66 THE QUEENS COURIER • DANCE • SEPTEMBER 7, 2017 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
dance
Dance to a better you
BY TRESA ERICKSON
Are you looking for a way to get fi t, but
don’t want to spend hours working out
at the gym or home? Why not enroll in a
ballroom/Latin dance class? Grab a partner,
learn how to do the foxtrot or the
samba, and burn some serious calories.
Ballroom/Latin dancing is one of the
best low-impact, high-aerobic forms of
exercise around. It burns more calories
than most other physical activities,
including running. In just one hour of
dance, an individual can burn 200 to
500 calories depending upon the intensity
of the performance. As a result, many
individuals who take up ballroom/Latin
dancing oft en lose weight.
Ballroom/Latin dancing provides
other health benefi ts as well. It raises
the heart rate signifi cantly, increasing
stamina. It builds bone and muscle
mass, improving strength, balance and
coordination and keeping osteoporosis
at bay. It works the joints, increasing
fl exibility, relieving pain and preventing
arthritis. It relieves stress and helps control
lipids and blood sugar, reducing the
risk of heart disease, diabetes and many
other conditions.
In addition to working out the body,
ballroom/Latin dancing also works out
the brain. It involves a number of steps,
patterns and routines that individuals
must not only learn but retain in order
to perform various dances. With each
dance they add to their repertoire, individuals
sharpen their memorization
skills, reducing their risk of developing
dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Ballroom/Latin dancing is good for the
morale as well. As individuals become
more adept, they develop more poise
and confi dence in their abilities. Th ey
become more comfortable with themselves
and with others and experience an
improvement in their self-esteem.
Ballroom/Latin dancing gives the
entire body a workout from head to
toe. Individuals who take up the activity
oft en experience many changes for
the better in both their physical and
their mental health. If you are looking
for a fun way to get fi t, enrolling in a
ballroom/Latin dance class might be the
way to go!