When we mention Fitness, it does not always mean only physical. Ballroom Dancing helps you develop both mental and physical well-being by incorporating the social aspect to it. There are a lot of positive changes one could go through internally as a person and I am sure a lot of Ballroom Dance teachers can vouch for the amazing positive developments they see in their students and the way Ballroom Dancing has changed their lives. 

Physical Fitness

This is a no brainer. If you weren’t aware Ballroom Dancing is a sport – we call it “DanceSport”. But even then, one can experience the fitness improvement just from being a Social Dancer – not everyone has to be a competitive dancer to reap the physical benefits. It is well known that 10 min. brisk walking daily is beneficial for one’s health, but when Social Dancers go out dancing they are on the floor for hours together sweating it out without even realizing it (the best part). Why? Because Ballroom Dancing is also a social activity and that combined with music and fun, its a win win. Moreover, the variety of muscle groups used during dancing beats the usual your gym workout. 

Stress Relief 

Ever heard of Music Therapy? Music is self healing and what could be better than expressing your emotions through body movement on music? Moreover, as human beings we are programmed to look for a human connection. Dancing with a partner adds that element of socializing and connection that we as human beings strive for. On the flip side, practices by yourself can also have meditative benefits – think of it as your alone time. One of the other ways you reduce stress during dancing is that you smile and forget about your day. When you watch people dance you tend to see people smiling which helps reduce stress. Stress reduction is helpful when you’re trying to sick to a diet because it causing you to crave foods that have a lot of sugar. Reducing stress can help combat this feeling of wanting to eat everything in sight.

Discipline & Perseverance

As was mentioned earlier, Ballroom Dancing is a sport, which means you have to train for it like any other sport. Practices are hard, painful and uncomfortable, but perseverance is imperative. Ballroom dancers know you don’t get better without putting in effort and at that point its a matter of not just training your body but also your mind. Planning work-life around practices to make it happen can only be done through discipline and structure and ballroom dancers constantly work towards making that happen. 

Team Work

Ballroom Dancing is a team sport. You are working relentless hours with your dance partner to make just a 1 1/2 minute choreography perfect. The finished product is not about showcasing your individual strengths but what you can do together as a partnership. Working on these partnering skills make you a better team player and starting as a kid is a great way to start learning the craft to work constructively with other people. A great benefit of working with someone else is that they will push you to work harder and you’ll be less likely to skip a workout because someone is counting on you to be there. When you work with someone else you will look forward to seeing that person which is a plus when you’re trying to get in shape. 

It’s a Great Aerobic Workout

Ballroom dancing is a great way to break a sweat and burn some calories. In one hour of dancing you can burn up to 300 calories. Paired with a nutritional program this can help you lose weight and look great. The best part of doing this as your aerobic workout is that it’s fun and something that you won’t mind coming back to over and over again. If you’re not a fan of running or sick of aerobic classes at your gym then give dancing a try. Dancing is a great way to hit the recovery heart rate zone because it won’t raise your heart rate to high. It’s a workout that you can stick to without becoming burnout and that’s the most important part to a workout program.

It Improves Balance

Dancing is a great way to improve your balance because it works all the muscles in the lower body. Most workouts only focus on one plane of motion but dancing hits all 3 planes of motion which works all the little muscles that we forget when we’re in the gym. All the twisting and turning during a dance program helps improve the proprioception in the body. Basically this means that you will have more awareness of where your body is during movement which will improve your balance.

It’s Fun

Have you ever started a fitness program and hated every moment? I know that I have and when you feel this way you will usually quit. If you fall into this trap then you might want to give dancing a try because it’s a lot of fun which will keep you coming back. The most important thing in a fitness program is that it’s fun and that you’re passionate about what you’re doing. Dancing is known to be one of the most passionate activities that you can do.

Great Way to Stay in Shape for Couples

When you and your partner are looking to get into shape it can be hard to find something that you both want to do together. Ballroom dancing is a great choice for couples because it can help rekindle a spark that you had in the beginning of the relationship. If you want the duel benefit of growing with your partner and burning up some calories ballroom dancing might be the perfect fit for you.

Confidence, Self-Esteem & Socializing

Ballroom Dancing requires you to dance “with someone” and that involves communication through body movements. As dancers grow that aspect gets more and more comfortable and self expression becomes a second nature in turn boosting your self-confidence. Moreover, as you get comfortable and dance “for yourself” the anxiety about dancing in front of an audience continues to dissipate. Moreover, social dancing in the ballroom space is different from a club scene. Its a safe atmosphere (where everyone shares the love of dance) even for the introverts to get out and enjoy a fun activity without the pressure of having to converse – a great way to get out of your comfort zone. As you continue to grow in the social atmosphere, the community and connections you form are real and fulfilling and before you know it becomes your lifestyle!

Have any questions or want to give this a try? We offer Social / Nightclub Dance Lessons (Salsa / Bachata), Wedding Dance Lessons (First Dance / Parent Dance) as well as Competitive Ballroom Dance Lessons. We look forward to getting you started 🙂