Dancing May Be the Best Form of Exercise

Dancing appears to affect the brain in ways that extend beyond mental health conditions.

One of the benefits of physical activity is that it enhances executive function and attention, processing speed, and memory. Dancing involves both a mental effort and social interaction.

• Regular dancing can help prevent cognitive decline as we age and is associated with a reduced risk of dementia.”
• It can offer cardiovascular benefits by increasing your heart rate, it can help strengthen the lower and upper extremities through repeated muscle contractions, and it can challenge coordination and balance.

• Dancing on your own is a great option for those who are not able to attend a class or feel uncomfortable dancing around others.
• To get the most out of a solo dance experience, consider scheduling it into your calendar once a week, experiment with different music, and try it out when feeling different moods.
• Dance just for yourself, allowing any movements to flow that feel good — or pretend that someone is watching to enhance your personal dancing experience.