Stand Tall and Dance!

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Ballroom dancing near Chandler AZWe were always told “sit up straight” by our mothers and teachers all throughout our youth. Yet here we are, all grown up, still having a case of the slouches. It can be hard to break the cycle! Even though it might feel comfortable, incorrect posture can be detrimental to your body. One of the most common negative effects of bad posture is fatigue. Increased pressure on the spine forces your muscles to work harder and compensate for misalignment in your body. This excess energy usage makes you feel more tired throughout the day. While poor posture doesn’t lead to scoliosis, it can affect your spine in other nasty ways: herniated disks, pinches nerves and pulled muscles—oh my!

Incorrect pressure distribution created by bad posture can be bad for your organs as well. When undue pressure is placed upon them, it inhibits their functionality.  Often you’ll hear that sitting straight helps you digest your food better—and it’s completely true!

Now, if you take a dance class, such as Tango, Nite Club Two step, or Salsa, your body is probably thanking you! Dancing improves posture more than you might think. All those basic steps, torso rotations, and legs extensions engage many different muscles in the body, but especially the ones in the back. In order to be responsive to your partner you must be able to keep a good frame, or body shape, while dancing. It requires you to stand tall with your chest muscles out and your back muscles engaged. Often, your arms and back will feel tired after a good dancing session because your body isn’t used to good posture!

If you invest in dancing, and practice daily, you will likely notice that your will posture improve and you might even see some of the other benefits too. Dancing can lead to a healthier overall lifestyle.

Think you’re ready to try it out? Dance FX has new group classes starting in January. Check out all the classes we have to offer for the new year and see how dance “FX” you!

Dance For The Health Of It!

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Gilbert Dance Classes for couplesAs we age, there are many things to look forward to; maturation, increased confidence and retirement are just a few. But not often will you look forward to aging itself. In fact, many people spend a good portion of their lives trying to prevent or reverse it.

Little did they know that we might be able to stop time in its tracks… with Tango? It’s true! Not only Tango, but dancing in general has been shown to help slow the aging process. In the last two decades the rate of disability among older people has declined dramatically. Much of this decline can be contributed to the encouragement of a more active way of life. Exercise (along with a healthy diet) is the most recommended lifestyle change in order to prevent premature aging.

How you might ask? In fact, there are many ways in which dancing can improve your overall health. Regular exercise keeps the skin firm, improves skin elasticity and promotes an overall beautiful glow. Building muscle also helps prevent osteoporosis, especially in women, and arthritis can be prevented (or lessened) through regular aerobics as well. Even thin people need exercise—for they can suffer from high blood pressure and heart disease too.

Harvard itself recommends 30 minutes daily aerobic activity to keep muscle tone, heart-lung fitness, decrease the chance for type II diabetes, and to ward off many different types of cancer.

Most importantly, the dance exercise truly needs to become part of a regular routine in order to be effective. The more you practice, the more you will be able to slow down the aging process. Practice makes perfect, right? Find a regular routine of and stick with it if you want to fight against aging.

So dance and dance often!

Become a Healthier You and JUST DANCE!

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Dance Fitness Phoenix ArizonaDancing is an incredible form of exercise. Not only does it raise the heart rate but it can also burn just as many calories as walking, swimming or bicycling. But here’s the difference; as opposed to a typical work out, with dance you can do something you enjoy while getting into shape! It’s the best of both worlds.

The Mayo Clinic states that regular participation in dance can help you fulfill a recommendation of 30 minutes for daily adult aerobic activity. Dances that involve interval timing, such as Zumba, make for an especially great calorie burning work out because the interval training keeps your muscles in a constant change of motion.

Along with serving as a great way to burn calories (of which you can burn hundreds during a one hour class) dance also benefits the body in additional ways.

The incorporation of dancing into any lifestyle is also great for improving endurance. Dances such as swing and ballroom are especially great for building endurance. As you dance, your muscles work hard so that over time your body can handle more movement with less fatigue.

You may incorporate dance into your life as a weight loss plan but it can do so many other wonderful things for your body, some of which may be a little more subtle. Dancing can help lower your heart rate, blood pressure and cholesterol. It can also help strengthen bones, boost the immune system and improve posture. Often the sense of well being that is found within a dance-filled lifestyle is just as rewarding as the physical exercise itself! How do you incorporate music and movement into your life?

Ballroom Dancing Melts Away Stress

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Wake up the kids, get them ready for the day, drop them off at school, go to work, pick up the kids, make dinner and then pass out. Sound familiar?…Or is this just a sample of one of my days as a mom and business owner? I know I can’t be alone in feeling like “me” time is a thing of the past.

Making time for ourselves is one of the most challenging habits for us busy people (especially us ladies) to do. Not to throw my husband under the bus, but I do notice that he manages to get his weekly golf game in on his schedule EVERY WEEK.

So what are busy adults, moms and dads or not, to do to unwind from lifes everyday stresses? My solution: learn to ballroom dance. While every woman is fantasizing at how romantic and elegant ballroom dancing is, I know I have just lost every male reader out there. So ladies, now that I have your attention, you can pass my reasons for how and why ballroom dancing is such a great stress reliever.

This part is for you to pass along to your man:

1. On the dance floor, the man is the leader. (I may have just reeled back in a few guys with this news flash.) That means that you, guys, get to be in control! Yes, as I jokingly remind my husband, when we are on the wood, you’re in charge. What man doesn’t like the sweet sound of that? Yes, it takes a bit of time to learn to lead, but it’s so worth it when you are THE MAN at every social gathering because you are the only guy who knows what he is doing on the dance floor.

2. Like golfing, learning to dance requires focus and skill. It’s nearly impossible to think about bills, that crazy co-worker that you’re stuck sitting next to or every other daily weight that keeps you from living life to the fullest. While you are learning to dance, you can be in the zone and get away from it all. For those over-achievers who love a challenge, you will get one in learning to ballroom dance and the benefits are well worth it. Oh, and FYI: ballroom dancing, unlike golf, can be done under all weather conditions- even at night! 🙂

3. Like golf, ballroom dancing is a great distraction from the outside world. Instead of holding a club, though, you will be wrapped around your special someone, or someone to-be, adding a deeper connection and much more romance to your relationship (wink, wink).

4. Ladies love a guy that can be in control and do it well. They want to be swept off of their feet and feel beautiful in your arms. Be her Superman, her Prince Charming or whatever character she wants you to be on the dance floor and she’s yours!

Ladies, listen up here:

1. Ballroom dancing allows you to relax, unwind and NOT be in control for a bit. Sound scary? I know the feeling. It is a daunting thought to leave it up to him on the dance floor. But, with some lessons under his belt, you can really find a hobby together that gives you a chance to catch your breath and take a load off.

2. Ballroom dancing is a great way to burn calories without even knowing it! You will be grooving along and toning up to your favorite tunes and unwinding at the same time.

3. Ballroom dancing is “me” time. Demand it or it will not be up for the taking. You’ve earned it so give yourself a treat that will enhance your life and fill your cup.

4. Ballroom dancing is exciting! Who doesn’t need a little more excitement in their lives? I know I do! Meet all sorts of people and get out there and dance!

Could you go to the gym, hit a few balls or belly up to the bar? You could… or you can give yourself a gift that allows you to learn a new hobby, add excitement, meet new people, add romance, challenge yourself, build your confidence and (should I go on?) so much more by learning to ballroom dance! The choice is yours. As LeAnn Rimes says in her song, I hope you dance!