Why Dancing Is One of the Best Things You Can Do for Your Body and Mind
When you think about dancing, what comes to mind?
Maybe it’s fun and freeing
Maybe it's something you find daunting and try to avoid! 🙈
Maybe the thought of trying to dance makes you laugh because you “can’t dance”.
Dance is often seen as a hobby, or only something you do when you’re younger (or if you’ve had a few too many 'lemonades' 😉).
But what if you discovered that dancing regularly had some really powerful benefits that could make your life easier, happier and more fulfilling?
Intrigued? Keep reading 👀
At face value dancing is just cardio fitness - but actually it's waaaaay more than that!
When we exercise (or dance), it releases endorphins into our body which gives us an instant mood boost!
Many mental health experts say you should exercise when you’re feeling low - there are some that say even just having a wiggle will make a difference! Jump around, shake, move your body vigorously. Even just 30 seconds can make an impact - you'll find your mood lifts and you'll get a fresh burst of energy. (Trust us, wiggles works!)
Going to a dance class or even just dancing in your living room is a really great way to instantly boost your mood and helps maintain a happy, healthy headspace 🩷
Feeling a bit depressed? Try and have a boogie, even if it's just in your PJs.
Feeling anxious about something? Get up and move, focus your body on something else and the mind will follow!
Oh and we can't forget the physical benefits!
🫀 Heart health - moving your body will help support your cardiovascular health (keeps your heart pumping out the good stuff!)
🦵 Joint mobility - it will keep you running like a well-oiled machine. Moving your body regularly is crucial for maintaining mobility as you age. What you do now will affect how physical and mobile you will be in the future - so make sure you prioritise it while you can!
🧠 Brain health! Dancing will test your coordination and memory. Our brains control all of our movement, thought and memory function. Just like any other part of our body, we want to constantly use it so that those functions stay active! Dance means you're learning new ways to move all the time!
Learning a new skill can be scary but the more we practice, the less scared we become. When most people start dance classes they’ll probably feel a bit awkward, un-co, nervous about "being bad" and anxious about maybe being judged.
Those are pretty normal worries!
But once they get into the swing of it?
💛 They'll discover that failure is just part of the process. It's not only a great way to learn but it makes the wins feel so much more rewarding!
💛 They’ll start building better coordination and feel more comfortable in their body.
💛 They’ll realised there's no outside judgement because everyone is there for the same reason (themselves!)
💛 They'll start to feel Confident (with a capital C). This confidence isn't just in those dance moves, either, but in life. Confidence to move a little freer, to show up for themselves, to hold their heads a little higher. Dancing will give them confidence in ways they might not have known they were missing. That’s honestly a big game-changer! 🩷
💛 They'll make friends! Hobbies are great ways to build social connections and dance classes are social! With everything moving more and more online, it can be really tough to find places IRL (in real life) to meet new people. In a class or on the dance floor, dance really brings people together. So it’s a great way to widen your communities and meet people you may not have crossed paths with otherwise.
And with that new-found confidence, there will be no problem interacting with each other too! 😉
So really, dance isn’t just an activity.
It’s a tool for life.
You don’t have to be a “good” dancer, it’s just about moving your body and seeing where the adventure takes you.
So before you put yourself in the “I don’t dance” category, have a think about what dance could do for your life.
Give yourself permission to be a beginner.
You might be surprised where one little dance takes you. 💃
