Dancing = Fun + Great Exercise!

Are you getting bored with your traditional workout?  Is going to the gym just too bothersome?  Well then why don’t you get your next great workout at the local dance hall?  Dancing is not only fun to do; it’s great exercise too!

Ballroom dance lesson (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There’s nothing that gets your heart pumping like dancing.  You don’t have to be good; you just have to move around.  The simple act of moving your arms and legs around is enough to get you a great cardio workout. In fact, some recent studies have shown that ballroom dancing is almost as effective at working your heart as common workouts such as running.  It also doesn’t matter much what kind of dancing you’re doing, whether it’s ballroom, country line dancing, or even belly dancing.  You can even just dance around your living room to the radio (also a great way to work out with the kids!)

Dancing works all the different muscle groups.  Activities like jogging and swimming feature repetitive movements that work the same muscles over and over.  That’s why it’s easy to tell a runner from a swimmer, just by looking at what muscles on their body are developed.  Unless you do the same dance over and over, you’re going to be doing lots of various movements.  This allows you to work all your different muscle groups giving you a great total body workout you’ll be able to see in a mirror.  This is also a great motivation to take classes and try new styles of dance.

Sometimes workouts can be a bit boring, and boredom is actually one of the most common reasons for quitting an exercise program.  With dance, not only do you get to listen to music that is fun and entertaining, but dancing can also have the benefit of being a social event.  If you are there with a group, you can enjoy the conversation and excitement, and you’ll probably completely forget you’re working out!  Try getting a group of friends to go dancing once a week with you.  You can even use the fact that it’s a great workout as a selling point to convince them to join you.  (Just be careful - depending on the venue, you may be encouraged to drink.  Don’t burn off all your calories just to add them back with alcohol.) 

Young couple dancing cha-cha-cha at a junior Latin dance competition. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Dancing can also make a great family activity.  You can use it as a time to bond with your spouse or your children.  Remember, they need to get regular exercise too!  If you want to have more special romantic time with your spouse, sign up for some lessons you can take together.  And while you can’t take kids out to a lot of dance clubs, you can get a kids dancing tape, teach them to dance at home, or just play around to the music on the radio.  It’s a great way to exercise while stimulating their creativity.  Some kids also really enjoy dance classes, and a lot of dance studios now offer classes for kids.

So what are you waiting for?  Why not change a boring workout this week into a fun dance event? Time2Dance.com has a large searchable directory of studios, classes, and dance events so you can find a venue near you and get started!

Fun Stuff - Dance with Julianne: Cardio Ballroom

One of the most common reasons people don’t attain weight loss success is because they don't find exercise fun. This is a darn shame when there are so many fun ways to exercise and get in shape. Imagine how much easier it would be if you could do something you love to do while getting in shape at the same time.

Why is it Important to Have Fun While Exercising?

Image via WikipediaThink back to a time when you were a child playing with friends. You were laughing. You were having fun and you were completely engaged in your activity. It was easy to lose track of time, right? Even if you were running, jumping and playing hard you didn’t notice how exhausted you were. Sweating, grinning, and out of breath -- you were exercising and having fun.

The same experience can be obtained as an adult. When you’re having fun while exercising you:
* Forget you’re working out
* Put more energy and attention into the movements and exercise
* Make time for exercise even when you’re busy and stressed.

What Makes Exercise Fun?

Exercise is fun when you’re doing something you enjoy. When you feel like a child again. What do you enjoy? What activities make you feel great? Perhaps you enjoy ice skating? Maybe you enjoy boxing or riding your bike. Many people love to dance. Dancing brings out the inner child in all of us. Whether you enjoy country line dancing or hip hop there are fitness programs designed to embrace the “Fun factor” and still help you lose weight.

Dance with Julianne: Cardio Ballroom


Image via WikipediaBallroom dancing has never been so popular. The “Dancing with the Stars” television program has really brought attention to it. Men and women alike enjoy ballroom dancing. Now you can embrace your inner dancer and lose weight too.

Julianne Hough of Dancing with The Stars Fame, has created a workout DVD. Designed for ballroom beginners, Cardio Ballroom centers around several fun and basic ballroom styles including the cha-cha and the jive.

Hough offers expert instruction that makes even the most awkward feel confident and capable. She provides expert step by step instruction. The basics are then integrated into a 55-minute workout. The workout includes a warm-up and stretching session. You’ll burn calories and fat as well as tone your hips and waist. (The hips and waist are the two primary target areas for many individuals.)

If you love dancing, why not have some fun while you get a great workout? Dance with the Stars and learn basic ballroom techniques. The DVD retails for $14.98 (or less) and requires nothing except a willingness to exercise and have fun.

Get Cardio Ballroom and Other Fun Dance Workouts Here: