Dancing - Waltz to Wellness in your Senior Years

Dancing is a great way for seniors to exercise

We all know that exercise is important for good health; especially in our senior years. Running on a treadmill, walking in the great outdoors, and swimming are all great ways to keep the heart flexing and the lungs strong. Another great way to exercise the mind and body, while having fun, is by dancing. Yes, dancing. As long as one is able bodied, one is never too old to get out on the dance floor and try out a few new moves. It’s great aerobic exercise!

The Benefits of Dance for Seniors

Not only does dance help us remain young through exercise, but it also connects us to the beat and melodies of music, while reminding us of our younger years when we used to move and groove regularly.

Other benefits of dancing include:

• Promoting physical and mental vitality
• Maintaining personal health
• Capturing life experiences through dance and choreography for self-expression
• Strengthening bones and muscles
• Toning your entire body
• Improving posture and balance, which can prevent falls
• Increasing stamina and flexibility
• Reducing stress and tension and bring joy
• Building confidence
• Fostering community building by making new connections to peers
• Helping prevent illnesses like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, osteoporosis, and depression

According to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), “Researchers are learning that regular physical activity in general can help keep your body, including your brain, healthy as you age. Exercise increases the level of brain chemicals that encourage nerve cells to grow. And dancing that requires you to remember dance steps and sequences boosts brain power by improving memory skills.

There has been some promising research in this area, according to Rita Beckford, M.D., a family doctor and spokesperson for the American Council on Exercise. For instance, a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found 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.

Whether it’s ballet or ballroom, clogging or jazz, dance is great for helping people of all ages and physical abilities get and stay in shape. There's even chair dancing for people with physical limitations. A 150-pound adult can burn about 150 calories doing 30 minutes of moderate social dancing.”

Senior Dances

Here are some forms of dance you might want to explore:

•  Square dancing
• Swing (traditional or West Coast, which is more technical)
• Line dancing, which can be done to country, rock, pop, or salsa music
• Folk dancing, which can reconnect you to your ethnic roots or introduce you to a whole new culture
• Ballroom
• Belly dancing
• Salsa
• Flamenco
• Jazz
• Tap
• Modern
• Clogging (double-time stomping and tap steps)
• Contra (square dance moves in lines with men and women switching places)

See how it’s done in this video of seniors dancing to Robin Thicke’s song “Blurred Lines”.

Alternatives for Seniors is a print and online directory that specifically caters to the housing and personal care concerns of senior citizens and their families since 1992. Call our senior specialists at (888) WE-ASSIST (888-932-7747) or visit the Alternatives for Seniors website to begin searching for the perfect home for you or your loved ones. Also, be sure to join our Facebook community and follow us on Twitter.

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BLOG Date: February 18, 2014

Writer: Ryan Allen