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Senior Line Dancing
Is Line Dancing Good for Seniors?
Seniors that line dance enjoy benefits to their physical health, mental health as well as their emotional health and general well-being. Research shows that line dancing improves cardiovascular function, bone strength, and brain function. But also fosters the happiness that results from the social connection of friendships made while line dancing and the increase in self-confidence from gaining mastery overdancing.
Dancing is a mode of physical activity that may allow older adults to improve their physical function, health, and well-being.” There were many studies that indicated that older adults can significantly improve their aerobic power, improve muscle endurance in the lower body, improve strength and flexibility, balance, agility, and gait – yes, all through dancing!
Dancing is a great way to fight our body’s natural decline. Line dancing is a great form of exercise for the senior community to improve strength and muscle function, increase balance and flexibility as well as improve cardiovascular and heart health.
The Emotional Benefits of an Activity like Line Dancing
Besides all the physical and mental benefits of line dancing. The general sense of well being emotionally is also a great result. There is nothing like making good social connections, developing great and lasting friendships and also growing your confidence in regards to a skill like line dancing. And all these things are commonly what elderly people enjoy that line dance on a regular basis. Line Dancing Benefits
“No. 1, it’s good exercise for seniors if you can’t do a whole lot. And No. 2, it’s just fun.” “It relaxes you. My basic reason for joining is to relax and socialize and get some exercise in the meantime.”
While line dancing is fun, it also has its health benefits as it encourages seniors to stay active through light exercise.
A study from the National Institutes of Health showed that line dancing gets the heart rate up fast enough to count as moderate exercise. Benefits associated with regular moderate exercise include improving cardiovascular and muscular strength, flexibility, coordination and balance. It also is associated with lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Beyond the physical health benefits, dancing in general also is associated with a variety of mental health and social benefits. Medical Benefits of Dance
“There are short cuts to happiness and dancing is one of them” - Vikki Baum
Alzheimer’s Disease StudyThe strategy, muscle coordination and memory you use to learn and perform dance routines flex your brain as much as your body. Besides improving mental functioning, dancing can prevent Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. Researchers from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City examined how the tango or foxtrot improved cognitive activity. They tested subjects aged 75 and older over 21 years. Dancing a few times a week helped decrease the likelihood of dementia occurring by 76 percent. A study of elderly participants published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that frequent dancing increased mental acuity. Dancing and listening to music also help your brain process thoughts better.
For anyone reading Jacqueline Marshall’s article in Health Today in Nov. 2017 ‘Dancing and Diabetes’. ‘Ballroom dancing, helps those with diabetes lower their blood sugar, improve insulin sensitivity, and protect their cardiovascular health. Dancing also enhances muscle tone, balance, flexibility, energy, and mood.
National Osteoporosis SocietyWhether it’s a fabulous foxtrot, a lively line dance or a tremendous tango, dancing is great for your bones and enormous fun. But dancing is not just about fun – it’s great for the body, mind and bones too!“The health benefits of dancing are well established,” says Dr Peter Lovatt, a dance psychologist and Reader and Principal Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Hertfordshire. “When people engage in different types of social dance, there’s a measurable change in their mood.
“They become less fatigued, less depressed, their levels of vigour go up and there are positive changes in their cognitive processing. Even five minutes of dancing makes people think more sharply and laterally,” he says.
Dance contributes to heart and lung health and is a great workout for toning and strengthening muscles. It also helps to maintain a healthy weight and strengthens the bones.
This is something many people involved in dance and physical exercise do seem to agree on – dancing really is good for your bones.
Back in 2008, the National Osteoporosis Society really caught the dance bug. Dancing is a fantastic way of keeping your bones strong, It’s invigorating, a great weight-bearing exercise and, above all else, is really fun.
Dancing is great for your bones when you’re young, but it’s also a good thing at any stage of our lives, because it strengthens your muscles and even reduces your risk of a breaking a bone.And the really good news is, there’s some scientific evidence to back all of this up.Dr Kate Ward, a Senior Research Scientist at MRC Human Nutrition Research in Cambridge. “We do know that certain types of dance are weight bearing and that weight-bearing exercise helps to build and maintain bones and muscles. As well as this, dancing may help maintenance of a healthy weight and balance, which are also important as we get older to prevent falls and fractures.”
Dawn Skelton, a Professor of Ageing and Health at Glasgow Caledonian University, says the impact on bones through dance is one of its most important benefits.
“Dancing will help improve bone strength,” she says. “Most studies have shown potential effects on the spine but few on the hip.”
Dance does improve balance and many other risk factors for falls, so even if the effect on bone is not strong, if people reduce their chances of falling, they are less likely to fall and fracture.Dance to Health. Keep fit, enjoy good company, and have fun.This article was taken from the Osteoporosis News archives, Autumn 2016.
Dance your way to better heart health?Published: July, 2016A regular whirl on the dance floor may lower your odds of dying from heart disease, a new study suggests.
