Can Dancing Really Help You Lose Weight?

If you are someone that don’t like to do traditional exercises and are looking for a fun way to lose weight, why not give dancing a try. Dancing is very effective for weight loss. It targets the entire body and requires no special equipment or workout gear.  Dancing can be done at parties, at home, at a dance studio, at a gym, or even outdoors in a park. It is all up to you! Dancing can be a fun exercise for anyone or the entire family even children and seniors can join along.

You don’t have to be a professional dancer to dance. All you need is some music to move to the beat. Dancing regularly or on a fixed schedule for just 10 minutes a day can help shed some unwanted pounds. Over time you can increase to 15 or 20 minutes while turning up the intensity a notch. There are various types of dances to try out. For example, ballet, hip-hop, tap, tango, jazz, salsa, samba, rumba, modern, foxtrot, swing, jive, breakdance, cha-cha, mambo, acro, ballroom, paso doble, lindy hop, contemporary, and bolero. If you have a partner you can even waltz. Instructional videos on these various types of dances can be found online or on Youtube.

Health Benefits of Dancing

Dancing not only will help you lose weight but will also help you feel more active and energized. It is also considered a cardio exercise which is beneficial for the heart. Dancing can also help tone muscles, improve posture, lower blood pressure, and cholesterol. In addition, it can improve circulation and lung functions, increase flexibility, and helps to reduce stress levels. Overall dancing will have you feeling physically and mentally better.

Dr. Nick Smeeton and Dr. Gary Brickley, from the Department of Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Brighton, led a study and found out that dancing not only appears to increase positive and reduce negative emotions, but we also found that dancing actually reduced feelings of fatigue.

Dr. Smeeton states that “Dance not only appears to increase positive and reduce negative emotions, which are typical effects of exercise, but we also found that dancing actually reduced feelings of fatigue too. People may be familiar with runners’ high and there appears to be a similar effect after dancing too. We have seen that dancing improves your emotional state. Furthermore, it seems to have an energizing effect. Add in the known benefits of social interaction you get whilst dancing and it becomes a powerful way to improve your health and well-being.”

Choosing Your Routines

If you are planning on doing dancing as the sole method to lose weight, I would recommend dancing for at least 20 minutes every day for maximum results. If you are on a busy schedule and only have a few days a week to exercise, you can try dancing for at least 30 to 40 minutes 2 to 3 times per week. It is also recommended to choose a dance style that is right for you. Depending on your fitness level, some dance styles can be challenging and strenuous, which can cause injuries. You should start off with easy dances like waltz and foxtrot, then move on to more advanced dances like breakdance and ballet. Like any other exercise, you should warm-up and do a few stretches before starting your workout. In addition, try wearing comfortable workout gear, especially comfortable footwear, doing so will help minimize injuries.

Advantages of dancing to lose weight

Many people are choosing dancing as their preferred weight-loss method. Simply just because they love to dance and have fun at the same time. Here are some benefits of choosing dancing to lose weight.

• An average person can burn about 300 to 800 calories from dancing, depending on the dance style and intensity.
• No expensive gym membership required and paying for dance lessons is not necessary but optional.
• Dancing regularly will guarantee weight loss, increase flexibility, and makes you tone and stronger.
• Relieve stress and improve mental health.
• No expensive workout gear or equipment required.

Although dancing is a fun way to lose weight it is not the only fun weight-loss option. Other exercises such as hiking, rock climbing, and swimming can be just as fun as well. I guess it all boils down to personal preference. Get your move on!