely important, so this is music to our ears.
- Alleviated Symptoms of Serious Diseases. Several studies have shown that dance may help alleviate symptoms and/or improve function in patients dealing with breast cancer treatment, heart disease, and even Parkinson Disease.
So, while most of us dance just to feel great, relieve stress, or get our heart rates going, it’s amazing to know that this globally-loved activity can actually have super-positive effects on our long-term health. No better reason to #LetItMoveYou!