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Natural Bodybuilding Jargon
Article intro: This glossary contains the definitions of the world of Natural Bodybuilding. It is by no means a complete guide to Bodybuilding. However, I do believe that if you go through this bilingual dictionary, you should become fairly knowledgeable ...
Treadmills – Ideal For Home Exercise
Treadmills are ideal for exercising from home. They can be used on there own or if you are starting a home gym you can use them as an addition to other equipment such as the exercise bike, weight etc. The treadmill is ideal for both beginners and the more ...
Why Are You Physically Training?
Sometimes I think that there is an underlying confusion in the fitness community that ultimately leads to a great deal of people failing to meet their goals. This confusion stems from not having a clear understanding of your fitness goals to start ...
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In fact, Mayo Clinic researchers reported that social dancing helps to: Reduce stress Increase energy Improve strength Increase muscle tone and coordination
And whether you like to kick up your heals to hip hop, classical or country, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) says that dancing can: Lower your risk of coronary heart disease Decrease blood pressure Help you manage your weight Strengthen the bones of your legs and hips
Dancing is a unique form of exercise because it provides the heart-healthy benefits of an aerobic exercise while also allowing you to engage in a social activity. This is especially stimulating to the mind, and one 21-year study published in the New England Journal of Medicine even found dancing can reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia in the elderly.
In the study, participants over the age of 75 who engaged in reading, dancing and playing musical instruments and board games once a week had a 7 percent lower risk of dementia compared to those who did not. Those who engaged in these activities at least 11 days a month had a 63 percent lower risk!
Interestingly, dancing was the only physical activity out of 11 in the study that was associated with a lower risk of dementia. Said Joe Verghese, a neurologist at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and a lead researcher of the study, "This is perhaps because dance music engages the dancer's mind."
Verghese says dancing may be a triple benefit for the brain. Not only does the physical aspect of dancing increase blood flow to the brain, but also the social aspect of the activity leads to less stress, depression and loneliness. Further, dancing requires memorizing steps and working with a partner, both of which provide mental challenges that are crucial for brain health.
How Good of a Workout is Dancing, Really?
The amount of benefit you get from dancing depends on, like most exercises, the type of dancing you're doing, how strenuous it is, the duration and your skill level.
Says exercise physiologist Catherine Cram, MS, of Comprehensive Fitness Consulting in Middleton, Wisconsin, "Once someone gets to the point where they're getting their heart rate up, they're actually getting a terrific workout. Dance is a weight-bearing activity, which builds bones. It's also "wonderful" for your upper body and strength."
Plus, dancing requires using muscles that you may not even know you had.
"If you're dancing the foxtrot, you're taking long, sweeping steps backwards. That's very different than walking forward on a treadmill or taking a jog around the neighborhood ... Ballroom dancing works the backs of the thighs and buttock muscles differently from many other types of exercise," says Ken Richards, professional dancer and spokesman for USA Dance, the national governing body of DanceSport (competitive ballroom dancing).
Specific Benefits of Different Dances
If you're looking for specific health results, here's a breakdown of the benefits of some popular dances. Just remember that any type of dancing is better than no dancing at all!
Belly Dancing Improved posture and muscle toning Maintains flexibility Helps prevent lower back problems Tones and firms arms and shoulders Helps with weight loss Helps prepare women for childbirth Reduces stress
Dancing Off Those Calories
How many calories will you burn while dancing? That depends on the type of dancing. Here's a range of some of the most popular varieties, based on a 150-pound person, per hour: Swing dancing: 235 calories/hour Ballroom dancing: 265 Square dancing: 280 Ballet: 300 Belly dancing: 380 Salsa dancing: 420+ Aerobic dancing: 540+
Ballroom Dancing Conditions the body Helps keep the heart in shape Builds and increases stamina Develops the circulatory system Strengthens and tones legs and body Increases flexibility and balance Helps with weight loss Relieves stress
Salsa Dancing Builds endurance and stamina Helps with weight loss Relieves stress Helps you release toxins via sweating May help lower blood pressure and improve cholesterol levels Can lead to a reduced heart rate over time
Square Dancing Provides cardiovascular conditioning May lead to a slower heart rate, lower blood pressure and an improved cholesterol profile Strengthens bones Helps you develop strong social ties Loosens and tones muscles
Physical benefits aside, dancing has a way of brightening up a person's day, says ballroom owner and operator Karen Tebeau.
"A lot of times, when people come into the studio, it's because there's been a change in their life: a divorce or they've been through a period of depression. They (continue) coming in, and you see a big change. After a while, they're walking in with a sunny expression. You know it's the dancing that's doing that," she says.
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 Richmond offers aerobics program for seniors - Northwest Herald
RICHMOND – A pilot senior exercise program for Richmond Township residents launches next week. For $5 a month, seniors will be able to participate in a twice-weekly aerobics class throughout 2009. The program is part of an initiative to reach out ...
Clarksville Parks offers Saturday programs - Louisville Courier-Journal
"Optimist Tri-Star Basketball Competition," 3-5 p.m. Saturday at Clarksville Middle School, 101 Ettels Lane. The program is for boys and girls ages 8 through 13. Registration will begin at 2:30. Participants will compete in free-throw shooting ...
Mon Valley News Briefs - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Community College of Allegheny County will offer two morning fitness classes to people age 55 and older beginning Jan. 21. The 55-plus aerobic and personal conditioning classes will both meet Monday and Wednesday mornings at CCAC South Campus in West ...
YMCA offers fitness preview - Commercial News
DANVILLE — Just in time to help people turn their New Year’s resolutions into action, the Danville Family YMCA will offer a free preview Saturday of its fitness classes. Called “The Fitness Blast,” this three-hour event will demonstrate the ...
Aerobics classes offered in East Fishkill - Poughkeepsie Journal
HOPEWELL JUNCTION - The East Fishkill Recreation Department will offer two co-ed aerobics classes at the community center. On Mondays at 6 p.m., from Jan. 5 to March 9, cardio and kick-box aerobics classes will be held. The noncontact workout uses ...
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