Have you always wanted to take Latin dance classes but have not known where to start? Latin dancing is captivating people everywhere! It is so abroad that I go dancing every place I visit in the USA and internationally.
The beat. The vibe. The romance and the spice of it. There is nothing like the allure of Salsa dancing. If you have been interested in taking Latin dance classes, here are more reasons to give it a try.
Below is a list of the benefits of taking dance classes.
So, let’s begin.
The Physical Side
I have always shared that dancing is a form of exercise, the physical benefits of dancing would be similar to that of other cardio activities but more enjoyable.
The New England Journal of Medicine revealed in a study that the risk of developing dementia in elderly people can be significantly reduced simply by dancing frequently.
A Psychology Today post explained that dancing blends cerebral and cognitive thought processes with muscle memory and proprioception, which is good for brain health. All those changing rhythmic movements require you to keep your balance, and the more you practice, the better.
Psychology Today cited a study that found that dancing may improve balance and make you less dizzy, if that’s an issue for you. The more moves you make with your arms, legs, and torso, the greater improvement in your range of motion. Dancing literally makes you feel better since it can help you reach and stride with comfort. And as you get older, dancing is a fun way to continue to engage in health-boosting physical activity.
1: Improve your overall health.
Perhaps one of the best reasons to learn Salsa or to take dance classes is that it is good for your health! Salsa dancing is a great cardio exercise and helps you stay active. Let’s face it: Spending a couple of hours latin dancing online is way more fun and manageable than busting your butt on a treadmill for an hour!
I am not a doctor here, but I read that you can burn 400 to 500 calories per hour while dancing. All these benefits mean that you will experience improvements in your overall health.
2: Improves cardiovascular health
The heart-pumping health benefits of dance are right in line with the Department of Health and Human Services for adults. It states for health benefits that adults should do:
- at least 150 to 300 minutes per week of moderate-intensity exercise, or
- 75 to 150 minutes per week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity
See, by starting dance lessons or by taking latin dance classes, you can get these fun cardio workouts since your heart rate gets challenged from executing the different moves constantly.
3: Improves your weight
Have you been wanting to lose weight but hate the gym? Dance classes are an excellent way to burn calories. And the best news? You would be having so much fun you would not realize you were working out!
Sure, Salsa dancing or Latin dances are great “cardio workouts”. But remember, slower dances also burn serious calories, with the sustained movement requiring you to have great posture, stay focused, and engage your core. Do I hear Tango?
If you want to shift the scale, combine your dance classes with doses of social dancing plus a healthy diet. Well, I am sure you will see some good results.
4: Improves balance and strength
When I was in my early stages of dancing, I used to believe, and still do, that dancing incorporates movements on all planes of motion and from all directions. Think about it. What kind of movements do we do in our daily lives?
Things like walking, taking the stairs, and common workouts like treadmills and cycling, occur in the sagittal plane, and dance works your body from all planes; this includes lateral and rotational, which conditions all muscles.
These type of movements not only improves balance but also increases strength, and the heart rate gets challenged from executing the different moves constantly.
5: Exercise and conditioning
Like Yoga, taking dance lessons is also a great form of aerobic exercise since it works many muscles in the body. Your muscles become stretched, conditioned, and toned while the heart rate increases, pumping blood at a faster rate.
Like exercise, you feel the benefit of a workout during the cool-down period; it is a good practice to rest after dancing, especially after a fast song.
My rule of thumb here is that between dances, stretch out your legs and arm muscles or sit in a chair and relax while rolling the neck slowly around, and then in a slow back and forth motion to release any tension you may have in the back of the neck.
Okay, let’s move on to the next group of benefits shall we
The Emotional Side
Ok, let do it!
6: Social activity
Whether you join a ballroom school or dance with friends or just taking dance classes, being around other people while dancing is good for your social and emotional health.
I have always shared with my students this famous phrase ‘Dance like no one is watching,’ but there’s something incredible about dancing with others too.’
Taking latin dance classes in person or taking latin dancing online will open you up to a new social circle of people that share a similar passion. Do I need to say more?
When you meet for dance classes or weekly at social dance gatherings with the same people, a sense of community takes hold. Learning to dance with the loud music blaring and sometimes stumbling over your own feet while learning new moves encourages bonding.
And that is a beautiful site to see. I have and continue to experience that. Love it!
