by Maria Rikka M. Ocena
I’m not a good dancer. So when some of the women in our church invited me one Saturday morning to a Zumba session at a village park, I hesitated but went anyway to give it a try.
After a few stretches and short runs around the oval, loud dance music signaled that the session was about to begin. My eyes grew wide as women started to gather. There were young ladies, mothers, and even senior citizens. Everyone was dancing to the tune, not minding the stiffness of their body, as long as they were lifting their arms, and stretching their legs.
Dancing is one of the best ways to stay fit for people of different ages. According to Better Health Channel, Australia, one of the benefits of dancing is improving hearts and lungs. It also increases muscular strength, assists in weight management, and aids in making our bones stronger, therefore reducing the risk of osteoporosis.
Different dance styles can be used for exercise. Jazz is a high-energy dance which includes high kicks, leaps, and turns. Ballet is a classical dance focusing on strength, technique, and flexibility. Others have found ballroom dancing enjoyable especially for the “once young” since they are more familiar with swing, waltz, rumba and tango movements. However, vigorous and intensive steps have a high injury risk for bones, muscles, and tendons. Dance Instructor, Paul F. Clifford, suggests that you consult your doctor first if you have not exercised regularly for a long time, are overweight, and are over 40 years old. (Clifford, P.F (2000), Preventing Dance Injuries)
It is helpful to choose the dance style that you will enjoy or try one that you think you can work on. There are several places you can begin dancing, like enrolling in a dance class, in a community hall or even at the comfort of your own home. Most fitness centers are now offering dance for their group exercise sessions. You may be surprised that one of the perks of enlisting at the women’s group in your neighborhood is getting a free dance workout every morning.
It’s a challenge to see women finding time to exercise even in their busy schedule. Mothers need strong arms to carry a child and to do the laundry. Sturdy legs are necessary to run around the house to finish some errands before heading to the office. Incorporate dance into your daily routine, swing to the music while washing the dishes, or dangle to the tune while sweeping the floor and you’ll find yourself dancing to a healthy you!