The study included 48,000 people in the United Kingdom who answered questions about their dancing and walking habits over the past month. All were 40 years and older with no history of heart disease and agreed to be linked to the National Death Registry.After an average follow-up of nearly 10 years, researchers found that moderate-intensity dancing was linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular death. The American Heart Association recommends dancing as aerobic exercise to reduce the risk of heart disease.
A study published in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology found that dancing is as good for weight loss and increased aerobic power as cycling and jogging. Half an hour of constant dancing can burn an estimated 200 to 400 calories. It also improves your muscle tone, so your shape will get an upgrade too. Celebrate these achievements with a happy dance!
Dancing enhances general and psychological well-being while increasing self-confidence and self-esteem. It helps relieve depression and feelings of isolation by stimulating the production of endorphin hormones that combat stress. According to a study published in the International Journal of Neuroscience, dance contributes to the regulation of serotonin and dopamine, neurotransmitters that prevent depression.
With so many benefits shouldn’t you be dancing as well?
AND THE BEST NEWS OF ALL – IT’S REALLY A LOT OF FUN
“Dance is a joyful, fun and effective way for seniors to stay active and healthy,”– agrees fitness expert Pamela Peeke, M.D. a spokesperson for the American College of Sports Medicine.
Dancing through Parkinsons diseaseParkinson’s disease is a cruel neurodegenerative disorder that can affect anybody. It impacts the central nervous system and this in turn affects the motor skills of those with the condition. Movement related issues are the first signs of the onset of the condition: these can include slowness of movement, shaking and having trouble walking. Advanced stage symptoms can include cognitive and behavioural problems, whilst various damaging side-effects such as depression, lack of sleep and emotional issues can ensue. Surprisingly little is known about the causes of Parkinson’s, or why the dopamine-generating cells in the region of the midbrain die off. Although there is, as yet, no known cure for the disease, there are various treatment options available for patients from drugs through to alternative therapies. One of the most fascinating areas of therapy that has emerged in recent years is treating Parkinson’s with dance. Professor of Economics at the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya in Israel, Rafi Eldor, suffers from the disease himself and is one of the most passionate advocates for using dance as a form of treatment.
After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s by doctors a few years ago, Rafi Eldor was informed that he could expect to live for five years before requiring nursing. In his efforts to research an alternative form of treatment and a way to beat the disorder he discovered dance. He began using ballroom dancing as a way of coping with the condition, and which has enabled him to slow down the onset of the condition and continue to live a normal life.
Harnessing the power of mind and body is something that ancient societies would practice in all elements of their lives.
Religious dances, fertility dances, war dances and childbirth dances were rituals that were firmly integrated into society in the older days. Dance as therapy is not a new concept these days either: it’s deployed in hospitals and care centers around the world to address a wide variety of conditions, including Alzheimer’s and dementia.Dance for Parkinson’s disease is an important new line of treatment because it addresses essential areas like movement, balance, spatial awareness, coordination and rhythm. These are the critical areas that Parkinson’s sufferers want to address, so dance offers a perfect medium through which patients can work on these skills but also enjoy the social element and other pleasures dancing involves.People with Parkinson’s have motor problems that affect voluntary movements as opposed to instinctive motion. The elements of dancing to music, following a teacher and developing muscle memory with dance sequences helps to treat the disease. Line dancing is….
…danced as individuals…danced in lines or in a grid…danced to pre-memorized choreography…danced to either pre-recorded or live music…danced to popular songs that include lyrics…danced as a DJ decides the music and dance…danced, following a fairly casual dress code
Line Dancing can:
• Improve Heart Health• Increase Aerobic Power• Improve Bone Strength (bone-mineral content)• Increase Balance & Flexibility (reduce fall risk)• Increase Muscle Mass (reduce pain & discomfort)
Is Line Dancing Good for Seniors?
Seniors that line dance enjoy benefits to their physical health, mental health as well as their emotional health and general well-being. Research shows that line dancing improves cardiovascular function, bone strength, and brain function. But also fosters the happiness that results from the social connection of friendships made while line dancing and the increase in self-confidence from gaining mastery over dancing.
All these benefits seem to combine to give elderly folks who line dance a better quality of life and improved mood that overflows into other areas of life, fostering good life and health choices.
While these things may be obvious, research has revealed some surprising and very interesting things about how an activity like line dancing can really benefit the elderly. The importance of staying active can’t be understated. And as a way to stay active, it truly is what the “doctor ordered” for many getting up there in age.
What are the Health Benefits of Line Dancing for Seniors?As we age there is a natural decline in our overall strength–we lose body muscle-mass. Our balance and coordination aren’t what they used to be.
Published research has shown that “Dancing is a mode of physical activity that may allow older adults to improve their physical function, health, and well-being.” There were many studies that indicated that older adults can significantly improve their aerobic power, improve muscle endurance in the lower body, improve strength and flexibility, balance, agility, and gait – yes, all through dancing!
Further evidence suggested that seniors who line dance might improve bone-mineral content in the lower body and muscle power, as well as reduce the prevalence of falls and improve cardiovascular health.
