Fitness dance is an invigorating, calorie-burning workout that is popular among many different age groups. Let’s face it – people love to dance. Whether getting their groove on at a concert, dancing at home where no one is watching, or at the gym, there is a reason why fitness dance classes are filling up quicker by the minute. In addition to just being downright fun, dance has numerous important health benefits. It’s a wonderful way to help you lose weight, maintain flexibility, reduce stress and anxiety, and so much more.

Health experts have long been privy to the many benefits of fitness health, so it’s about time the rest of the population catches on. Even if you have no rhythm, a group fitness dance class may be just what the doctor ordered. In fact, music and sports researchers (and psychologists) have found that humans are internally hardwired to listen to their inner beat, which comes out in various rhythmic movements. So even if you think you are a bit on the clumsy side and lack rhythm, that is actually not true. Just because you don’t always hear the same notes or beats that others do doesn’t mean you aren’t musically inclined yourself! However, it is also true that many people have a stronger mind-beat connection, which is why it may seem like some of your friends are born with a stronger inclination to dance than others.

With all this in mind, let’s look at four great health benefits of fitness dance:

1. Works to Boost Memory – Research indicates that dance can actually work to boost your memory and keep devastating memory conditions – such as dementia – at bay. In fact, aerobic exercise can reverse volume loss in the hippocampus, which is the part of the brain that controls your memory. It is especially important for older adults to engage in aerobics such as dance, as the hippocampus naturally shrinks as we age.
2. It Burns Calories – This is a no-brainer, but fitness dance classes are proven to boost calories at a higher rate than many other forms of exercise. Depending on the type of dance class you attend (such as hip-hop or u-jam), you could burn anywhere from 500 to 700 calories in one session. That is far more than you would simply burn working away on the elliptical machine.
3. It Can Help Stave Off Disease – Another important health benefit of fitness dance classes is that it can help ward off serious diseases, such as heart conditions and diabetes. Attending fitness dance classes on a regular basis can also work to strengthen your bones and joints, which can in turn prevent osteoporosis.
4. It Reduces Stress – If you are ever feeling stressed out or anxious (which is probably often, are we right?) then the answer very well may be hitting up a fitness dance class. Studies have shown that music and dance together can work wonders in reducing stress and bringing about a positive attitude.

Now that you know just how great fitness dance classes are for you, it’s time to try it out for yourself! We offer a range of awesome dance classes at our Arlington 24 hour fitness gym, including Zumba, hip-hop, u-jam, and so much more. Check out the schedule here – we can’t wait to see you soon!