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Country dancing Tempe Arizona

Stand Tall! Posture Matters.

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Country dancing near Tempe ArizonaIn social partner dancing, great posture is everything! When attempting to connect with another person, it’s important to realize that how you hold yourself affects her, and vice versa. With nice posture, you’ll have so many more opportunities on the dance floor that an untrained or unaware dancer might not have. Here are a few ways that your perfect posture will aid you in becoming a confident social dancer.

  1. You’ll be a better leader! By sending clearer signals to your dance partner because you are holding yourself upright, you will be a better leader than most, right off the bat. How nice is that!? Of course, you could go out Country dancing and fling your lady around the floor like I see so many guys do out here in the Arizona Country bars, OR you can stand up tall and really take command as a leader with finesse. Less really can be more! You see, standing up allows you to send very clear and direct signals through your dance frame from you to her. In fact, without standing up straight, you can never ultimately be a great lead, since she will constantly be confused about your intentions. This is not the kind of leader that you want to be, right?
  2. Your balance will improve. With great posture, you will be more in control of your balance, once again making you a better lead or follow on the dance floor. Good balance means that you can be more efficient in your movement and in charge of your awesome dancing experience. Balance is key in turning as well, and who doesn’t love to turn while Salsa, Swing or Two Step dancing?
  3. You’ll lower your risk or shoulder, neck and back injuries. When you pull your shoulders back and tuck in your tailbone, you’ll be properly erect and ready to go, avoiding a chance of injury by holding your body “like a dancer”. A wonderful exercise for beginner social dancers who want to reduce risk of injury is to lean against a wall and bend your knees slightly. Keeping your back flat against the wall, from your shoulders to tailbone, is your focus. From there, try to stay that straight as you step away from the wall, and see if you can maintain that position. That is the posture that you will need for each one of your dances. The key is not to look like a “ballroom” dancer, but to simply hold yourself well so that you can stay safe and have fun dancing. Hunching over is never ideal and will put you in her dance space, which will cause unwanted aches and pains.

Whether you’re Country Western dancing or Salsa dancing, posture is important. With Private Dance Lessons in these and other popular social dances, you will learn how to hold yourself and your partner to enjoy social dancing to the fullest.

If you live here in Phoenix, Arizona with us, stop by and sign up for an Introductory Dance Lesson to discover the fun of social dancing! We will get you started with healthy habits to make you a confident and comfortable social dancer before you know it!

 

tango dancers

Fix Poor Posture in No Time!

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tango dancersDo you experience pain, aches, or stiffness in your upper back, shoulders, and neck? Do you have a desk job or are you a student, or someone who spends a lot of time in front of a computer or television? Do you feel slouchy or like there is pressure on your shoulder and neck area that you cannot relieve? It could be due to poor posture! According to Wikipedia, “Poor posture is the posture that results from certain muscles tightening up or shortening while others lengthen and become weak which often occurs as a result of one’s daily activities… Risk factors for poor posture also include psychosocial factors such as job stress and strain. Workers who have higher job stress are more likely to develop neck and shoulder symptoms.” While many of us have experienced injury or affliction that causes this pain, it can be caused or exacerbated by poor posture. Logging several hours every day in front of a screen while slouching or holding your neck in an uncomfortable position can create problems. One great way to relieve the pain and get started on fixing the problem is to do activities and exercises that elongate and align your spine. Social ballroom dancing, from Swing dancing to Salsa or even Country dancing does just that!

Ballroom dancing requires you to lengthen your torso, hold your head high, and constantly maintain good posture. Your frame in ballroom dance is very precise and your instructor will remind you if your posture needs fixing. They will also give you exercises and practices to do if you are still struggling, which is why giving dance lessons a try will get your poor posture nipped in no time!

With three months of dance lessons, you may see improved flexibility in your spine as well. This flexibility and proper alignment can even help ease or erase that upper back/neck pain you have been feeling. Strengthening your core muscles is vital to easing or fixing back pain, and dance lessons are a great workout for your core. You will constantly be shifting your weight, changing direction, and moving every part of your body, which will not only strengthen your core but also tone other areas of your body!

Stress relief is another well-known benefit of social ballroom dance lessons that will also ease your pain. The tension and stress from work, school, relationships, and life in general can manifest as physical tension in your neck, back, and shoulders. Physical exercise is a great stress reliever, which you can get through dance. Participating in activities that take your mind off of the stressors in your life is also important; dance lessons will require you mind and body to be in the moment on the dance floor. What better way to distract yourself?

Once you start to notice that you are not only applying your new posture to dancing, but also into your daily life, is when you have truly experienced the wonders of dance. You will start to notice that your body presence, appearance, and balance have improved as well. It will take some time and continual reminding during the initial learning phase, but you will get it! The confidence you discover with dance lessons is also another benefit that will have you holding your head high and facing the world with your shoulders back and tall.

 Dance FX Studios in Mesa, Arizona is the perfect place for you to get started bettering yourself – posture included! To see just how much dance can do for you, schedule an Introductory Lesson. You will get out on the floor and begin your dancing journey, as well as discuss what your goals and reasons are for learning to dance. There is no better time than now to start dance lessons. Your back will thank you! Contact us now for more information on how to begin your dancing journey…

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!