So the health benefits are obvious. Dancing is a great way to fight our body’s natural decline. Line dancing is a great form of exercise for the senior community to improve strength and muscle function, increase balance and flexibility as well as improve cardiovascular and heart health. Dance Your Way to Fitness
Physical Activity
At any age, music can make us want to tap our feet and shake our hips. It's a great way to get at least 30 minutes of physical activity, as AICR recommends us to do on a daily basis to reduce cancer risk.
WHETHER IT'S SQUARE DANCING and clogging or ballroom and swing,dancing is accessible to people of any age or skill level.
That's why seniors nationwide are turning to dance as an engaging exercise that helps them keep their joints and muscles healthy while avoiding weight gain.
Dancing is an aerobic exercise— that is, it gets you breathing moredeeply and strengthens your heart by getting it beating faster.
Joining a dance club or class has social benefits as well, such as preventing loneliness and isolation and building friendships.
Bring Joy to Life with Dancing
A lifelong casual dancer, Pat McDannald, 69, of Nashville, Tenn., says dance became more important to her after battling stage IV breast cancer in 2003. Chemotherapy, a radical mastectomy and radiation therapy left Pat unable to lift her right arm.
She and her mother, who was in her late 70s, began going to a senior dance club and taking lessons three days a week. "I figured dance, along with physical therapy, would help me regain my flexibility," Pat says. "Not only did I regain movement, but I had fun meeting other people, exercising and learning new steps."
In Texas, for nearly 15 years, Patricia Taylor-Carr, 72, has been a member of a large local senior dance club outside of Houston that draws an average of 150 people to its weekly events. "Dance has many benefits," she says. "We have members in their 80s and 90s and this gives them good exercise. Then there's the opportunity to share experiences. It gets you out of the house and gives you something to do!"
In upstate New York, Lynn Miller, a 70-year-old dance instructor, runs Swingin' Syracuse and often works with seniors in residential facilities. Some of his dancers use wheelchairs or walkers, so Lynn's motto is "use whatever you've got left that still works." He will hold out his arms like a walker for a dancer to use for stability or get down on his knees and dance with seated companions.
"Maybe the person can't get up, but they can move their feet," Lynn says. "The main idea is to engage them to come back to life through the music and through the dance."
Do Try It at Home
If you don't feel ready for a class or group, you can warm up at home by putting on some favorite lively music or a video and sashaying around your living room. Then ask a friend or neighbor to come over and practice with you, or find a nearby dance event or club. Many dances, like popular sock hops or line dances, include easy lessons before the dance begins.
However you do it, dancing is an effective way to add moderate physical activity to your daily routine for lower cancer risk. Call your local community center to find out about dancing opportunities.
Dancing can help you:• maintain a healthy weight for lower cancer risk• increase bone density• improve gait and balance, lowering the risk of falls• increase flexibility• improve energy levels• improve mood
AMERICAN INSTITUTE FOR CANCER RESEARCH • FALL 2015, ISSUE 129 • www.aicr.org Line Dancing
Myth & Fact:Myth: Line dancing uses country music onlyFact: Line dances are choreographed to ALL SORTS of music: Latin, Pop, R & B, Soul, Waltzes, etc. Myth: Line dancing is only for people over 55Fact: Why should seniors have all the fun? Line dancing is for people of all ages. Myth: You have to wear cowboy outfitsFact: You can wear cowboy outfits if you look cute in them, but anything goes. Be comfortable and wear supportive footwear. Myth: You have to be in shape to do line dancingFact: If you can walk, you can dance.
Get Involved!Don't wait...the time is now. You can be a total beginner who has never danced before, or a seasoned veteran. Contact us or just come to one of our classes. We look forward to hearing from you and dancing with you.
Line dancing is a way to exercise your body and mind by dancing to lively, upbeat music. It is a fun way to dance socially without a dance partner. Dancing styles covered in this class will include country-western, zydeco, hip-hop and an introduction to salsa and waltz. Attire for the class is casual with soft soled shoes required.
