Friday, January 31, 2014

"Every Step You Take, Every Dance You Perform!"

When you think you know every fitness benefit there is about ballroom dancing, you soon realize the list is endless!!! Every step you take, every dance you perform, only leads you to the path of a long healthy life. 

Check out this online article from realbuzz.com

Getting fit through ballroom dancing

Ballroom dancing is a leisurely and relaxing form of exercise that has a number of social benefits, as well as offering a great workout for the body. Ballroom dancing requires you to hook up with a partner so it’s a fine activity for developing team work skills and cooperation! Here’s our guide on how ballroom dancing could improve your personal fitness and lead you to a fitter, more active lifestyle

Key fitness benefits of ballroom dancing

Ballroom dancing has many key health and fitness benefits, in addition to those already associated with dance exercise. It is a very low impact activity, compared with other dance forms, and fitness benefits therefore include:
  • Ballroom dancing builds a stronger heart - Regular ballroom dancing can lead to a slower heart rate, as well as lower blood pressure and a more balanced level of cholesterol. It offers a great workout for the cardiovascular system as it requires a large degree of flexible movement.
  • Ballroom dancing burns off the calories - Ballroom dance is renowned for its ability to burn off calories, with a one-hour session burning as many as 800 calories, depending on the intensity of the dance. And you thought you could only lose weight through long sessions in the gym!
  • Ballroom dancing is a great form of cross-training - If you’re on the steady road back from a serious sporting injury, a spell of ballroom dance could – in moderation – be ideal to help you regain overall bodily movement and avoid any load-bearing on the injury in question. Dance may seem a strange exercise alternative if you’re a runner or sports player, but a couple of sessions of ballroom dancing really could set you back on track.

Friday, January 24, 2014

So, that New Years resolution.....

Hello all Fred Astaire Dancers!

Are the winter blues getting you down? Maybe, those last few cookies haven't left the waistline as fast as you wanted??

For all of us New Years resolutions start of with a lot of fire and determination! Eventually though that commitment to go to the gym fades..... Bad weather.... a cold..... just plain tired....


Dynamic and constant change is a secret to success when it comes to exercise. Check out the following article from the Mayo Clinic. This is how consistent exercise will affect your life!!!

Exercise: 7 benefits of regular physical activity

You know exercise is good for you, but do you know how good? From boosting your mood to improving your sex life, find out how exercise can improve your life. By Mayo Clinic Staff
Want to feel better, have more energy and perhaps even live longer? Look no further than exercise. The health benefits of regular exercise and physical activity are hard to ignore. And the benefits of exercise are yours for the taking, regardless of your age, sex or physical ability. Need more convincing to exercise? Check out these seven ways exercise can improve your life.

No. 1: Exercise controls weight

Exercise can help prevent excess weight gain or help maintain weight loss. When you engage in physical activity, you burn calories. The more intense the activity, the more calories you burn. You don't need to set aside large chunks of time for exercise to reap weight-loss benefits. If you can't do an actual workout, get more active throughout the day in simple ways — by taking the stairs instead of the elevator or revving up your household chores.

No. 2: Exercise combats health conditions and diseases

Worried about heart disease? Hoping to prevent high blood pressure? No matter what your current weight, being active boosts high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good," cholesterol and decreases unhealthy triglycerides. This one-two punch keeps your blood flowing smoothly, which decreases your risk of cardiovascular diseases. In fact, regular physical activity can help you prevent or manage a wide range of health problems and concerns, including stroke, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, depression, certain types of cancer, arthritis and falls.

No. 3: Exercise improves mood

Need an emotional lift? Or need to blow off some steam after a stressful day? A workout at the gym or a brisk 30-minute walk can help. Physical activity stimulates various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed. You may also feel better about your appearance and yourself when you exercise regularly, which can boost your confidence and improve your self-esteem.

No. 4: Exercise boosts energy

Winded by grocery shopping or household chores? Regular physical activity can improve your muscle strength and boost your endurance. Exercise and physical activity deliver oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and help your cardiovascular system work more efficiently. And when your heart and lungs work more efficiently, you have more energy to go about your daily chores.

No. 5: Exercise promotes better sleep

Struggling to fall asleep? Or to stay asleep? Regular physical activity can help you fall asleep faster and deepen your sleep. Just don't exercise too close to bedtime, or you may be too energized to fall asleep.

No. 6: Exercise puts the spark back into your sex life

Do you feel too tired or too out of shape to enjoy physical intimacy? Regular physical activity can leave you feeling energized and looking better, which may have a positive effect on your sex life. But there's more to it than that. Regular physical activity can lead to enhanced arousal for women. And men who exercise regularly are less likely to have problems with erectile dysfunction than are men who don't exercise.

No. 7: Exercise can be fun

Exercise and physical activity can be a fun way to spend some time. It gives you a chance to unwind, enjoy the outdoors or simply engage in activities that make you happy. Physical activity can also help you connect with family or friends in a fun social setting. So, take a dance class, hit the hiking trails or join a soccer team. Find a physical activity you enjoy, and just do it. If you get bored, try something new.

The bottom line on exercise

Exercise and physical activity are a great way to feel better, gain health benefits and have fun. As a general goal, aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day. If you want to lose weight or meet specific fitness goals, you may need to exercise more. Remember to check with your doctor before starting a new exercise program, especially if you have any health concerns.

(good thing our lessons are 40 minutes.... that's an extra 10 minutes of exercise)

Thanks for reading. Be sure to look to our blog for a new post every week!

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Ballroom Dance Fitness Benefits

Every wonder exactly what fitness benefits come into play when socially dancing? Check out this online article explain some of those benefits. It's a new year, new you, new dreams, new goals!!!

Ballroom Dance Fitness Benefits

| By Lori A. Selke
Although ballroom dancing may not be as strenuous an activity as training to run a marathon, don't knock the benefits of regular movement and exercise. The U.S. Department of Agriculture considers ballroom dancing a "moderate" activity. It has some specific health benefits, too, that may not have occurred to you before.


Muscle Toning

Ballroom dancing helps tone and strengthen the muscles in your calves, thighs and buttocks. Specific ballroom dance moves work these muscles differently than more familiar exercises, such as walking, jogging or cycling, do. If you're performing a style that involves lifting or dipping your partner, you can also get a pretty good upper body workout. Ballroom dancing will also help strengthen the core muscles of the abdomen and back.

Conditioning

Any regular exercise performed continuously for 30 to 40 minutes three or four times a week will help condition your cardiovascular system, strengthening your heart and lowering your cholesterol and blood pressure. It will also increase your lung capacity and your general stamina.
Bones and Joints
Dancing is a weight-bearing exercise, so it helps maintain bone density and prevent osteoporosis. It can also help rehabilitate your knees after surgery, as it's lower impact than jogging or aerobics.

Calories Burned

Thirty minutes of dancing burns between 200 and 400 calories -- the same amount burned by swimming or cycling.