In the fight against obesity and attempts to recover healthy habits, Americans are turning to exercise and physical activity that does more than shed pounds but is also sociable and fun – dancing!  Shows such as ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, Fox’s So You Think You Can Dance and the National Dance Day initiative have sparked a renewed interest in dance classes, and dancing, like any physical activity, burns a significant amount of calories.

Scientists have yet to discover the magical quick fix for getting people on track towards better health, but two things can get you pretty close – your right foot and your left foot.  Put one in front of the other for a few hours a week and you will improve your cholesterol levels, reduce your risk of heart attack, breathe better, and prevent or reverse weight gain.  Many experts advise taking 10,000 steps a day for good health.

But walking is so boring you say?  Okay, so you’re not in the mood to go walking for miles or hours on end, so why not add something interesting to your exercise activities – dancing!

Dancing is a fun, creative, and sociable way to reach those 10,000 weekly steps.  Studies have shown that  by replacing sedentary time with two one-hour classes a week of low-intensity ballroom (or social dancing, but we’ll get to those benefits later) can add about 2,000 steps to a person’s daily total. Try mid-tempo dances such as  Country Swing, Tango, Fox-Trot, or Cha-Cha, which are good for all ages and physical abilities.

If you want a more intense workout, Swing, Salsa, and dance fitness classes (such as Jazzercise) will pump up that heart rate for increased oxygen consumption and calorie expenditure.  With these spirited dances, you are clearly getting a good workout, but research suggests that nightclub (social) dancing appears to burn more calories than just typical classes.  So head out for a night of fun with friends and get your daily exercise!

Learning to dance has a positive impact on personal health and fitness.  Add it into your daily routine if you’re sedentary or boost that cardio if looking to supplement your weight loss regimen with something a little more interesting.  Take a step towards better health and fitness today!

Burn Calories Learning New Dance Moves

To lose weight, we must burn more calories than we consume each day.  So if you maintained your normal diet and simply added a few hours of dancing to your weekly regimen, you will take those extra 2,000 steps towards shedding pounds.

Your calorie expenditure while dancing will depend on the intensity and duration of your workout.  Now you just have to decide which dance style appeals to you.  Are you looking for intense cardio or something a little more low impact but just as effective?  Maybe you want to work towards a goal like a performance or competition.  Every dance has something to make losing weight fun!

How Many Calories Will You Burn on the Dance Floor?


*All calorie calculations are based on a 150-lb woman.  If you weigh less you will burn less and if you weigh more you will burn more.

**Check out the most accurate calorie counter to see exactly how much you can burn doing your favorite activities!

Other Health Benefits of Dancing

Health isn’t just about losing weight, and dancing certainly does more for our bodies than burning calories.  Dancing – whether by stimulating the brain, heart, or muscles…

  • boosts cardiovascular efficiency and capacity
  • helps reduce stress, depression, and anxiety
  • alleviates Parkinson’s symptoms
  • helps to keep joints flexible and strong
  • allows us to connect and bond with other people
  • keeps our minds keen with consistent mental challenges

Anyone can dance and reap the benefits no matter your age or ability.  Dance keeps us Youthful, Happy and Healthy!

Make Atomic Ballroom Part of Your Fitness Regimen

Building healthy habits and losing weight is easier with a support system.  Atomic Ballroom is a full time dance studio offering classes in a variety of social dance styles, group dance fitness classes, private instruction, and nightly social dancing.  Bring a group of friends in for a fun-filled Belly Dancing class on Saturday mornings.  Grab your sweetie and drop-in on some Samba classes and lose the weight together. Or meet other dance enthusiasts at our weekly night social dances and lose weight or keep fit while you are having fun.

 

References

Center for Disease Control and Prevention.  How Much Physical Activity do Adults Need? (2011).  Retrieved June 24, 2012 from http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/guidelines/adults.html

Matthews, Jessica (2009).  What are the Benefits of Dance Inspired Workouts?  American Council on Fitness.  Retrieved June 24, 2012 from http://www.acefitness.org/blog/99/what-are-the-benefits-of-dance-inspired-workouts

Health Status.  Activity Calorie Burn Rate Calculator.  Retrieved April , 2013 from http://www.healthstatus.com/calculate/cbc

Gretchen Reynolds (2012).  How Exercise Could Lead to a Better Brain. The New York TImes (online). Retrieved June 25, 2012 from http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/22/magazine/how-exercise-could-lead-to-a-better-brain.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all