Line dance partiesLiven up your party with some line dancing! We bring our own music and teach the dances...no experience necessary. Line dancing isn't just for country music fanshttps://youtu.be/dDgoOA6AjOU Line dancing: good for that achy breaky heart https://www.reuters.com/article/us-fitness-linedancing-idUSTRE6B51Q920101206 HEALTH BENEFITS OF DANCEhttp://www.dancebecauseyoucan.com/wordpress/?p=542
Fitness Benefits of Line Dancing | Mynette Aguilar - Academia.eduhttp://www.academia.edu/395160/Fitness_Benefits_of_Line_Dancing Fitness Benefits of Line Dancinghttps://danceandfitness.co.uk/is-line-dancing-good-exercise/
All together now! Line dancing for fun and fitnesshttps://www.staysure.co.uk/2016/08/all-together-now-line-dancing-fun-and-fitness/
Five Benefits of Line-Dancing for Seniorshttp://baygirl33.hubpages.com/hub/Ten-Benefits-of-Line-Dancing-for-Seniors Seniors Resource Center Line Dancinghttps://youtu.be/xrf9DOfx8xo Line Dancing for Seniors (1992) - Sample Clip Basic Steps for Beginnershttps://youtu.be/JTeQG6oMwbw
Line Dancing for Seniorshttps://youtu.be/Fh3cOhMcsYo Line Dancing For Seniorshttps://youtu.be/wrmhMfRSUvQ Saddle Brook Senior Line Dancing Classhttps://youtu.be/9vhJDMw7khk
Meet the 96-year-old 'Dancing Nana' taking over social media l GMAhttps://youtu.be/KVmWnrj9TAI
Line Dance workout | Seniors, Beginnershttps://youtu.be/9UtQkf4-Gx4
Line Dancing For All (especially Newbies!) with Jo Thompson Szymanski an...https://youtu.be/bRD1TwPFPi4
Acton Senior Center at Home - Line Dancing (Class 1)https://youtu.be/AqZBY_vKWUo
Acton Senior Center at Home - Line Dancing (Class 2)https://youtu.be/BPYv9zXBhz4 Acton Senior Center at Home - Line Dancing (Class 3)https://youtu.be/PdJLM7K8-HY
Acton Senior Center at Home - Line Dancing (Class 4)https://youtu.be/nu8JPQSLBHg Acton Senior Center at Home Line Dancing Class 2 Jan 2021https://youtu.be/4WMJL_m20bo Senior Gold Dance Fitness | Big Band, Swing, Mambo | 43 Minutes | Dancin...https://youtu.be/J_sflaZDiv0 8 Easy Line Dances for Seniors - Have Fun Line Dancing https://countrylinedancingmusic.com/8-easy-line-dances-for-seniors/ Line Dancing with The Twins - Evergreen Wellnesshttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0Wh8SdWLI6zSCtEU4OrTfUBWahJ9ul8R Line dances for Seniors and Beginners - Electric Slide, Cupid Shuffle, a...https://youtu.be/uZXQuqPnp8g
Popular Line Dances (BEGINNER DANCE TUTORIAL) Cupid Shuffle, Wobble, Cha...https://youtu.be/vuB0zWyMxfg
The Electric Slide Dance Steps (3 Variations) - Line Dancehttps://youtu.be/4cd9D4z0hrM Absolute Beginner Line Dance Lessonshttps://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHWmEsrK9pkRQrZZ8bFOWvw0LETKnSl2c Basic line dance steps for Beginnershttps://youtu.be/_34K8CLcFz8
Linedance basic steps (WB hun)https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAC612981A378E04A
LINE DANCE 101 (INTRO)https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdCwi1yTcest2vg5i6sNitk5_m-c-eBrK Seniors Resource Center Line Dancing https://youtu.be/xrf9DOfx8xo West Philadelphia YMCA Line Dancing Program https://youtu.be/OpJ4eEIoVRk Teaching and Line Dancing with a Beautiful & Fun Group of Seniors! #Line... https://youtu.be/KuuY38vGenA
Line Dancing with Swan Care https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLtDIMp_J-EOtt1w5FAml_C5K_1rItHyG Get Moving Mondays AARP Maryland https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL51ipPTjSHMT4Gw7SdC9QxSzAFHwY-qjD Get Moving Mondays! Country Line Dancing w/Sandy https://youtu.be/cNj14SLMRbE Get Moving Mondays! Line Dancing w/Randy! https://youtu.be/rKB304dHZDs Get Moving Mondays! Line Dancing With Maurice https://youtu.be/fyn0My7p63U Get Moving Mondays! Dance Medicine w/Maria Broom https://youtu.be/VHcV7dhwDiY Get Moving Mondays! A Bit of Salsa w/Tabitha https://youtu.be/429mmSIC6Do Line Dance workout | Seniors, Beginnershttps://youtu.be/9UtQkf4-Gx4
Line dance-inspired workout! PART 1 | Electric Slide, Cowboy Hustle Tuto...https://youtu.be/P9uPMvw7xcI
Popular Line Dances (BEGINNER DANCE TUTORIAL) Cupid Shuffle, Wobble, Cha...https://youtu.be/vuB0zWyMxfg
Line dances for Seniors and Beginners - Electric Slide, Cupid Shuffle, a...https://youtu.be/uZXQuqPnp8g
Beginner Line Dances - Electric Slide / Cowboy Hustle / Cut A RUG (Roll ...https://youtu.be/sXd6VOYAeek 15-MINUTE DANCE PARTY - featuring Cupid Shuffle, Wobble, Cha Cha Slide |...https://youtu.be/TxkVizHNfn8 Absolute Beginners Line Dancing - 1https://youtu.be/kclHPJljuyw
AB: ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS 2https://youtu.be/sxGBHuwr91Y
Achy Breaky Heart Line Dancehttps://youtu.be/0MNCTJpSeAQ
Line Danceshttps://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtwfISBgAaVQiJ0sMb4piZflkvmzJde5a
Beginner Line Dance Lesson - Cowboy Hustlehttps://youtu.be/EAP1E-B5qk8
Seniors that line dance enjoy benefits to their physical health, mental health as well as their emotional health and general well-being. Research shows that line dancing improves cardiovascular function, bone strength, and brain function. But also fosters the happiness that results from the social connection of friendships made while line dancing and the increase in self-confidence from gaining mastery overdancing.
