1. Social Aspects - Square
Dancing & Contra Dancing are great ways to
meet people in a non-threatening, relaxed
social atmosphere. You never know who you
are gong to meet. Lifelong friendships are
formed, and many have met the love of their
life. There are clubs for singles, couples,
the handicapable, gays & lesbians, campers,
and youth, although usually everybody is
welcome at all clubs.
2. Healthy
Environment - Square Dance, Round
Dance & Contra Dance clubs are smoke and
alcohol free.
3. Stress Relief
- Since
these 3 dance forms, Square Dancing, Round
Dancing, & Contra Dancing, are all led by a
leader giving commands, you become so
focused on the "task at hand" that your
other mental worries are forgotten, at least
for a couple of hours.
4. Cardiovascular Fitness
- Dancing is a safe way to exercise. The
level of exertion is up to each
participant. You can rev it up for a high
intensity workout or take it easy for a
relaxing, yet beneficial workout. Dancing
regularly can lead to a slower heart rate,
lower blood pressure, and an improved
cholesterol profile.
5. Body & Brain Boost
-
Square, Round, & Contra dancers react to
calls as they are given. This forces the
body and brain to be tightly coordinated. A
number of the calls are memorized which
keeps the brain sharp.
6. Calorie Burn
-
Dancing burns between 200 and 400 calories
every 30 minutes of dancing. That's
equivalent to walking or riding a bike.
7. Distance
- The
President's Council on Physical Fitness and
Sports recommends 10,000 steps per day to
maintain physical fitness. It is estimated
that a typical square dancer can expect to
clock 9,000 to 10,000 steps per dance.
8. Sturdy Bones
- The
side to side movements of dancing strengthen
weight-bearing bones, tibia, fibula, and
femur, and help prevent the slow loss of
bone mass.
9. Rehabilitation
-
Dancing is a way to get back in the swing of
things if you are recovering from an
injury. Dancing keeps your joints moving,
and is nice alternative to jogging or other
high-intensity activities.
10. Metal Health
-
Studies have shown that activities that
involve both physical mental activity at the
same time help to slow the onset of
Alzheimer's disease.
11. Balance
- Studies
have shown that adults who have a history of
activities such as dance, tend to have less
incidents of falling as they get older.