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The benefits of dancing

There are extraordinary health benefits from dancing, both mental and physical

Studies have shown that dancing helps mentally in many different ways.

• Gets you out of your normal set patterns of thinking

• Keeps mind sharp

• Improves mental functioning

• improved general and psychological wellbeing

• Improves self confidence and self-esteem

• Involves and improves social skills

• Increases endorphins

• Easier to bond with others

• Improves your mood

• Reduces loneliness

• Reduces stress!

• Decreases anxiety and depression

• Decreases rumination (obsessive thinking about an idea, situation, or choice especially when it interferes with normal mental functioning)

• Helps memory

• May prevent dementia

• Raises pain threshold

• Reduces pain perception

Dancing releases dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins. However, interestingly enough, none of the DOSE chemicals act individually. Instead, they combine and influence one another to create the cycle of happy hormones and positive emotions in the brain.

Dancing helps develop new neural connections, especially in regions involved in executive function, long-term memory, and spatial recognition. This improves the brain's functioning, and helps prevent dementia.

In my view. dancing is the best form of exercise there is. OK already, I might have to settle for second best!

My take on it is that if you are dancing with a partner, all of the above mental health benefits are at least DOUBLED! For a start, it is so much fun!
The guy has to be creative in leading the lady, and the lady has to be alert at all times to the lead as she doesn't know what is coming next.

Both my mother and sister died with dementia, and I am determined not to go the same way. I am 72. Working and dancing and playing in online chess tournaments helps keep my brain functioning well enough to still have almost limitless energy for other interests, such as running this website!

Here are some dance benefits from a 21 year study of people over 75, conducted by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine:

• improved condition of your heart and lungs

• increased muscular strength, endurance and motor fitness

• increased aerobic fitness

• improved muscle tone and strength

• weight management

• stronger bones and reduced risk of osteoporosis

• better coordination, agility and flexibility

• improved balance and spatial awareness

• increased physical confidence

• makes you sleep better after dancing!