Dancing is a mode of physical activity that may allow older adults to improve their physical function, health, and well-being.” There were many studies that indicated that older adults can significantly improve their aerobic power, improve muscle endurance in the lower body, improve strength and flexibility, balance, agility, and gait – yes, all through dancing!
Dancing is a great way to fight our body’s natural decline. Line dancing is a great form of exercise for the senior community to improve strength and muscle function, increase balance and flexibility as well as improve cardiovascular and heart health.
The Emotional Benefits of an Activity like Line Dancing
Besides all the physical and mental benefits of line dancing. The general sense of well being emotionally is also a great result. There is nothing like making good social connections, developing great and lasting friendships and also growing your confidence in regards to a skill like line dancing. And all these things are commonly what elderly people enjoy that line dance on a regular basis. Line Dancing Benefits
“No. 1, it’s good exercise for seniors if you can’t do a whole lot. And No. 2, it’s just fun.” “It relaxes you. My basic reason for joining is to relax and socialize and get some exercise in the meantime.”
While line dancing is fun, it also has its health benefits as it encourages seniors to stay active through light exercise.
A study from the National Institutes of Health showed that line dancing gets the heart rate up fast enough to count as moderate exercise. Benefits associated with regular moderate exercise include improving cardiovascular and muscular strength, flexibility, coordination and balance. It also is associated with lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Beyond the physical health benefits, dancing in general also is associated with a variety of mental health and social benefits. Medical Benefits of Dance
“There are short cuts to happiness and dancing is one of them” - Vikki Baum
Alzheimer’s Disease StudyThe strategy, muscle coordination and memory you use to learn and perform dance routines flex your brain as much as your body. Besides improving mental functioning, dancing can prevent Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. Researchers from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City examined how the tango or foxtrot improved cognitive activity. They tested subjects aged 75 and older over 21 years. Dancing a few times a week helped decrease the likelihood of dementia occurring by 76 percent. A study of elderly participants published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that frequent dancing increased mental acuity. Dancing and listening to music also help your brain process thoughts better.
For anyone reading Jacqueline Marshall’s article in Health Today in Nov. 2017 ‘Dancing and Diabetes’. ‘Ballroom dancing, helps those with diabetes lower their blood sugar, improve insulin sensitivity, and protect their cardiovascular health. Dancing also enhances muscle tone, balance, flexibility, energy, and mood.
National Osteoporosis SocietyWhether it’s a fabulous foxtrot, a lively line dance or a tremendous tango, dancing is great for your bones and enormous fun. But dancing is not just about fun – it’s great for the body, mind and bones too!“The health benefits of dancing are well established,” says Dr Peter Lovatt, a dance psychologist and Reader and Principal Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Hertfordshire. “When people engage in different types of social dance, there’s a measurable change in their mood.
“They become less fatigued, less depressed, their levels of vigour go up and there are positive changes in their cognitive processing. Even five minutes of dancing makes people think more sharply and laterally,” he says.
Dance contributes to heart and lung health and is a great workout for toning and strengthening muscles. It also helps to maintain a healthy weight and strengthens the bones.
This is something many people involved in dance and physical exercise do seem to agree on – dancing really is good for your bones.
Back in 2008, the National Osteoporosis Society really caught the dance bug. Dancing is a fantastic way of keeping your bones strong, It’s invigorating, a great weight-bearing exercise and, above all else, is really fun.
Dancing is great for your bones when you’re young, but it’s also a good thing at any stage of our lives, because it strengthens your muscles and even reduces your risk of a breaking a bone.And the really good news is, there’s some scientific evidence to back all of this up.Dr Kate Ward, a Senior Research Scientist at MRC Human Nutrition Research in Cambridge. “We do know that certain types of dance are weight bearing and that weight-bearing exercise helps to build and maintain bones and muscles. As well as this, dancing may help maintenance of a healthy weight and balance, which are also important as we get older to prevent falls and fractures.”
Dawn Skelton, a Professor of Ageing and Health at Glasgow Caledonian University, says the impact on bones through dance is one of its most important benefits.
“Dancing will help improve bone strength,” she says. “Most studies have shown potential effects on the spine but few on the hip.”
Dance does improve balance and many other risk factors for falls, so even if the effect on bone is not strong, if people reduce their chances of falling, they are less likely to fall and fracture.Dance to Health. Keep fit, enjoy good company, and have fun.This article was taken from the Osteoporosis News archives, Autumn 2016.
Dance your way to better heart health?Published: July, 2016A regular whirl on the dance floor may lower your odds of dying from heart disease, a new study suggests.
