fitness
According to Susan, the benefits of dance include the following:
• Boosts physical endurance and cardiovascular health
• Improves posture, tones muscles, and increases overall fitness
• Strengthens the immune system
• Builds functional strength in core, hips, and legs
• Enhances sensory awareness and proprioception
• Fosters friendships and community through group classes
• Supports mental wellbeing by lifting mood and reducing stress
Boosts cognitive health
“ Dance supports cognitive health because multiple brain functions are simultaneously engaged – physical, cognitive, sensory and emotional, strengthening neural pathways and enhancing neuroplasticity,” says Susan.
According to her, learning the routines, moving your body in a different way, and dancing barefoot all engage the brain in new ways.“ Dance improves memory, focus, and mental flexibility, providing a superior defence against dementia compared to traditional, repetitive exercise.”
Improves mental wellbeing
Research shows that dance significantly improves both mental and physical wellbeing by boosting those moodenhancing endorphins, reducing stress, and enhancing cognitive functions.“ Structured dance acts as an effective, accessible exercise that reduces depression and anxiety, often surpassing other physical activities in fostering emotional wellbeing, social connection, and cognitive health in older adults.”
Healthy ageing
The great thing about dance is that you can really tailor it to any age group – great news, as research has shown that dance supports healthy ageing, particularly in preventing falls and maintaining mobility and brain health.
“ Dance keeps you on your toes – literally,” laughs Susan.“ It improves balance, so it reduces the risk of falls in older adults. In fact, studies have shown that creative dance styles greatly enhance what’ s called the Berg Balance Scale, a means of assessing static balance and fall risk in adults.” �
Tips to get started
If you want to dance for health rather than performance, Susan offers this practical advice to begin and to stay motivated:
Explore different styles:
Talk to the teacher:
Connect with others:
Dress for movement:
Choose joy over perfection:
Remember:
Try a variety of dance classes to see which one feels right for you.
Share your goals and ask how the class can support them.
Chat with participants to get a sense of the community and whether it’ s a good fit.
Invest in comfortable apparel that allows you to move freely.
Pick a dance form you genuinely enjoy – this is the key to sticking with it.
The“ best” type of dance is the one you’ ll actually keep doing. www. babysandbeyond. co. za
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