Dancing to a Better YOU!

 

 

What you may not realize, is that if you get off the couch and dance, it’s a great way to keep your body and mind healthy. Studies show that dancing can help you lose weight, stay flexible, reduce stress, make friends, and more.

Dance not only instills grace, but it also helps you age gracefully. According to a study in The New England Journal of Medicine, dancing may boost your memory and prevent you from developing dementia as you get older. Science reveals that aerobic exercise can reverse volume loss in the hippocampus, the part of the brain that controls memory. The hippocampus naturally shrinks during late adulthood, which often leads to impaired memory and sometimes dementia.

Those plies and arabesques that ballet dancers practice aren’t just for aesthetics — they also increase flexibility and reduce stiffness. You can skip the ballet slippers and still reap the benefits of ballet by practicing some simple stretches at home. Increasing your flexibility will help ease joint pain and post-exercise soreness.

If you’re feeling tense or stressed out, turn up the music, and dance! In a controlled study in the Journal of Applied Gerontology, researchers found that partner dance or simply dancing with musical accompaniment can help bring about stress relief.

Dancing really does lift your spirits, according to a study that tested the effects of dancing on people with depression. Patients who participated in an upbeat group dance showed the fewest depression symptoms and the most vitality.

Dance is a great activity for those at risk for cardiovascular disease. People with heart failure who took up waltzing improved their heart health, breathing, and quality of life significantly compared to those who biked or walked on a treadmill for exercise, noted an Italian study.

Bored with your bicycle? A study in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology found that an exercise program of aerobic dance training is just as helpful for losing weight and increasing aerobic power as cycling and jogging.

If you are nervous about falling as you get older, some dance lessons might help ease your worries, according to a study in the Journal of Aging and Physical Activity that showed tango dancing can improve balance in aging adults. Dancing requires a lot of fast movement and good posture, so frequent dancing will help you stabilize and gain better control of your body. Dance is a weight-bearing activity, which builds bones. It's also "wonderful" for your upper body and strength.

Can’t seem to find your get-up-and-go? Taking a dance class might help. Research published in The Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition found that a weekly dance program could improve physical performance and increase energy levels among adults.

The studies noted above all were based on Partner Dances but the best part of Line Dancing is that it incorporates all aspects of the ballroom/partner dances. LINE DANCING is a “no partner required” dance class.  It’s so fun and something everyone can do –yes, “real men” line dance too!  It does, however, require some coordination, concentration and perseverance…but doesn’t everything in the beginning?    

A dance class is the perfect setting to make new friends and branch out socially.

So what are you waiting for …Live, Love and DANCE!

Keep Dancin’ Larry B

 

 

Working the City of Clarksville, Tennessee

I am lucky to have a great Boss, who allowed me to take a PTO day, today. Thanks Elaine...

I spent the majority of the day traversing the City of Clarksville, Tennessee.  International Line Dance Flyer and business cards in hand, I worked my way from Ajax Senior Center to the YMCA.  I have a tendency to be a stubborn Missouri mule with a single mindset to accomplish an objective. Currently, that objective is to establish at least one line dance class of my own in Clarksville.

Although I did not finalize a host for a class today, I did get my name is out there and my goal is known. The Senior Center has a Tuesday night class taught by a physical therapist from Ft. Campbell, I will meet with her in March and see if we can work together at the center.  The proceeds for this class go to help the center with operating cost. So this would be a great way to give back to the community.

Melissa at the Clarksville Parks and Recreation Department was encouraging.  They currently do not have a program but she thought it was a great opportunity for the 2012 calendar. She was in budget discussions this week and would discuss with her department. She stated she would have one of the staff contact me in within the next two weeks to discuss the possible opportunity.

The YMCA was more receptive today, especially since I informed them at present, I am not interested in being compensated but looking to establish myself here in Clarksville.  This time I got a business card and a promise that my information would be given to Amanda, the Executive Program Director.  So I will see if I get a call back from Amanda or this Missouri Mule will be making a call next week.

The Rainbo Roller Rink is still a possibility but not until summer. They have a Rhumba class and do special projects for Special Olympics and feel they just don’t have the space to start a Line Dance Class at this time. They would be interested after school is out and advised that if they could get a feel for the type of response they would get from hosting a Dance Class, then it could be a summer program. I will put this information on LineDanceNews.com in the next week to get the word out.

Over all I feel good about the day’s activities. I will continue to work on researching other locations to investigate for possible host locations for a dance class.  The one accomplishment for the day is I am not a registered voter in the Great State of Tennessee.  Till Next time... LB

90 days

It is amazing that we are about to celebrate our 90 day anniversary in Tennessee.  It seems as though we have been here a lot longer than only 90 days.  We have accomplished a great deal since our arrival on October 29, 2011 with two vehicles loaded practically to the roof.  We both only had a straight view out our back windows, the poor dogs only had a small place to sit in my passenger front seat and Paul did not even have that much room in his vehicle.

My Dad sat in his rocker and watched us unload one vehicle into the condo, and then we had to sort through that load. We had to put things in their place before we could even unload the second vehicle.  We moved from a 1500 square foot house with a one car garage to a 1000 square foot condo with a 4 by 5 storage room.  Our saving grace here is an attic that I can stand up in and have it now sectioned with storage.

I had one day to get my office set up and organized to be back to work on October 31, 2011. Since that day we have replaced the windows, HVAC, storm doors, downstairs’ floor and the kitchen countertop/back splash.   I can honestly say the Little House on the Bluff is cozy, warm and Home.

So what is the plan for the next 90 days, I plan to get out in the community to work on establishing a dance class, Paul plans to begin a class on embroidery and we are going to decide on interior paint colors.  Yes, it has only been 90 days since we pulled out of Florida and I have to say it was the best move we could have made.  We both are able to spend more time with  family; we both get to spend time in an area that has the nicest people you would ever meet.

 The dogs are content because they have both of their parents around all the time.  Things are good and we are looking forward to a great 2012.

What is a Line Dance Class?

I have been working to develop a great flyer and/or brochure to promote myself as a Line Dance Instructor. I got to thinking about the best way to describe the activity. I wanted to relate the classes as a fun yet beneficial activity for all age groups and all levels of endurance. I then got side tracked into Fitness. So I decided to pull some thoughts and information I had into this bog entry. It is that time of year when people make new year resolution’s to get fit with exercise.

Being fit, eating right, and exercising is something that many people have to learn. Even with all the ways to get fit, it can be hard to choose particular methods. It is recommended for getting fit, try to exercise for at least fifteen to thirty minutes at a time. Exercising in short bursts can be a way to add variety to your routine or fit exercise into your day, but you won't see the same benefits unless you're exercising for at least fifteen minutes.

You should find a workout that you actually enjoy doing if you really want to be able to stick to it. If you do not like what you are doing it will be very difficult to find the motivation to do it on a regular basis. It is recommended that you add music to your fitness routine. Listening to music while working out will keep you going for much longer than if you are doing repetitive exercises in a quiet area. Music will make you feel energized and help you keep pace by following the beat. Fitness Experts say to put together a specific fitness play list, featuring songs that you know will keep you on track.

So to recap, to help you get fit; utilize an activity that you enjoy incorporated with music featuring songs most everyone knows. That sounds like a lot of fun and something that everyone could do and do safely. That is what I call a Line Dance Class. Where you don’t need a partner to participate; meet lots of great people and have fun getting in shape.