The study included 48,000 people in the United Kingdom who answered questions about their dancing and walking habits over the past month. All were 40 years and older with no history of heart disease and agreed to be linked to the National Death Registry.After an average follow-up of nearly 10 years, researchers found that moderate-intensity dancing was linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular death. The American Heart Association recommends dancing as aerobic exercise to reduce the risk of heart disease.
A study published in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology found that dancing is as good for weight loss and increased aerobic power as cycling and jogging. Half an hour of constant dancing can burn an estimated 200 to 400 calories. It also improves your muscle tone, so your shape will get an upgrade too. Celebrate these achievements with a happy dance!
Dancing enhances general and psychological well-being while increasing self-confidence and self-esteem. It helps relieve depression and feelings of isolation by stimulating the production of endorphin hormones that combat stress. According to a study published in the International Journal of Neuroscience, dance contributes to the regulation of serotonin and dopamine, neurotransmitters that prevent depression.
With so many benefits shouldn’t you be dancing as well?
AND THE BEST NEWS OF ALL – IT’S REALLY A LOT OF FUN
“Dance is a joyful, fun and effective way for seniors to stay active and healthy,”– agrees fitness expert Pamela Peeke, M.D. a spokesperson for the American College of Sports Medicine.
Dancing through Parkinsons diseaseParkinson’s disease is a cruel neurodegenerative disorder that can affect anybody. It impacts the central nervous system and this in turn affects the motor skills of those with the condition. Movement related issues are the first signs of the onset of the condition: these can include slowness of movement, shaking and having trouble walking. Advanced stage symptoms can include cognitive and behavioural problems, whilst various damaging side-effects such as depression, lack of sleep and emotional issues can ensue. Surprisingly little is known about the causes of Parkinson’s, or why the dopamine-generating cells in the region of the midbrain die off. Although there is, as yet, no known cure for the disease, there are various treatment options available for patients from drugs through to alternative therapies. One of the most fascinating areas of therapy that has emerged in recent years is treating Parkinson’s with dance. Professor of Economics at the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya in Israel, Rafi Eldor, suffers from the disease himself and is one of the most passionate advocates for using dance as a form of treatment.
After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s by doctors a few years ago, Rafi Eldor was informed that he could expect to live for five years before requiring nursing. In his efforts to research an alternative form of treatment and a way to beat the disorder he discovered dance. He began using ballroom dancing as a way of coping with the condition, and which has enabled him to slow down the onset of the condition and continue to live a normal life.
Harnessing the power of mind and body is something that ancient societies would practice in all elements of their lives.
Religious dances, fertility dances, war dances and childbirth dances were rituals that were firmly integrated into society in the older days. Dance as therapy is not a new concept these days either: it’s deployed in hospitals and care centers around the world to address a wide variety of conditions, including Alzheimer’s and dementia.Dance for Parkinson’s disease is an important new line of treatment because it addresses essential areas like movement, balance, spatial awareness, coordination and rhythm. These are the critical areas that Parkinson’s sufferers want to address, so dance offers a perfect medium through which patients can work on these skills but also enjoy the social element and other pleasures dancing involves.People with Parkinson’s have motor problems that affect voluntary movements as opposed to instinctive motion. The elements of dancing to music, following a teacher and developing muscle memory with dance sequences helps to treat the disease. Line dancing is….
…danced as individuals…danced in lines or in a grid…danced to pre-memorized choreography…danced to either pre-recorded or live music…danced to popular songs that include lyrics…danced as a DJ decides the music and dance…danced, following a fairly casual dress code
Line Dancing can:
• Improve Heart Health• Increase Aerobic Power• Improve Bone Strength (bone-mineral content)• Increase Balance & Flexibility (reduce fall risk)• Increase Muscle Mass (reduce pain & discomfort)
Is Line Dancing Good for Seniors?
Seniors that line dance enjoy benefits to their physical health, mental health as well as their emotional health and general well-being. Research shows that line dancing improves cardiovascular function, bone strength, and brain function. But also fosters the happiness that results from the social connection of friendships made while line dancing and the increase in self-confidence from gaining mastery over dancing.
All these benefits seem to combine to give elderly folks who line dance a better quality of life and improved mood that overflows into other areas of life, fostering good life and health choices.
While these things may be obvious, research has revealed some surprising and very interesting things about how an activity like line dancing can really benefit the elderly. The importance of staying active can’t be understated. And as a way to stay active, it truly is what the “doctor ordered” for many getting up there in age.
What are the Health Benefits of Line Dancing for Seniors?As we age there is a natural decline in our overall strength–we lose body muscle-mass. Our balance and coordination aren’t what they used to be.
Published research has shown that “Dancing is a mode of physical activity that may allow older adults to improve their physical function, health, and well-being.” There were many studies that indicated that older adults can significantly improve their aerobic power, improve muscle endurance in the lower body, improve strength and flexibility, balance, agility, and gait – yes, all through dancing!
Further evidence suggested that seniors who line dance might improve bone-mineral content in the lower body and muscle power, as well as reduce the prevalence of falls and improve cardiovascular health.
