Dance your way to better health: Top 3 reasons to start DANCING!

Did you know that dancing is a fantastic activity that correlates to several health and wellness benefits? Interested? Read on…

Dancing helps you ace your finals!

According to a 1999 study published in the American Journal of Dance Therapy, college students who participated in dance movement intervention sessions reported significantly lower stress levels on a pre-test that measured levels of test anxiety. In addition to relieving stress, dancing boosts your immune system response, leaving you less susceptible to that cold virus the student next to you in Davis Library just sneezed onto your laptop. Now, you can study for your finals in peace!

Dancing heals your body!

As aerobic exercise, dancing has several physiological benefits. Aerobic exercise is a great form of preventative healing since it reduces the risk of several conditions including high blood pressure, type II diabetes, and heart disease. Dancing, as a low to moderate intensity workout, can also help manage already acquired chronic conditions such as high blood pressure and autoimmune diseases. Aerobic exercise also helps your heart pump blood more efficiently to all parts of your body and lowers the amount of ‘bad’ cholesterol building up in your arteries.

Dancing makes you happy and confident!

A 2006 study published in Body Image: An International Journal of Research revealed that young female students who participated in 6 weeks of aerobic dance had improved body image perceptions in terms of “body attractiveness and physical self-worth” and reduced body image dissatisfaction in terms of “attractiveness, feeling fat, salience, strength, and fitness”. In addition to boosting confidence, studies indicate that dancing leads to a release of endorphins, resulting in improved moods and happiness. In fact, endorphins “diminish the perception of pain” and have been proven to reduce stress levels, boost self-esteem, improve sleep, and ward off feelings of anxiety and depression.

So, the next time you’re feeling nervous about a test, looking for a moderately intense cardio workout, or feeling a little blue….I hope you dance.