When you hear the word “exercise” what comes to mind - laborious cardio routines, painful weight-lifting sessions, sprain-inducing power yoga or intense interval training? Effective as these forms of exercise may be, there’s one thing that’s common about them – they are all so very BORING! But dancing – now that’s a completely different ballgame altogether! It is fun with a capital “F”! That’s one form of exercising you won’t ever see me hiding from or making excuses to shirk. And if you should drop pounds while sashaying across the dance floor…well, so much the better! Here are 8 kinds of dance that help you lose weight.
I’m starting with the most popular dance form of the modern society – Zumba. It’s not a dance really but rather an aerobic fitness program that incorporates dance moves set to upbeat Latin music. Created by Boto Perez – a dancer and choreographer based in Miami - the term “Zumba” comes from a Columbian word that means “to move swiftly and have fun”, which is precisely what you do here. Have loads of fun and lose weight.
Black Swan isn’t the only reason why Ballet is popular. It’s a great way to improve your flexibility and it also strengthens the back, abs, hips, and thigh. In fact, it is one of those few dance routines you can practice during pregnancy as well.
Hip hop is a high energy, super fun, in-your-face dance with a kick ass attitude and an awesome dance style to help you lose weight. Whenever I look at hip hop dancer I always get the feeling that it’s all about breaking the rules and making your own way through the world. If ordinary simply isn’t for you, you may want to give hip hop a try. Not only do you get a good body, you may also end up with a spunky attitude as well.
Belly dancing is among the more popular kinds of dance that help you lose weight. Although it isn’t as energetic as other dance forms, belly dancing nonetheless has its virtues. For those that are interested in less vigorous movements and prefer a gentler approach to their dance, belly dancing is an interesting, not to mention beautiful alternative.
Not only does it engage the core muscles, but it also tones the arms and legs through graceful, flowing movements. Belly dancing can enhance flexibility, posture, and balance while also serving as a fun way to relieve stress. Additionally, the repeated hip drops, shimmies, and rolls provide a cardiovascular workout, albeit less intense than other forms. The subtle muscle contractions in this dance style can help tighten the abdominal area, leading to a slimmer waistline over time. Furthermore, its celebratory and sensual nature can boost self-confidence and body positivity for dancers of all shapes and sizes.
Samba is a fast paced and high-endurance dance program. Needless to say anything that is as energetic as samba is bound to help you lose weight. With all that twisting and turning and small jumps and little leaps how can you not end up with a slimmer waist? This Brazilian dance form engages your thigh muscles, abs, and glutes, delivering an effective workout for the entire body.
Yet another invention of the modern world is Jazzexercise – a fitness routine that probably has very little in common with classical jazz dance. Jazzexercise focuses more on movements that tone and strengthen your body and people who have tried it out swear by this amazing cardio workout.
Like samba, salsa is yet another exiting dance form – one that requires you to have a partner, though. You could invite your friend over for the classes or head there with your boyfriend or husband. If having fun while losing weight is your main goal, you cannot go wrong with salsa.
Ballroom dancing is elegant, beautiful, graceful and a lot of work! It might look quite easy but trust me what you see onscreen requires a lot of backstage effort. It works all the major muscle groups in your body and also sharpens your coordination and balance. And thanks to all these benefits, it is counted among the better kinds of dance that help you lose weight.
Before you go running to your nearest dance class and enroll for the classes, a word of advice. While there are various kinds of dance that help you lose weight, you need to choose one that best matches your current level of fitness. Make sure you are in a condition to meet the demands of the dance workout. Start slowly and move up steadily. There’s plenty of time to graduate to the fancier stuff, don’t you think?
Top image source: learntoballroomdancevideos.com