The Benefits of Dancing for the Over 60's
Dancing is an alternative to traditional fitness activities, but has similar benefits. The Tea Dance is a great opportunity for people of all ages and abilities to take part in an event which will be fun to be part of, but will also be the first step towards a healthier lifestyle.
Cardiovascular Fitness
The American Heart Association recommends at least moderately intense exercise for 20 minutes, three times per week to maintain heart health in adults. While seniors may no longer be able to jitterbug the way they once did, even dancing at a moderate pace is an effective, low-impact way to raise your heart rate and keep it elevated. A study by an Italian heart institute found that study participants who danced three times per week improved oxygen health by 18 percent. Partner dancing and solo-style dancing, like the twist, provide full-body movements to create an aerobic workout. Improved heart health from dancing helps to decrease the risks for diseases and conditions such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, coronary heart disease and stroke.
Bone Density
The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends dancing as one way to improve bone health. Dancing is a weight-bearing exercise, a category of exercise that puts weight on your bones, and includes activities as simple as walking. Weight-bearing exercise like dancing creates bone/muscle/tendon interactions that help to increase bone density, which begins to decrease in our 30s. As women begin to produce less estrogen, osteoporosis becomes an even bigger concern, with fractures likely to occur for 50 percent of women and 20 percent of men over the age of 50 during their lifetime.
Flexibility and Balance
When you exercise with activities like dance, you stretch your muscles, improving flexibility. Improved flexibility helps you to continue to be successful in healthful sports and activities like tennis, golf or swimming. In addition, dancing requires balance, and improvements in balance help to decrease falls and injury. Studies by the University of Missouri found that seniors using dance as therapy improved both balance and gait.
Our Tea Dance is ideal for mature adults who want to learn something new or to get back into dancing. In taking part in this Tea Dance you will get the chance to meet new people and keep yourself active and improve your cardio-vascular fitness.
Our very popular Tuesday afternoon Tea Dance gives you the chance to step back in time and celebrate the days when dance halls were full of people moving to the Waltz, Tango, Cha Cha Cha and Quickstep.
North Enfield Conservative Club is a great venue to join in the dances, and experience some new ones or to just simply enjoy the music and the company. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly and the afternoon is rounded off with refreshments served by your hosts, Val and Allan.
The weekly Tea Dances are every Tuesday between 1.30pm and 4.00pm.
References
National Osteoporosis Foundation: Fast Facts on Osteoporosis
Piedmont Hospital: Five Reasons to Dance for Your Health
WorldwideHealth.com: Dance Therapy Improves Seniors Gait
Cardiovascular Fitness
The American Heart Association recommends at least moderately intense exercise for 20 minutes, three times per week to maintain heart health in adults. While seniors may no longer be able to jitterbug the way they once did, even dancing at a moderate pace is an effective, low-impact way to raise your heart rate and keep it elevated. A study by an Italian heart institute found that study participants who danced three times per week improved oxygen health by 18 percent. Partner dancing and solo-style dancing, like the twist, provide full-body movements to create an aerobic workout. Improved heart health from dancing helps to decrease the risks for diseases and conditions such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, coronary heart disease and stroke.
Bone Density
The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends dancing as one way to improve bone health. Dancing is a weight-bearing exercise, a category of exercise that puts weight on your bones, and includes activities as simple as walking. Weight-bearing exercise like dancing creates bone/muscle/tendon interactions that help to increase bone density, which begins to decrease in our 30s. As women begin to produce less estrogen, osteoporosis becomes an even bigger concern, with fractures likely to occur for 50 percent of women and 20 percent of men over the age of 50 during their lifetime.
Flexibility and Balance
When you exercise with activities like dance, you stretch your muscles, improving flexibility. Improved flexibility helps you to continue to be successful in healthful sports and activities like tennis, golf or swimming. In addition, dancing requires balance, and improvements in balance help to decrease falls and injury. Studies by the University of Missouri found that seniors using dance as therapy improved both balance and gait.
Our Tea Dance is ideal for mature adults who want to learn something new or to get back into dancing. In taking part in this Tea Dance you will get the chance to meet new people and keep yourself active and improve your cardio-vascular fitness.
Our very popular Tuesday afternoon Tea Dance gives you the chance to step back in time and celebrate the days when dance halls were full of people moving to the Waltz, Tango, Cha Cha Cha and Quickstep.
North Enfield Conservative Club is a great venue to join in the dances, and experience some new ones or to just simply enjoy the music and the company. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly and the afternoon is rounded off with refreshments served by your hosts, Val and Allan.
The weekly Tea Dances are every Tuesday between 1.30pm and 4.00pm.
References
National Osteoporosis Foundation: Fast Facts on Osteoporosis
Piedmont Hospital: Five Reasons to Dance for Your Health
WorldwideHealth.com: Dance Therapy Improves Seniors Gait
