health benefits of dancing

What are the health benefits of dancing? Tango, waltz, or cha-cha

Truth is, everyone wants to stay young and healthy for as long as possible. In fact, you’ll find it very unlikely for an older person to tell you that it is fun to get older or to age.

Aging is a challenging process, both mentally and physically, which is why so many people try to slow down the process.

For years, there have been multiple attempts to stave off the effects of aging. Consider the dogged pursuit of the mystical Fountain of Youth that has been happening for centuries.

You’ll find millions of Americans spending billions of dollars each year on creams, pills, essential oils, and cosmetic surgery.

However, sometimes going for the high-priced answer means that people overlook a far simpler answer, such as dancing. Dancing has been shown to offer a wide range of health benefits for older adults and seniors.

We will cover in this article:

  • Seniors 65+ Data
  • Seniors can Dance as Hobby to Fight Conditions
  • Dancing Can Improve Your Physical Health
  • There Are Emotional Benefits To Dancing Too
  • Improve Cognitive Functioning By Dancing
  • Key Take Aways
  • Seniors 65+ Data

    According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are approximately 40 million Americans that are 65 years of age and over. These numbers are only likely to increase given ongoing demographic trends in the country.

    Some of these older adults are already leading healthy and active lives. However, others are dealing with chronic conditions, such as the following:

    • High blood pressure
    • Type 2 diabetes
    • Arthritis
    • Cardiovascular disease
    • Parkinson’s disease

    Seniors can Dance as Hobby to Fight Conditions

    Chronic conditions like the ones mentioned above can negatively impact their quality of life. In fact, many older Americans that struggle with chronic conditions also suffer from psychological challenges like depression.

    You’ll often find that depression is linked with other medical problems, like the ones mentioned above. This link between physical and emotional health is a potentially dangerous cycle that needs to be broken.

    Dancing Can Improve Your Physical Health

    One of the best ways to break the cycle is by starting to live a more active lifestyle. Any type of activity can be beneficial, such as:

    • Going for a walk or light jog
    • Participating in yoga at home or in a class
    • Swimming
    • Weight-bearing exercises – ankle weights or dumbbells
    • Low-impact exercises

    However, there may be no activity that is more beneficial for seniors than dancing! The physical health benefits of dancing are usually clear-cut. For example, dancing, of any type/form, boosts a person’s cardiovascular health and improves their endurance levels.

    At the same time, dancing may help a person’s posture and it could also help increase and tone a person’s muscle mass. These benefits are important and should not be overlooked.

    bring joy to your life as you’re learning something new and engaging with others.

    Improve Cognitive Functioning By Dancing

    In addition to promoting physical and emotional well-being, some research has indicated that dancing may also positively impact cognitive functioning.

    This could be a breakthrough for older Americans who are affected by dementia or other neurological issues, such as Parkinson’s Disease.

    However, research in this area is far from being definitive. Some research shows that dancing specifically improves cognitive functioning, whereas other research shows that happier and healthier people have better brain functioning.

    So, any activity is beneficial; dance is not necessarily the magic panacea. Yet, even if dance does not solve everything, it is still a great activity for any older American to incorporate into their regular routine.

    high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.

    Try an activity like dancing to help with depression, improve your strength, and fight off cardiovascular disease and dementia. You can take back control of your health one waltz at a time.