So the health benefits are obvious. Dancing is a great way to fight our body’s natural decline. Line dancing is a great form of exercise for the senior community to improve strength and muscle function, increase balance and flexibility as well as improve cardiovascular and heart health. Dance Your Way to Fitness
Physical Activity
At any age, music can make us want to tap our feet and shake our hips. It's a great way to get at least 30 minutes of physical activity, as AICR recommends us to do on a daily basis to reduce cancer risk.
WHETHER IT'S SQUARE DANCING and clogging or ballroom and swing,dancing is accessible to people of any age or skill level.
That's why seniors nationwide are turning to dance as an engaging exercise that helps them keep their joints and muscles healthy while avoiding weight gain.
Dancing is an aerobic exercise— that is, it gets you breathing moredeeply and strengthens your heart by getting it beating faster.
Joining a dance club or class has social benefits as well, such as preventing loneliness and isolation and building friendships.
Bring Joy to Life with Dancing
A lifelong casual dancer, Pat McDannald, 69, of Nashville, Tenn., says dance became more important to her after battling stage IV breast cancer in 2003. Chemotherapy, a radical mastectomy and radiation therapy left Pat unable to lift her right arm.
She and her mother, who was in her late 70s, began going to a senior dance club and taking lessons three days a week. "I figured dance, along with physical therapy, would help me regain my flexibility," Pat says. "Not only did I regain movement, but I had fun meeting other people, exercising and learning new steps."
In Texas, for nearly 15 years, Patricia Taylor-Carr, 72, has been a member of a large local senior dance club outside of Houston that draws an average of 150 people to its weekly events. "Dance has many benefits," she says. "We have members in their 80s and 90s and this gives them good exercise. Then there's the opportunity to share experiences. It gets you out of the house and gives you something to do!"
In upstate New York, Lynn Miller, a 70-year-old dance instructor, runs Swingin' Syracuse and often works with seniors in residential facilities. Some of his dancers use wheelchairs or walkers, so Lynn's motto is "use whatever you've got left that still works." He will hold out his arms like a walker for a dancer to use for stability or get down on his knees and dance with seated companions.
"Maybe the person can't get up, but they can move their feet," Lynn says. "The main idea is to engage them to come back to life through the music and through the dance."
Do Try It at Home
If you don't feel ready for a class or group, you can warm up at home by putting on some favorite lively music or a video and sashaying around your living room. Then ask a friend or neighbor to come over and practice with you, or find a nearby dance event or club. Many dances, like popular sock hops or line dances, include easy lessons before the dance begins.
However you do it, dancing is an effective way to add moderate physical activity to your daily routine for lower cancer risk. Call your local community center to find out about dancing opportunities.
Dancing can help you:• maintain a healthy weight for lower cancer risk• increase bone density• improve gait and balance, lowering the risk of falls• increase flexibility• improve energy levels• improve mood
AMERICAN INSTITUTE FOR CANCER RESEARCH • FALL 2015, ISSUE 129 • www.aicr.org Line Dancing
Myth & Fact:Myth: Line dancing uses country music onlyFact: Line dances are choreographed to ALL SORTS of music: Latin, Pop, R & B, Soul, Waltzes, etc. Myth: Line dancing is only for people over 55Fact: Why should seniors have all the fun? Line dancing is for people of all ages. Myth: You have to wear cowboy outfitsFact: You can wear cowboy outfits if you look cute in them, but anything goes. Be comfortable and wear supportive footwear. Myth: You have to be in shape to do line dancingFact: If you can walk, you can dance.
Get Involved!Don't wait...the time is now. You can be a total beginner who has never danced before, or a seasoned veteran. Contact us or just come to one of our classes. We look forward to hearing from you and dancing with you.
Line dancing is a way to exercise your body and mind by dancing to lively, upbeat music. It is a fun way to dance socially without a dance partner. Dancing styles covered in this class will include country-western, zydeco, hip-hop and an introduction to salsa and waltz. Attire for the class is casual with soft soled shoes required.