7: Yes, Self-Expression!
Dancing has allowed me to express how I feel on the dance floor.
I have observed countless times how my wife sways around the house with our baby tucked safely in her arms; I know she is experiencing a moment of intense love for our baby while exercising a tender embrace while dancing. Priceless!
Or when a couple is dancing to a slow song as they look into each other’s eyes and smile. It is not difficult to realize they feel strong emotions for each other, regardless of whether it is love or lust.
Dancing will give that space for you to express the dance persona that is unique to you. The ultimate way to do it.
8: Find your special one
This one is for everybody! I have met so many good people, friends, AND my special someone, who I now call her wife. Where do you think I met her? Dancing!
At first, taking dance classes allowed me to become a confident person when I first migrated to the states. Salsa dancing allowed me to meet and express myself; it is a pure form for me. That expression of myself allowed me to meet my special someone.
I guess what I am trying to say here is if you are confident when dancing and having fun, which is the factor here, you will find it much easier to introduce yourself to new people. Who knows, maybe you will be as lucky as I did.
9: Meet new people at Dance Classes!
When I decided to take dance classes and go to Salsa clubs, I saw that the Salsa community was open and friendly, plus you did not need a partner to start learning Salsa! There are plenty of guys or girls around to dance with, and you usually switch partners about every two or three consecutive songs.
Latin dance lessons are a great way to meet new people because you already have a common interest, and the fact that you are dancing face-to-face means you have no choice but to start a conversation. Remember, anything more is better to save for after the dance. If you regularly attend dance classes or go to a nightclub, you will soon see the same faces weekly.
Before you know it, you will begin to make new friends. How cool is that!
10: Spice Up Your Relationship
Many couples get dance classes for the first dance at their wedding. Why should your dance lessons end once you are married? Practicing dance is a great thing to do as a couple. It is fun, a good form of exercise without hitting the gym, and keeps you healthy. I think it would be crazy not to.
Private dance lessons can make you and your partner more synchronized, not to mention that dancing is a great way to get closer to your partner. It is a great way to reignite the passion in your relationship!
Whether it is ballroom dancing, Latin dance, or whatever, you should choose a dance style that works for you both.
11: Be happier!
Dancing or taking dance classes releases endorphins in your brain. This hormone makes you feel happier and more energetic. The effect can be so profound that it can help people struggling with depression or anxiety.
See the proof when you attend your first Salsa class. Everyone will be smiling! The music is upbeat, and the atmosphere is great! The happiness is infectious. It is difficult not to smile when you love the music and give your body permission to move to it.
The more you do something you enjoy, the less you will stress about things out of your control. And that makes you happier! Don’t you think so?
The Online Side
If your time at home during the pandemic has left you feeling like you are ready to do something different, consider online dance lessons from Your Dance Studio. After spending a long time inside working from home and without group activities, I believe everyone feels the anxiety, stress, lack of community, and is missing physical activities.
It seems that staying at home and social distancing will be with us for a while, so let’s start thinking about what you can do from home that has benefits that will help you with this situation.
You should start online dance classes. There are several reasons this will stick, regardless of the pandemic. See, online dance classes may open up a brand new world for you. In fact, I know it will.
12: Take your dance lessons everywhere
Did I say that correctly? Yup, I did. The flexibility you have with where you take the class is one of the best reasons for taking dance lessons online. You may only be at home right now, BUT eventually, you will be out and about, traveling, taking vacations, dancing, etc.
Taking classes online will give you flexibility and the space you need to move around at home. You can take it early in the morning, during the day, or later in the evening.
This is one of the beautiful things about online classes!
13: Save money
Who does not like to save money? I do, and I am sure you do too. Well, online dance classes are less expensive than group or even private classes in a dance studio.
Online dance lessons are a good way to save money. Most online classes allow you to take as many classes as you want for a monthly fee. Some classes may even be free! If you have wanted to take a dance class before and felt that you could not afford it, now is the time to go for it!
It is something to be said when Nike produced the famous slogan… Just Do It!
In Conclusion
These are some reasons to get dance classes and learn a new fun skill. As you can see, there are great benefits to dancing, so be bold and take dance lessons in person or online dance classes.
It has been fascinating to me how taking dance classes can be important to your well-being. And how this activity has a direct correlation to the Physical and Emotional sides of our personalities!
Happy Dancing
YDS
