Do you wanna dance?

Our senior group is exploring ideas on how to bring more seniors into our center. One of the ideas that came up is the idea of a dance club once a month. Dancing has been a part of human history for thousands of years. Today, people in every culture can reap the health benefits of dancing, here are some:

A group of Australian researchers found that men and women with mood disorders who participated in a two-week tango instruction program felt less depressed and experienced significant reductions in their levels of stress, anxiety and insomnia.

A few weeks of salsa dance classes can seriously increase an older adult’s strength and balance, according to a study published in the journal Gerontology. “Salsa proved to be a safe and feasible exercise program for older adults,” said the study authors. They also noted the high adherence rate of the program—over 92 percent of participants ended up completing the full eight-week salsa dancing regimen.

Older adults with knee and hip discomfort may be able to swap their pain medications for dancing shoes, a Saint Louis University (SLU) study concluded. After engaging in a 12-week, low-impact dance program, participants with an average age of 80 years old were able to decrease the amount of pain medication they were taking by 39 percent.

People with stable chronic heart failure may derive the same aerobic health advantages from learning how to waltz as they would from more traditional forms of cardiovascular exercise, such as cycling or walking, says a study published in the journal Circulation. Unlike other types of cardiovascular exercise, dancing doesn’t necessarily require specialized equipment or workout settings, making it a much more accessible option for those looking to lower their blood pressure and cholesterol and maintain healthy body weight.

When compared to other leisure activities like playing golf, doing crosswords, reading and cycling, dancing appears to offer the best chance of helping stave off dementia. According to a 21-year study led by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, aging adults who danced regularly had a 76 percent reduced risk of developing dementia. Experts theorize that dancing is beneficial for our brains because it combines cardiovascular exercise with split-second decision-making that taxes our neural network, forcing it to create new pathways.

Dance is a gentle and painless way to exercise because it engages the mind and body in an enjoyable way that does not feel like exercise. And it causes fewer injuries because its varied movements are less repetitive in nature. Dancing happens to be a universal form of recreation as well. Seniors with conditions like Parkinson’s disease, dementia, cancer, arthritis, asthma and heart disease can all participate. Research into using dance as a therapy for each of these ailments has unearthed a host of advantages and very few risks. However, it’s always important to clear any exercises with a doctor before beginning a new regime, especially for those with pre-existing health conditions.

Dance with your loved one like no one’s watching! The best part is that dancing doesn’t have to include formal classes or training. Simply play some favourite tunes at home and let the music inspire your movement

This is because dance lifts the spirit while benefiting the body, and anyone can learn basic dance moves with some practice. And because it is not dependent upon the season, you can enjoy dancing all year round.