The Benefits Of Dancing For Oldies

“Dance is the hidden language of the soul”. No matter how young or how old you are, there is always something new about yourself you can discover through dance. Perhaps in your younger years you enjoyed going out to parties and dancing but now that your body seems to be failing you, you have given up on dance. This is a sad reality for many seniors but it shouldn’t be.

The truth is, dancing offers more health benefits for older adults and should be on your to-do list. No matter what aches and pains you may be experiencing, there are different dances that are gentle on your joints while offering the same advantages. In this article, we’ll first take a closer look at some of the reasons dancing is great for you and then we’ll talk about some dance classes you can enjoy.

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Three Health Benefits of Dancing for Seniors

Dance has long been accepted as therapeutic. For example, in the 1940’s, traumatized World War II victims were given dance lessons as a means to cope with their trauma and stress. To date, dance is still one of the ways to treat depression and even eating disorders. The benefits of dance are eternal and even older adults will find this activity beneficial. Here are three of the main health benefits dancing offers:

1. Social and Mental Well being

One survey interviewed thirty women over the age of 60 who had line dancing as one of their hobbies. The majority of the women agreed that dancing helped them socialize better and become more involved in their communities. The people they met in their dance classes became their friends and together they organized other activities keeping active.

Engaging in dances such as ballroom provides an opportunity to interact with others and form a unique bond. This in turn helps prevent feelings of loneliness and isolation which are common among seniors. Multiple studies have confirmed that those with mood disorders who engaged in some form of dance felt less depressed and had significant reduction in their levels of stress, anxiety and insomnia.

2. Improves physical health

Some of the problems that come with old age are loss of coordination, balance, and muscle mass. Dancing can help counteract this degeneration. Here are some of the physical health benefits that come with dancing:

• Reduced joint pain and stiffness

One study conducted by Saint Louis University examined the effects of a 12 week low impact dance program. The participants had an average age of 80 and suffered from knee and hip discomfort. After the dance sessions, the participants were able to reduce their pain medication by 39%. They also experienced better mobility which increased their degree of independence.

• Better heart health

According to one study, people who suffer from stable chronic heart failure can derive the same aerobic health benefits from waltzing as they would from cycling or walking. Since dancing doesn’t require any specific equipment, it is more accessible to seniors. Engaging in low impact dancing can also help lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels while fighting off obesity.

• Improved strength and balance

Strength and balance are two of the qualities that are developed with dancing. For example, ballroom dancing is a weight-resistant activity since it forces the dancer to resist their partner’s weight while dancing. Improved muscle strength can be very valuable as you age and dancing provides a means tom maintain this.

Balance is another thing that is developed with dance. Falls are among the most common types of injuries for seniors and such falls often lead to complications and even death. Dancing involves coordination and a series of movements that requires balance. Seniors who engage in some form of dance are less prone to falls.

3. Improves Cognitive health

Although the cognitive health benefits of dancing are less obvious than the physical ones, it has been proven by multiple studies. One study conducted over a 21 year period examined aging adults who danced regularly. It was concluded that these adults had a 76% reduced risk of developing dementia.

Another study published in 2016 concluded that ballroom dancing and other types of social dancing can prevent the onset of dementia in elderly adults. The reason for this is because dance can improve spacial memory which is one of the cognitive domains required to learn dance.

Researchers believe that dancing increases the activity in the brain because it combines physical exertion with mental alertness. Dancing can also improve concentration because it requires regular shifts of attention between steps.

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Types of Dances Ideal for Older People

Clearly, dancing offers a host of health benefits for older adults. With all the advantages of dancing, you might want to jump right into it but the question is: which type of dance will suite you? Everyone has different preferences and physical abilities so there is no one-fit for all when it comes to dance. If you are still relatively active, you may opt for a higher impact dance. On the other hand, if you suffer from joint stiffness and other mobility issues, a low impact dance is a better option.

Before you decide to enrol in a dance class, it would be wise to consult your physician especially if you have other medical issues to consider. Here are some of the most common types of dances you can choose from:

1. Ballroom dancing

Ballroom dance classes can be found almost everywhere from your local gym to community center. Although they may look easy and low-impact, you will be surprised at how much your body can ache after one class! Ballroom dances include the foxtrot, waltz and tango among the few. The great thing about ballroom dancing is its practical value. At weddings, reunions or other social events, you will have some classic moves to show off.

2. Square dancing

This country style of dance is fast-paced offering an amazing cardio workout. Square dancing is unique because it’s a close-knit dance where partners dance while a caller announces what move is next. In its simplest form, square dance is a specially choreographed dance that includes couples arranged in a square.

Aside from being a fun dance, square dancing promotes better coordination and balance which is always a good thing for seniors. You can find square dancing clubs all over the country. The moves in the dance are not too complicated and anyone can easily learn them. Once you have the steps, you will thoroughly enjoy dancing to the beat of the high paced music.

3. Zumba

This is one of the latest crazes in the dancing world with classes available in almost every community. Zumba is a fast-paced cardio workout that is done in a group with an instructor. If you are not able to perform fast-paced dances for health reasons, you can always opt for low-impact classes or even water-based Zumba classes. Zumba videos are also available on the internet or on DVD so you can break a sweat in the comfort of your living room.

4. Jazzercise

This is one of the classic dancing classes that has been around since the 60’s. To date, there are about 32,000 classes weekly in 32 countries. The modern form of Jazzercise involves a routine that combines kickboxing and some yoga to give a full-body workout. In its highest intensity, you can burn from 300 to 800 calories per hour while enjoying strength training benefits. If you are a beginner, there are low-impact forms of this exercise.

5. Barre Exercise

These are ballet-based dance classes that combine ballet moves with Pilates, dance, yoga and strength training. Barre focuses on reps of small range movements done on high reps so these classes can greatly improve your range of motion and flexibility by focusing on isometric strength training. Usually, barre classes are done in groups in the gym or in studios. Additional benefits from this type of dance include better heart health, leaner muscles and weight loss.

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Conclusion

As we have discussed, the benefits of dancing for seniors are numerous. Dancing can greatly improve your physical health making you more flexible, have better balance and stronger muscles all of which can prevent accidents such as falls. Dancing also promotes better social interaction which in turn can prevent depression. Cognitive health is also improved by different styles of dancing.

If you are looking for a dance class that will fit your physical capability, there are five classes you can choose from including zumba, ballroom, barre, square dance and jazzercise. Before you select a class, make sure you check with your physician what level of physical exertion is sufficient for you.

You are never too young or old to learn how to dance. Even if dancing has never been something you enjoy, give it a try for the sake of all the health benefits. You may find that you enjoy it more than you imagine.