I started learning how to do ballroom dancing about a year ago. I found that it helped me to lose weight, walk taller, and it improved my balance. In addition, I noticed that my thinking was clearer and I had more energy. The observation caused me to look into the therapeutic benefits of dance.

Both the Mayo clinic and the National Institutes of Health have found that social dancing helps to reduce stress, improve energy and coordination, improve overall strength and it strengthens the bones of the hips and legs. In addition it lowers blood pressure and improves cardiovascular health.

A recent study of 75 year olds discovered that those who did activities such as dancing, playing music, board games and reading at least 11 days a month reduced their risk of dementia by 63%. Recent studies of Parkinson’s disease patients who were taught tango determined that when compared to regular exercise, tango-dancing patients had improved balance and functionality. When they were taught waltz and fox trot, locomotion and balance improved but the tango dancers showed the most improvements.

Many of us have a hard time exercising, because sometimes it just isn’t a lot of fun. However, dancing is great fun and is a wonderful form of exercise. The best thing about it is that it doesn’t feel like exercise it just feels great. If you are trying to figure out how to get more movement into your life, find a dance class and get started. It is good for your body and your brain!