jeudi 14 juin 2018

6 Healthy Benefits Of Ballroom Dancing Ottawa Seniors Should Know About

By Susan Powell


It's easy for seniors to get isolated, slow down physically, and become depressed. Eating right and exercising regularly are goals too often put off. For those who aren't interested in hitting the gym everyday, the ballroom dancing Ottawa professionals offer can be a great solution. Not only is it a fun activity, it has solid health benefits.

Dance tones muscles, no matter how old they are. Quick stepping, spinning, turning, and dipping are great ways to build muscle strength and tone legs. You might not notice it, but when you're dancing with a partner, both of you are participating in a type of resistance training. Lifting partners over their heads will be too athletic for most senior men, but leading a partner around the room will tone their arms and abs.

Dance helps prevent osteoporosis. Bones can become brittle and joint stiff as people age. It's a natural part of the process. Dance can help this from happening. Since it is a low impact activity, it's great therapy for those who have had knees and hips replaced. When your bones are strong and your joints are flexible, your chance of serious injury decreases.

You will increase your flexibility with dance. One of the biggest dangers seniors face is the temptation to stop moving. Without a job to go to every day, some end up sitting in front of a television for hours at a time. Muscles atrophy when you don't move. Dance uses muscles throughout your body. After a few lessons you will begin to notice that you are more flexible and limber.

Dance burns calories. As people age, their metabolism slows down. This can cause weight gain even when you aren't eating more than you used to. Weight gain often makes exercising harder, and a lot of seniors eventually stop moving. Almost everybody can dance, on some level. It's easier, and more fun, than lifting weights and cardio. As you lose weight your attitude will improve.

Dance will improve your endurance and condition your total body. If you find yourself huffing and puffing when you try to walk up a flight of stairs, your endurance levels have dropped. Dance is a wonderful way to elevate them. Most classes start off slowly to give everybody a chance to get used to the activity. As the sessions lengthen, you will find yourself lasting longer and longer.

This kind of exercise is fuel for your brain. Studies have shown that all forms of dance help reduce the onset of dementia in seniors. Alzheimer's is one of the most feared diseases for seniors. No one seems to know exactly what causes it, but scientists believe that improving spatial memory, which is what allows you to learn dance steps, is critical for a healthy brain.

Growing older isn't always easy. It takes determination and motivation to keep moving. Dance is a great way to exercise your whole body and stimulate your brain. Along with the health benefits, you'll enjoy the time you spend socializing with new friends.




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