Line dance partiesLiven up your party with some line dancing! We bring our own music and teach the dances...no experience necessary. Line dancing isn't just for country music fanshttps://youtu.be/dDgoOA6AjOU Line dancing: good for that achy breaky heart https://www.reuters.com/article/us-fitness-linedancing-idUSTRE6B51Q920101206 HEALTH BENEFITS OF DANCEhttp://www.dancebecauseyoucan.com/wordpress/?p=542
Fitness Benefits of Line Dancing | Mynette Aguilar - Academia.eduhttp://www.academia.edu/395160/Fitness_Benefits_of_Line_Dancing Fitness Benefits of Line Dancinghttps://danceandfitness.co.uk/is-line-dancing-good-exercise/
All together now! Line dancing for fun and fitnesshttps://www.staysure.co.uk/2016/08/all-together-now-line-dancing-fun-and-fitness/
Five Benefits of Line-Dancing for Seniorshttp://baygirl33.hubpages.com/hub/Ten-Benefits-of-Line-Dancing-for-Seniors Seniors Resource Center Line Dancinghttps://youtu.be/xrf9DOfx8xo Line Dancing for Seniors (1992) - Sample Clip Basic Steps for Beginnershttps://youtu.be/JTeQG6oMwbw
Line Dancing for Seniorshttps://youtu.be/Fh3cOhMcsYo Line Dancing For Seniorshttps://youtu.be/wrmhMfRSUvQ Saddle Brook Senior Line Dancing Classhttps://youtu.be/9vhJDMw7khk
Meet the 96-year-old 'Dancing Nana' taking over social media l GMAhttps://youtu.be/KVmWnrj9TAI
Line Dance workout | Seniors, Beginnershttps://youtu.be/9UtQkf4-Gx4
Line Dancing For All (especially Newbies!) with Jo Thompson Szymanski an...https://youtu.be/bRD1TwPFPi4
Acton Senior Center at Home - Line Dancing (Class 1)https://youtu.be/AqZBY_vKWUo
Acton Senior Center at Home - Line Dancing (Class 2)https://youtu.be/BPYv9zXBhz4 Acton Senior Center at Home - Line Dancing (Class 3)https://youtu.be/PdJLM7K8-HY
Acton Senior Center at Home - Line Dancing (Class 4)https://youtu.be/nu8JPQSLBHg Acton Senior Center at Home Line Dancing Class 2 Jan 2021https://youtu.be/4WMJL_m20bo Senior Gold Dance Fitness | Big Band, Swing, Mambo | 43 Minutes | Dancin...https://youtu.be/J_sflaZDiv0 8 Easy Line Dances for Seniors - Have Fun Line Dancing https://countrylinedancingmusic.com/8-easy-line-dances-for-seniors/ Line Dancing with The Twins - Evergreen Wellnesshttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0Wh8SdWLI6zSCtEU4OrTfUBWahJ9ul8R Line dances for Seniors and Beginners - Electric Slide, Cupid Shuffle, a...https://youtu.be/uZXQuqPnp8g
Popular Line Dances (BEGINNER DANCE TUTORIAL) Cupid Shuffle, Wobble, Cha...https://youtu.be/vuB0zWyMxfg
The Electric Slide Dance Steps (3 Variations) - Line Dancehttps://youtu.be/4cd9D4z0hrM Absolute Beginner Line Dance Lessonshttps://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHWmEsrK9pkRQrZZ8bFOWvw0LETKnSl2c Basic line dance steps for Beginnershttps://youtu.be/_34K8CLcFz8
Linedance basic steps (WB hun)https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAC612981A378E04A
LINE DANCE 101 (INTRO)https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdCwi1yTcest2vg5i6sNitk5_m-c-eBrK Seniors Resource Center Line Dancing https://youtu.be/xrf9DOfx8xo West Philadelphia YMCA Line Dancing Program https://youtu.be/OpJ4eEIoVRk Teaching and Line Dancing with a Beautiful & Fun Group of Seniors! #Line... https://youtu.be/KuuY38vGenA
Line Dancing with Swan Care https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLtDIMp_J-EOtt1w5FAml_C5K_1rItHyG Get Moving Mondays AARP Maryland https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL51ipPTjSHMT4Gw7SdC9QxSzAFHwY-qjD Get Moving Mondays! Country Line Dancing w/Sandy https://youtu.be/cNj14SLMRbE Get Moving Mondays! Line Dancing w/Randy! https://youtu.be/rKB304dHZDs Get Moving Mondays! Line Dancing With Maurice https://youtu.be/fyn0My7p63U Get Moving Mondays! Dance Medicine w/Maria Broom https://youtu.be/VHcV7dhwDiY Get Moving Mondays! A Bit of Salsa w/Tabitha https://youtu.be/429mmSIC6Do Line Dance workout | Seniors, Beginnershttps://youtu.be/9UtQkf4-Gx4
Line dance-inspired workout! PART 1 | Electric Slide, Cowboy Hustle Tuto...https://youtu.be/P9uPMvw7xcI
Popular Line Dances (BEGINNER DANCE TUTORIAL) Cupid Shuffle, Wobble, Cha...https://youtu.be/vuB0zWyMxfg
Line dances for Seniors and Beginners - Electric Slide, Cupid Shuffle, a...https://youtu.be/uZXQuqPnp8g
Beginner Line Dances - Electric Slide / Cowboy Hustle / Cut A RUG (Roll ...https://youtu.be/sXd6VOYAeek 15-MINUTE DANCE PARTY - featuring Cupid Shuffle, Wobble, Cha Cha Slide |...https://youtu.be/TxkVizHNfn8 Absolute Beginners Line Dancing - 1https://youtu.be/kclHPJljuyw
AB: ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS 2https://youtu.be/sxGBHuwr91Y
Achy Breaky Heart Line Dancehttps://youtu.be/0MNCTJpSeAQ
Line Danceshttps://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtwfISBgAaVQiJ0sMb4piZflkvmzJde5a
Beginner Line Dance Lesson - Cowboy Hustlehttps://youtu.be/EAP1E-B5qk8