Thursday, November 29, 2012

 

Dancing is good for your health


                                       UCID: 10115352
2012-11-29
 COMS 369 L-03


            Since my early childhood, my parents always enrolled me in an extracurricular activity after school such as tennis, basketball, ice skating, modeling, and various other clubs, etc. But at the age of twelve my parents were no longer forcing me to participate in these extracurricular activities anymore, as it was now my decision. I enjoyed extracurricular activities particularly because they helped me socialize better with other people, make new friends, and escape my problems. It helped me to forget about problems, homework and just have some fun.  I was getting accustomed to always doing something after class, especially sports because they provided me with a healthy lifestyle. I was thinking about joining a gym for some healthy exercise, however I found it quite dull. Thus, I decided that a different alternative would be necessary. I joined dancing classes because I love to dance and they provided me with the exercise to make up for the gym.

            Dancing is a complete package that gives an individual a great mind and body workout. It does not only benefit you physically, but there are also great memory benefits. Dancing can help your body be in a perfect shape but it also “requires you to remember dance steps and sequences [which] boosts brain power by improving memory skills” ( AARP, 2005). In addition, dance helps a person’s brain with continuous activity improving memory skills. Therefore, dancing will help a body both physically and mentally.

            There has been some research that shows potential benefits for people with diseases. The 2003 New England Journal of Medicine study stated that “ballroom dancing at least twice a week made people less likely to develop dementia. Research also has shown that some people with Alzheimer's disease are able to recall forgotten memories when they dance to music they used to know.” ( AARP, 2005) As a result, dancing is a great tool for helping people from all ages with disease. However, that is not the only advantage of dance, as it gives new life, provides more energy, helps individuals forget about problems and provides a moment of joy instead. Consequently, dancing is a reliable and helpful extracurricular activity that gives a person a mind and body work out, while also providing fun while your body and mind are being exercised.

            Whether it is ballroom, jazz or ballet, dancing is the perfect activity for people. Doctors discussed that, “dancing is a perfect way for people of any age to get cardiovascular exercise. And since it's fun, people might actually spend more time on the dance floor than they would at the gym.” ( Macnamara, 2009). Dancing gives people benefits such as stronger bones, toned bodies, a reduction of stress and tension, as well as improved posture and balance, etc. These are few of the benefits that dancing can provide once you begin practicing. Therefore, dance is the best choice for people that want to have fun while also keeping their body in shape and developing stronger memory.

            I find that the best option for exercise is dancing. I chose dance classes while I was in high school because I extremely enjoyed dancing. This is also when I began to learn Salsa dancing. Salsa is tropical music that has been popular for a long time, especially in Ecuador. I watched many dance competitions on TV which attracted me because the music is very active and dynamic keeping energy very high. Several months after beginning classes, Salsa had already become a habit of mine because of how much I enjoyed this dance. Personally, I find dance the best way to keep myself healthy. Even socially, while I am having fun dancing with my friends, I am also working out. As a result, I find the best way to remain energetic and for keeping my body healthy is attending the dance classes and having fun while I am working out.

            Dancing is the best choice in order to live a healthy life. If an individual finds going to the gym to simply workout is boring, then the best choice for them is to try dance classes since they can have fun too. Dancing provides both a great mind and body work out. It helps shape, build, and tone your body, as well as strengthen your bones. Besides those benefits it also helps significantly to improve your memory. Since you have to memorize the steps, your memory recollection is improving too. Dancing is an activity for all ages, and also helps people that have diseases improve their lives health wise. There are many different types of dances such as ballroom, jazz, ballet, salsa, etc, that people can enjoy by their taste.

Bibliography:
AARP . (2005).Let’s dance to health. AARP. Retrieved November 25, 2012 from:             http://www.aarp.org/health/fitness/info-2005/dance_to_health.html
Macnamara, M. (2009).Dancing: Good for Hearts and Minds. Cbc News. Retrieved November     25, 2012 from: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-2501321.html

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